The Unique Voice Profile of Children With Auditory Brainstem Implants: A Novel Study on Voice Onset Time

A limited body of research has investigated temporal speech production parameters in children with auditory brainstem implants (ABIs). This study aimed to compare voice onset time (VOT) production profiles in pediatric users of unilateral cochlear implants (CIs), bilateral CIs, and ABIs with an age-matched normal-hearing (NH) control group.

Clinicians working with pediatric ABI users should be aware that voice onset time and temporal speech production differ from cochlear implant and normal-hearing norms; speech-language therapy targets and timelines may need to be adjusted accordingly.

Children with ABIs represent a small but poorly characterised population, and understanding their distinct speech production patterns is essential for setting realistic rehabilitation goals and benchmarks.

1. 01First study to characterise voice onset time (VOT) in children with auditory brainstem implants (ABIs).
2. 02ABIs stimulate the brainstem directly, bypassing the cochlea and auditory nerve.
3. 03VOT and other temporal speech parameters were compared to establish a unique voice profile for this group.
4. 04Findings could inform speech-language therapy goals for pediatric ABI recipients.
5. 05Published in Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools (LSHSS).

PMID

42314216

DOI

10.1044/2026_LSHSS-25-00161.

Journal

Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Children with auditory brainstem implants (ABIs)

Intervention

Characterisation of voice onset time and temporal speech production parameters

Comparator

Normative data or comparison groups (normal-hearing and/or cochlear implant users implied)