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Updated: Dec 5, 2025
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Developmental performance among pediatric candidates for cochlear implantation
Yanhong Li1,2, Wanxia Zhang3, Yang Yang1,2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China.
Insights
Deaf children awaiting cochlear implantation (CI) show significant verbal and nonverbal developmental delays. Early intervention is crucial, as the age of CI candidacy impacts developmental outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Developmental evaluation for pediatric cochlear implantation (CI) candidates is often overlooked.
- Deaf children exhibit unique developmental trajectories requiring specialized assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively evaluate the developmental performance of deaf children identified as candidates for cochlear implantation (CI).
- To identify factors influencing developmental outcomes in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for 500 pediatric cochlear implantation (CI) candidates (age 6-72 months) with severe-to-profound hearing loss.
- Assessment of preoperative developmental domains: gross motor, fine motor, adaptability, language, and social skills.
- Multivariate linear regression analysis to determine factors associated with developmental levels.
Main Results:
- Deaf children demonstrated significant delays in both verbal and nonverbal skills compared to normative data (p < .05).
- 10% of candidates had normal development; 51.6% showed mild neurological dysfunction.
- Language skills were most affected (4.2% normal rate), while gross motor skills were least affected (42% normal rate).
- Age at intervention was a significant risk factor for developmental level (β = -0.340, p < .05).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric cochlear implantation (CI) candidates exhibit widespread verbal and nonverbal developmental delays.
- Early intervention and comprehensive developmental assessment are critical for optimizing outcomes in deaf children.
- Age of intervention is a key factor influencing the developmental trajectory of deaf children.
Background:
Developmental evaluation of deaf children before cochlear implantation (CI) has not been given enough attention.
Objectives:
This study was designed to evaluate the comprehensive developmental performance of deaf children who are CI candidates.
Materials And Methods:
The medical records of pediatric candidates for CI were reviewed. Five hundred children (287 boys; median age: 21.00 months; range: 6-72 months) with a diagnosis of severe-to-profound hearing loss were included. Preoperative developmental evaluation, including gross motor, fine motor, adaptability, language and social skill were retrieved. Comprehensive developmental performances including verbal and nonverbal skill were assessed. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to analyze the related developmental factors.
Results:
Compared with normal developmental metrics, deaf children had developmental delay (p < .001), which occurred in not only the verbal but also nonverbal skill (all p < .05). Of the 500 deaf children, 50 (10%) had normal performance; the majority (51.6%) had mild neurological dysfunction. Of all the sub-developments, language developed worst (normal rate: 4.2%) and gross motor developed best (normal rate: 42%). Age of intervention was a risk factor for the developmental level of deaf children (β = -0.340, p < .05).
Conclusions:
Pediatric candidates for CI had both verbal and nonverbal developmental delay. Age of intervention was a risk factor for the developmental level.
Significance:
Comprehensive developmental evaluation of deaf children before cochlear implantation (CI) should be paid enough attention. Early intervention for improving hearing was of significance.
