Cochlear Implant Use Remains Consistent Over Time in Children With Single-Sided Deafness

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Single-sided deafness (SSD) presents unique audiological challenges for children.
• Cochlear implants (CIs) offer a potential solution for restoring auditory function in SSD.
• Understanding CI acceptance and usage patterns in pediatric populations is crucial for optimizing outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acceptance and daily usage of cochlear implants (CIs) in children diagnosed with single-sided deafness (SSD).
• To investigate factors influencing CI use, such as age, hearing experience, and auditory environments.
• To assess the reliability of CI use through datalogging technology.

Main Methods:

• Datalogging data from 23 children with SSD were analyzed, capturing CI usage hours, coil disconnections, and environmental sound exposure.
• Linear mixed-effects regressions examined relationships between age, hearing experience, CI use, and coil-offs.
• Nonlinear regressions evaluated CI use across different auditory environments.

Main Results:

• Children with SSD used their CIs for an average of 6.22 hours daily.
• CI use did not significantly change with age or increased hearing experience.
• Greater hearing experience correlated with fewer daily coil disconnections.
• Preschoolers utilized CIs more in "music" and "speech" compared to older children, who favored "speech-in-noise".

Conclusions:

• Children with SSD demonstrate consistent and sustained use of their cochlear implants.
• CI use in children with SSD appears compatible with their normal-hearing ear.
• These findings suggest that children with SSD value and benefit from the auditory input provided by cochlear implants.