Factors Influencing Pediatric Cochlear Implant Outcomes: Carolina Sibling Study

To determine the correlation between speech perception performance between pediatric sibling pairs with severe to profound sensory hearing loss receiving cochlear implants, and in cases of discordance in performance, determine which variables negatively impacted performance.

Retrospective chart review.

Tertiary academic referral center.

Eighty-nine pediatric subjects, 43 sibling groups, under the age of 18 with severe to profound sensory hearing loss who received a cochlear implant with a sibling who also received a cochlear implant.

Cochlear implantation.

Speech perception scores, consonant-nucleus- consonant score.

A statistically significant correlation was found between speech perception performance of pediatric siblings. Depth of insertion is positively correlated with better speech perception in siblings with discordant results. There was no significant relationship with either electrode type, unilateral/bilateral status, or age of implantation.

Pediatric siblings have a high correlation in speech perception outcomes following cochlear implantation, suggesting family environment plays a strong role. In circumstances in which outcomes between siblings are substantially different, greater depth of implant insertion is correlated with better consonant-nucleus- consonant word scores.