The consequences of deafness and chronic intracochlear electrical stimulation on the central auditory pathways.

1. Auditory deprivation can result in significant morphological and physiological changes within the central auditory nervous system. These changes are generally more pronounced when the onset of deafness occurs early in development, as is the case with congenitally deaf children. 2. A review of the auditory plasticity literature suggests that some of these deafness-induced changes may be preventable or partially reversible by electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve. 3. With the increasing application of cochlear implants in congenitally deaf children, it is important to evaluate the consequences of introducing electrical stimulation to the developing auditory nervous system.