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Author Spotlight: Optimizing EAS with Long Electrodes for Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation
Published on: October 11, 2024
Long-term clinical outcomes of cochlear implantation in children with symptomatic epilepsy
Filippo Di Lella1, Andrea Bacciu1, Maurizio Falcioni1
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Audiology and Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma 43126, Italy.
Insights
Cochlear implantation in deaf children with epilepsy did not alter seizure patterns but significantly improved communication skills. This procedure offers substantial benefits for these children.
Area of Science:
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Symptomatic epilepsy in deaf children presents unique challenges for development and communication.
- Cochlear implantation (CI) is a transformative technology for profound hearing loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of cochlear implantation in deaf children diagnosed with symptomatic epilepsy.
- To assess the impact of CI on seizure patterns, EEG, and communicative development.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of two pediatric patients with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and symptomatic epilepsy who underwent cochlear implantation.
- Evaluation of clinical data, imaging, pre- and post-operative epilepsy patterns, EEG, and communicative skills using the Profile of Actual Linguistic Skills.
Main Results:
- Cochlear implantation did not result in significant changes to pre-existing seizure patterns or EEG traces in either patient.
- Both patients demonstrated substantial development in their communicative abilities post-implantation.
Conclusions:
- Cochlear implantation is a safe and beneficial intervention for deaf children with symptomatic epilepsy.
- The procedure enhances communication skills without adversely affecting epilepsy characteristics.
Objectives:
To describe long-term clinical outcomes of cochlear implantation in deaf children with symptomatic epilepsy.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective data analysis review of patients implanted at the Cochlear Implant Center of the University of Parma, Italy, was performed, searching for implanted children with a confirmed diagnosis of symptomatic epilepsy. Clinical data, imaging findings, pre- and post-operative epilepsy pattern and EEG traces were analyzed; communicative skills were assessed using the Profile of Actual Linguistic Skills.
Results:
Search retrieved two patients affected by profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and symptomatic epilepsy (associated respectively with methylmalonic acidemia and cerebral palsy). After careful parental counselling both patients were offered and underwent cochlear implantation. Activation and use of cochlear implant did not determine substantial changes of pre-existing seizure pattern and EEG traces. Both patients showed substantial development of their communicative abilities.
Conclusions:
Cochlear implantation in children with symptomatic epilepsy did not determine variations in seizure pattern or EEG traces. Both patients experienced substantial benefit from cochlear implantation.
