Late auditory event-related potentials in children with cochlear implants: a review.

The body of event-related potential (ERP) literature focusing on children with cochlear implants is growing. By studying ERPs with late latencies (>75 msec), it is possible to (a) document the emergence and quality of higher-order auditory skills prior to when valid behavioral testing is possible, (b) determine the existence of a critical period for auditory stimulation, and (c) establish whether late latency ERPs are predictive of speech and language outcomes. These topics and future directions are addressed in this review of P1 through P600 ERP studies on children with cochlear implants.