Single-sided deafness and cochlear implantation in congenital and acquired hearing loss in children

To determine the audiological and clinical results of cochlear implantation in children below the age of 12 years old with congenital and acquired single-sided deafness.

Observational, descriptive, transversal study.

Speech reception thresholds, Cortical responses, Auditory Lateralization Test and SSQ questionnaire.

Children < 12 implanted for congenital or acquired SSD.

All the children with congenital SSD showed positive cortical responses. Positive results were obtained in the Auditory Lateralization Test for the following modalities: 0º, 45º and 90º. With respect to the Speech Test, the children with acquired SSD showed the following results: 92% and 100% in recognition and 48% and 68% (Azimuth modalities), Signal CI side 52% and 68% and Signal normal hearing side 44% - 60% (p < 0.05). In both group the processor was used for 6-12 hours. With respect to the SSQ questionnaire results, the parents were more satisfied within the post-operative period than within the pre-operative period (P<0.001).

Cochlear implant provides children with congenital SSD with significant audiological and subjective benefits. Children with congenital SSD and implanted after a longer period may not have an important benefit (binaural) although other bilateral effects can be achieved. Children with post-lingual unilateral deafness and after a short period of hearing deprivation probably integrated the normal acoustic hearing with the cochlear implant electrical signal and showed binaural benefits.