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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Performance of multiply handicapped children using cochlear implants
S B Waltzman1, V Scalchunes, N L Cohen
1Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016, USA.
Insights
Cochlear implantation benefits multiply handicapped children with hearing loss, showing significant improvements in speech perception. While progress is slower than in non-impaired deaf children, it demonstrates the value of cochlear implants for this population.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Audiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cochlear implantation has transformed hearing rehabilitation for profoundly deaf individuals.
- Guidelines for cochlear implantation typically focus on children without additional complex disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of cochlear implantation in multiply handicapped deaf children.
- To characterize the development of auditory perceptual skills in this population post-implantation.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 31 profoundly deaf children with additional impairments underwent cochlear implantation.
- Pre- and post-operative audiometric and speech perception assessments (phoneme, word, sentence levels) were conducted.
- Statistical analyses, including analyses of variance, were applied where feasible.
Main Results:
- The study group demonstrated significant improvements in auditory perception of phonemes, words, and sentences after cochlear implantation.
- No increased surgical complications were observed in the multiply handicapped cohort.
Conclusions:
- Cochlear implantation is a viable option for multiply handicapped deaf children, yielding demonstrable auditory benefits.
- The rate of development of perceptual skills may be slower compared to deaf children without additional impairments, necessitating tailored rehabilitation approaches.
Objective:
To explore the possibility of expanding implantation guidelines to include the multiply handicapped population and to determine the pattern of development of perceptual skills in deaf children who have other impairments.
Patients And Setting:
The study group consisted of 31 profoundly deaf children with documented impairments in addition to deafness who were consecutively implanted. Twenty-nine of the children underwent implantation and were followed at NYU Medical Center for at least 1 year.
Interventions And Main Outcome Measures:
Routine audiometric measurements and closed- and open-set measures of speech perception were performed at the phoneme, word, and sentence level pre- and postoperatively. Analyses of variance were performed when possible.
Results:
The study population showed substantial improvement after implantation in the ability to perceive phonemes, words, and sentences using audition alone.
Conclusions:
Multiply handicapped children obtain demonstrable benefit from cochlear implantation, with no increase in surgical complications, although the rate of growth of perceptual skills is slower than for deaf child with no additional complicating factors.
