Objective The central auditory system has greater plasticity when children are 2–4 years old, called the auditory sensitive period, during which cochlear implantation (CI) can give a good prognosis to children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss (CSNHL), but some will have a poor prognosis. This experiment aims to construct a structural brain network by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and analyze alterations of the topological properties of structural brain networks by graph theory method, provide an imaging basis for the pathophysiological mechanism of white matter network changes with age in SNHL children. Materials and Methods A total of 109 children with SNHL and 61 normal control groups were included. According to the auditory sensitivity period, children were divided into a group within the auditory sensitivity period (group A, 12–47 months) and a group beyond the auditory sensitivity period (group B, 48–120 months). DTI data were collected to construct the structural brain network for graph theory analysis, identify the network changes of the topological properties of the SNHL, as well as the differences before and after the auditory sensitivity period. Results Compared with the control group, both groups of SNHL had network topological changes. Group A showed a decrease in nodal parameters in higher‐order cognitive‐related brain regions but no difference in global topology parameters and network connection strength. However, group B showed a decrease in the nodal parameters of multiple contact cortical brain regions and the global efficiency (Eglob) of structural networks. Besides, subnetwork analysis showed weakened connection strength between key brain regions related to higher‐order cognition. Conclusion The structural brain network of SNHL children before the auditory sensitive period has not undergone extensive changes, and once the auditory sensitive period of development is exceeded, the formation of deaf brain features will be more obvious, with greater impact on higher‐order cognitive regions. Before the auditory sensitivity period, hearing stimulation should be introduced to SNHL children as soon as possible to reduce extensive damage to the white matter network.
Zhuang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.