BENOIT CHARLOTTE, 2021 YOUNG CLINICIANS LAUREATE
2021 MD research fellowship
Project status: active
Identifying predictors of poor speech perception in noisy environments among children with cochlear implants.
What are the factors that prevent proper language acquisition in certain children wearing cochlear implants? Dr. Charlotte Benoit will attempt to answer this question to help these young patients. She will conduct her research project in the laboratory of Prof. Jay Rubinstein at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA.
In cases of severe or profound congenital deafness, hearing can be partially restored by hearing aids or cochlear implants. Children who receive an implant at a very early age, during the critical language acquisition period, sometimes have delays in this area. “The vast majority of children who receive an implant very early in life acquire a high level of language,” says Prof. Jay Rubinstein. “But some don't, and we don't know why. We’d like to be able to identify them very quickly in order to implement strategies to help them.” Charlotte Benoit says, “This is the aim of my research project, to understand what causes these differences. In other words, what are the required parameters for optimal language development in cochlear implant wearers?"
« Privately funded training grants, like those from the Fondation Pour l’Audition, have a huge impact on young scientists’ careers, but also on our projects, and on our collaborations. They provide opportunities to open up new areas of research. So having a supportive system like FPA will have a magnificent effect on auditory science in France and overseas. »
Pr. Jay T. Rubinstein
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
Specific tests for young children with implants
The two researchers hypothesize that what is critical is how these children process sound. In particular, some of them could have worse speech perception in noisy environments. Dr Benoit says, “To investigate this hypothesis, we’re going to submit cochlear implant wearers aged 5 to 12 to a battery of very elaborate tests.” Professor Rubinstein, a specialist in cochlear implant perception, explains, “It’s very complex to test sound perception in very young children. They cannot express what they hear, unlike adults, who do so easily. So, we’re going to introduce a combination of tests specifically designed for young patients. We’ll evaluate how they process sounds with their implants and how well they hear.” Charlotte Benoit concludes, “By identifying the factors involved in poor sound perception, we hope to eventually improve implant fitting and adapt hearing rehabilitation and learning environments for these hearing-impaired children to enable optimal language acquisition.”
"I’m very grateful to Fondation Pour l’Audition for trusting me. This project would not have been possible without FPA’s support. It will allow me to better understand the field of psychoacoustics and launch an academic career.
Professor Rubinstein's reputation is an asset!”
Charlotte Benoit
Chief resident, Pediatric ENT and Cervicofacial Surgery department, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris
2018 Master studentship
Project status: closed
Preserving hearing by antivirals after cytomegalovirus infection in mice.
Dr. Charlotte Benoit, an ENT resident, is conducting a research project at Inserm Laboratory U-1141 (“Neuroprotection of the developing brain”) at Robert-Debré Hospital in Paris.
CMV is the main infectious cause of malformations at birth and the second most common cause of hearing loss. The inner ear is attacked by the CMV virus, but the mechanism of action of the virus is not yet entirely understood. Dr. Benoit’s work aims to test the efficacy of antiviral treatment on auditory function in CMV-infected mice.
This study is the first to assess the relevance of new molecules in preventing hearing loss linked to CMV infections.
Doctor Charlotte Benoit
ENT resident
Inserm Laboratory U-1141 (“Neuroprotection of the developing brain”) at Robert-Debré Hospital, Paris, France