Bimodal Stimulation in Prelingually Deaf Children: Lessons from a Cross-sectional Survey

(1) To survey the use of bimodal stimulation by prelingually deaf children receiving unilateral cochlear implantation and (2) to investigate demographic and audiologic factors explaining the use of bimodal stimulation.

Cross-sectional survey.

Tertiary care institution.

The study included 44 unilaterally implanted prelingually deaf children from a single institution, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. During routine follow-up visits, an examiner interviewed parents on their children's use of bimodal stimulation. At the same time, residual hearing and hearing aid gain in the contralateral ear were assessed.

Approximately half of patients (52%) used bimodal stimulation. On average, bimodal users showed better mean unaided and aided thresholds than nonbimodal users (P < .001). A mean 250- to 500-Hz unaided threshold ≤90 dB HL in the contralateral, nonimplanted ear was associated with a higher probability of bimodal use (P = .008). Parental satisfaction with the contralateral hearing aid was inversely correlated with mean 125- to 500-Hz and 1000- to 4000-Hz unaided thresholds (P < .001) and mean 250- to 500-Hz and 1000- to 4000-Hz aided thresholds (P < .001).

A mean 250- to 500-Hz unaided threshold ≤90 dB HL is associated with a higher probability of bimodal use by prelingually deaf children. Better residual hearing is associated with a higher degree of parental satisfaction with the contralateral hearing aid. This information could be useful to counsel parents of prelingually deaf children, when deciding between bimodal stimulation and simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation.