Worldwide trends in bilateral cochlear implantation

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Audiology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Bilateral cochlear implantation (BCI) involves implanting cochlear devices in both ears.
• Understanding global trends and practices in BCI is crucial for optimizing patient care.
• High-volume cochlear implant centers offer valuable insights into BCI provision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess worldwide experience with bilateral cochlear implantation (BCI).
• To analyze patient demographics, trends, candidacy criteria, and treatment approaches for BCI.
• To compare BCI practices between adult and pediatric populations in expert centers.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective/prospective study design was employed.
• An online survey with 59 questions was administered to expert cochlear implant (CI) centers globally.
• The survey gathered data on BCI experience, demographics, and clinical opinions for 2006 and 2007.

Main Results:

• 25 high-volume CI centers (representing 15% of global CI users) participated.
• 70% of all BCI surgeries were in children, with sequential implantation being most common (72%).
• A trend towards younger pediatric recipients (<3 years) and increased BCI in 2007 was observed. US centers showed higher adult BCI rates.

Conclusions:

• Worldwide experience with BCI is extensive.
• This data supports evaluating clinical outcomes and aids in patient/parent counseling.
• BCI practices are evolving, with a notable shift towards younger pediatric recipients.