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Performing Repeated Intraoperative Impedance Telemetry Measurements during Cochlear Implantation
Published on: August 4, 2023
Repair issues associated with cochlear implants in children
Carol A Silverman1, Janet Reath Schoepflin, Christopher J Linstrom
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Communicative Sciences, Ear Institute, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, New York 10003, USA. csilverman@nyee.edu
Insights
Children using cochlear implants experience fewer repair issues over time, especially with ear-level devices. This suggests improved maintenance skills in children with cochlear implants, with external components needing more repairs than internal ones.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Cochlear implants are vital for hearing restoration in children.
- Understanding device reliability is crucial for long-term pediatric use.
- Both body-worn and ear-level cochlear implant styles are used in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the frequency and types of repair issues in pediatric cochlear implants.
- To compare repair rates between body-level and ear-level cochlear implant styles.
- To assess implant reliability over 4 to 5 years of use in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of pediatric cochlear implant recipients.
- Classification of implant problems into external and internal components.
- Analysis of repair rates, costs, and hospital visits over time.
Main Results:
- 18.2% of children experienced internal component problems.
- Annual external repair rates were 4.1 for body-style and 2.7 for ear-level implants.
- Mean annual repair costs were $794 (body-style) and $317 (ear-level) in years 4-5.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric cochlear implant repair issues decrease over time.
- Children's improved self-maintenance contributes to reduced repair needs.
- External component failures are more common than internal ones in pediatric cochlear implants.
Objective:
To examine the number and type of repair issues associated with the use of cochlear implants in children who have worn either the body-level or ear-level style for 4 to 5 years.
Study Design:
Retrospective review.
Setting:
Specialty eye and ear institute.
Methods:
Charts for all children who received cochlear implants from one of the authors between 1994 and 2002 and who received 4 to 5 years of follow-up for either the body or the ear-level style were examined. Based on the return merchandise authorizations and chart notes, implant problems were classified as external or internal. External problems were further subclassified as affecting the batteries, case, earhook, cords/cables, microphone, speech processor, coil, and/or external magnet; internal problems were subclassified as affecting the internal magnet, electrode(s), or other.
Main Outcome Measures:
Type and number of internal and external cochlear implant component breakdowns over time (including external component repair rates per year) and number of associated hospital visits.
Results:
Of the 22 children, 4 (18.2%) had internal component problems. For the external components, the repair rate per year was 4.1 and 2.7 for the body style and ear-level style, respectively. For the group of children who was seen for each of 4 years, the mean number of repair problems declined 32% and 43% over that period for the body-worn and ear-level implants, respectively. The mean repair cost per year, based on Years 4 and 5 of use, was $794 and $317 for the body-worn and ear-level styles, respectively.
Conclusion:
The declines over time in repair problems and associated hospital visits suggest that children learn, over time, to better maintain and care for their cochlear implant. Although most had external component breakdowns, relatively few had internal component repair issues.
