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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
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Long-term outcome after cochlear implantation in children with additional developmental disabilities
Nathalie Wakil1, Elizabeth M Fitzpatrick, Janet Olds
1* Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa , Ontario , Canada.
International Journal of Audiology
|May 15, 2014
Summary
Cochlear implants offer long-term auditory benefits for children with complex developmental disabilities, but outcomes depend on developmental status. Careful consideration of a child's profile is crucial when deciding on cochlear implant candidacy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Developmental disabilities research
- Cochlear implant technology
Background:
- Cochlear implant candidacy has expanded to include children with complex developmental disabilities.
- Understanding long-term benefits in this population is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term benefits of cochlear implantation in children with complex developmental disabilities.
- To assess the relationship between developmental status and auditory outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 21 children with complex disabilities who received cochlear implants before 2004.
- Assessment of long-term auditory abilities (7.3-19.0 years post-implantation) using age-appropriate measures.
- Analysis of cognitive assessments and developmental data.
Main Results:
- Long-term speech recognition outcomes were strongly correlated with developmental status.
- Children with mild to moderate developmental delays achieved open-set word recognition scores from 48-94%.
- Children with severe developmental delay showed no open-set speech recognition; 38% discontinued implant use.
Conclusions:
- Cochlear implantation outcomes in children with complex developmental issues are significantly influenced by their developmental profile.
- Developmental status is a critical factor for family counseling in the cochlear implant decision-making process.
