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Long-term effects of cochlear implants in children
Susan B Waltzman1, Noel L Cohen, Janet Green
1Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Medical Center, NY, USA. susan.waltzman@med.nyu.edu
Summary
Long-term use of multichannel cochlear implants in children shows sustained benefits in speech and language, with no degradation in performance or adverse effects from electrical stimulation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Multichannel cochlear implants (MCIs) have been used in children since 1987, with expanding candidacy and thousands of recipients.
- Concerns exist regarding long-term device function, potential migration/extrusion in growing children, and effects of chronic cochlear nerve stimulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of MCI implantation in children.
- To analyze performance changes over time, impact of reimplantation, and educational outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study of 81 children who received MCIs.
- Follow-up duration ranged from 5 to 13 years post-implantation.
- Data collected on speech perception, oral language use, and mainstream educational integration.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements observed in speech perception, oral language acquisition, and mainstreaming ability.
- No evidence of performance decline over the study period.
- No significant device/electrode migration or extrusion; device failure did not negatively impact long-term outcomes.
Conclusions:
- MCIs offer sustained perception, linguistic, and educational advantages for children.
- Long-term electrical stimulation does not adversely affect MCI outcomes in pediatric recipients.