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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Cochlear Implantation in the Guinea Pig
Published on: June 15, 2018
Cochlear implantation in infants less than 12 months of age
David M Valencia1, Frank L Rimell, Barbara J Friedman
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, MN, United States. dvalenci@umn.edu
Insights
Cochlear implantation is safe for infants as young as 6 months old. Early implantation for severe to profound hearing loss improves speech detection outcomes in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Audiology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Universal newborn hearing screening enables earlier diagnosis of severe to profound hearing loss in infants.
- Cochlear implantation offers an opportunity for earlier intervention than previously possible.
- Evaluating surgical risks in infants undergoing cochlear implantation is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and efficacy of cochlear implant surgery in children under 12 months of age.
- To determine the perioperative complication rate for infant cochlear implantation.
- To evaluate early auditory outcomes following cochlear implantation in infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric patients who received cochlear implants before 12 months of age.
- Patient data was extracted from a tertiary care center's pediatric cochlear implant database.
- Audiological assessments included otoacoustic emission and auditory brainstem response; follow-up ranged from 2 months to 5 years.
Main Results:
- Fifteen infants underwent cochlear implantation; 14 achieved full electrode insertion.
- One patient with severe cochlear abnormalities experienced less than full insertion and post-operative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea; no other surgical complications occurred.
- Average speech detection thresholds were 27.6 dB at 1-3 months and 25 dB at 5-7 months post-stimulation.
Conclusions:
- Cochlear implantation is a safe surgical option for infants as young as 6 months.
- The study supports implanting infants by 7 months of age for prelingual deafness to optimize speech perception development.
- Earlier intervention through cochlear implantation maximizes the benefits of auditory input during critical developmental periods.
Objective:
Infants are diagnosed with severe to profound hearing loss at an earlier age due to the advent of universal newborn hearing screening. This offers the opportunity to provide intervention in the form of cochlear implantation at an earlier age than was previously possible. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the risk of cochlear implant surgery in children less than 12 months of age.
Design:
Retrospective review of children who underwent cochlear implantation before 12 months of age.
Setting:
Patients were identified from a database of pediatric cochlear implant patients at a tertiary care center. All patients were diagnosed with severe to profound hearing loss by otoacoustic emission and auditory brainstem response. Follow-up ranged from 2 months to 5 years.
Results:
Fourteen of 15 patients had full insertions of the electrode hardware. Less than full insertion and post-operative CSF otorrhea occurred in one patient with severe cochlear abnormalities. There were no other perioperative surgical complications. The average speech detection threshold was 27.6 dB (20-45 dB) at approximately 1-3 months post-stimulation and 25 dB (15-30 dB) at approximately 5-7 months.
Conclusion:
In our experience, we feel cochlear implantation is safe for infants as young as 6 months of age. The current standard at our institution is to implant by 7 months of age for prelingual deafness as opposed to waiting additional time until 12 months of age before the brain is presented with speech.