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Initial experience with children using the Nucleus 22 Channel cochlear implant
S A Roberts1, P A Busby, R C Dowell
1Cochlear A.G., London Representative Office, England.
Insights
The Nucleus 22 Channel cochlear implant shows promise for young children, with early results indicating successful programming and no major complications. Long-term speech perception and communication skills are under evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- The Nucleus 22 Channel cochlear prosthesis is a widely adopted device for hearing restoration.
- Global implementation across 90+ clinics in 14 countries highlights its significance.
- Previous studies have established the safety and efficacy of cochlear implantation in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of the Nucleus 22 Channel cochlear prosthesis in young children.
- To assess the long-term development of speech perception and communication skills in implanted children.
- To report on the initial outcomes of the first pediatric cases implanted with this device.
Main Methods:
- Case study focusing on two children implanted with the Nucleus 22 Channel device.
- Postoperative programming and audiological assessments.
- Ongoing evaluation of speech perception and communication skills development.
Main Results:
- The device was successfully programmed in children as young as two years nine months.
- No significant postoperative complications were reported in implanted children.
- Two original pediatric recipients have used their speech processors for over 18 months.
Conclusions:
- The Nucleus 22 Channel cochlear prosthesis demonstrates feasibility and safety in pediatric recipients.
- Early findings suggest potential for positive long-term outcomes in speech and communication development.
- Further long-term data collection is crucial for comprehensive understanding of device performance in children.
Abstract:
The Nucleus 22 Channel cochlear prosthesis developed by the University of Melbourne and Cochlear Pty Ltd is now being used in over 90 clinics worldwide, in fourteen countries and fifteen languages. A total of thirty adolescents and thirty-nine children have now been implanted in Australia, America and more recently Germany. There have been no significant postoperative complications, and the device has been successfully programmed in children as young as two years nine months. Comprehensive evaluation and training programs are being undertaken with each implanted child to assess long term development of speech perception and communication skills. The average postoperative stimulation time for most of the children implanted is around 3 months, so as yet, little data has been recorded on these patients. However, the two original children implanted in Melbourne have now been using their speech processors in excess of 18 months. The focus of this paper will be on the performance of these two children.