Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
An audit of referrals to the Southern Cochlear Implant Paediatric Programme
Philip Bird1, Andrew Botting, Jacqueline Milburn
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Private Bag 4710, Christchurch, New Zealand. phil.bird@chchorl.co.nz
Insights
Children with pre-lingual hearing loss are referred too late for cochlear implants, especially those with risk factors. Delays in diagnosis and referral impact timely intervention for sensorineural hearing loss.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Otolaryngology
- Medical Auditory Implants
Background:
- Early detection and intervention are crucial for children with sensorineural hearing loss.
- Cochlear implantation offers significant benefits for eligible pediatric candidates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To audit referral age and time to cochlear implantation in pediatric patients.
- To identify delays in cochlear implantation for children with pre-lingual hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric referrals to a cochlear implant program (2003-2008).
- Comparison of referral times based on presence of risk factors for hearing loss.
Main Results:
- Median referral age was 17 months; 6 children were declined due to age.
- Children with pre-lingual deafness were referred at an unacceptably high age.
- Inadequate diagnosis occurred in children with risk factors for hearing loss.
Conclusions:
- Referral ages for pre-lingual deafness are too high in the studied program.
- Children with known risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss experience significant delays.
- Timely diagnosis and referral are critical for optimal cochlear implant outcomes.
Aim:
To audit the age at referral and time to assessment and implantation in children presenting to the Southern Cochlear Implant Paediatric Programme and identify any delay in implantation, particularly in individuals with pre-lingual sensorineural hearing loss.
Methods:
All paediatric referrals to the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme from March 2003-March 2008 were evaluated retrospectively. The Student t-test was used to compare median time intervals between those with and without risk factors for Sensorineural hearing loss.
Results:
Seventy five children were referred, 42 with pre-lingual deafness and 33 with post-lingual deafness. The median age of referral was 17 months with a range of 1 to 203 months. Thirty-five children with pre-lingual deafness were accepted as candidates and implanted, 6 were declined as they were too old to receive benefit from cochlear implantation. Of these 6 children who were declined, 4 had not been adequately diagnosed despite having risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss. There was no significant difference in the age of referral in pre-lingually deafened children between those with risk factors and those without risk factors.
Conclusion:
The age at referral of pre-lingually deafened children to the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme is unacceptably high, particularly in those children who have known risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss.
