BEYOND HEARING: MULTISENSORY INTEGRATION AS A BEHAVIOURAL MARKER OF DEVELOPMENTAL CORTICAL REORGANISATION IN PAEDIATRIC COCHLEAR IMPLANT USERS

Early auditory deprivation and cochlear implantation induce widespread cortical reorganisation extending beyond primary auditory regions, with implications for multisensory integration and neurodevelopment. While neuroimaging has provided important insights into these processes, behavioural approaches remain essential for assessing functional integration in paediatric rehabilitation contexts. This study examines multisensory integration as a behavioural marker of cortical reorganisation in children with cochlear implants rehabilitated using the verbotonal method. The verbotonal intervention provides structured cross-modal sensory input, emphasising temporal and sensorimotor cues to facilitate experience-dependent plasticity in auditory and multisensory networks. Sensory integration was assessed using the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration® (EASI), a norm-referenced behavioural assessment probing interactions across sensory modalities. We assessed sensory integration across auditory, visual, tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive modalities. Participants included children with cochlear implants undergoing verbotonal rehabilitation and a control group of children with no hearing impairment. Participants were divided into age- and sex-matched groups. Performance patterns were analysed to identify modality interactions indicative of cross-modal plasticity or experience-dependent sensory reweighting. Behavioural assessment of multisensory integration offers a functional approach to studying cortical reorganisation following cochlear implantation. This work links rehabilitation practice with developmental sensory neuroscience by using behavioural paradigms to investigate experience-dependent plasticity.