Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
[Auditory skills in multi-handicapped children with cochlear implants]
Magdalena Lachowska1, Joanna Rózycka, Zuzanna Łukaszewicz
1Katedra i Klinika Otolaryngologii Warszawskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego. magdalena.lachowska@wum.edu.pl
Insights
Cochlear implants benefit multi-handicapped children with profound hearing loss and additional disabilities. These devices improve auditory skills and communication, enhancing quality of life and social integration.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric audiology
- Neuroscience
Context:
- Assessing auditory skills in multi-handicapped children with cochlear implants.
- Evaluating the impact of cochlear implantation on children with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss and additional impairments.
Purpose:
- To assess the auditory skills and communication improvements in multi-handicapped children following cochlear implantation.
- To determine the effectiveness of cochlear implants in enhancing auditory performance and quality of life for children with complex needs.
Summary:
- The study evaluated 34 multi-handicapped children with cochlear implants, all having bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss and multiple additional disabilities.
- Results showed significant improvements in communication for 91.18% of patients and progress in auditory skills, measured by Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP).
- Despite a slow rate of improvement, cochlear implantation positively impacted auditory-communication skills, self-independence, and social integration.
Impact:
- Cochlear implantation offers a viable solution for improving auditory and communication abilities in multi-handicapped children.
- The study highlights the potential for enhanced quality of life, self-independence, and social integration for this patient group.
- Findings encourage the use of cochlear implants in multi-handicapped pediatric populations, despite the presence of additional complex disabilities.
Aim:
The study aimed to assess the auditory skills in multi-handicapped children with cochlear implants.
Material And Methods:
The study assessed 34 children, who were implanted due to the bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss. Apart from the hearing loss, all of the subjects suffered from additional impairments (mild motor disabilities, cerebral palsy, cognitive disability, specific learning disability, behavioral disorders, sight impairment), 29 (85.29%) from more than one. Cochlear implantation took place in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Medical University of Warsaw in Poland. The age at implantation ranged from 1.3 to 7.5 years old (mean 3.2 years, SD 1.64). The retrospective review of medical charts, audiology and speech pathology records was based on Champions profile with evaluation at 6, 12, 18-24 months, and 3 years after implantation. When a patient had been referred for developmental evaluation by psychologist, this source of information was also used.
Results:
All of the subjects suffered from additional impairments, and most of them presented more than one additional disability. Individually and as a group, these patients respond well to cochlear implantation. The study population showed improvement in communication code in 31 patients (91.18%), and no improvement in 3 patients (two of them had 6 months follow up and one 12 months follow-up). Also progress in auditory skills was noted in the study population, which was measured as the awareness in environmental sounds--Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP).
Conclusions:
Multi-handicapped children receive benefit from cochlear implantation. The rate of this improvement is slow but offers better quality of life due to better auditory-communication skills, better self-independence and social integration. The results of implantation in presented group of patients is encouraging.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Hearing
01:13The Cochlea