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Updated: Dec 4, 2025
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
A Study to Determine Various Factors Influencing Auditory Outcomes in Paediatric Cochlear Implantation
Brajendra Baser1, Murli Patidar1, Praveen Surana1
1Department of ENT and HNS, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore, Madhya Pradesh India.
Insights
Younger age at cochlear implantation, prior hearing aid use, and normal cochlear morphology significantly improve auditory outcomes in pediatric patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children presents significant communication challenges.
- Unilateral cochlear implantation (CI) is a common intervention for pediatric SNHL.
- Identifying factors influencing CI outcomes is crucial for optimizing pediatric audiological rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors affecting auditory performance in pediatric patients post-unilateral cochlear implantation.
- To determine the impact of pre-operative variables on cochlear implant success in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 50 prelingually deaf children (1-6 years) with bilateral profound SNHL.
- Unilateral cochlear implantation performed between January 2016 and June 2018.
- Auditory performance assessed using the Revised Categories of Auditory Performance (RCAP) score at 1-year post-implantation.
Main Results:
- Younger age at implantation, pre-operative hearing aid use, and normal cochlear morphology were associated with significantly better RCAP scores.
- Gender, consanguinity, and birth hypoxia did not show a significant correlation with auditory outcomes.
- These factors positively influence the success of cochlear implantation in pediatric patients.
Conclusions:
- Early cochlear implantation, prior hearing aid use, and favorable cochlear anatomy are key predictors of better auditory outcomes.
- These findings aid in patient selection and counseling for pediatric cochlear implantation.
- Further research can explore long-term benefits and refine surgical and rehabilitation protocols.
Abstract:
To evaluate various factors that affects the auditory outcomes in pediatric patients with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss who underwent unilateral cochlear implantation. 50 prelingually deaf pediatric patients aged between 1 and 6 years with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss who underwent unilateral cochlear implantation between January 2016 and June 2018 at our tertiary centre were included in this study. Auditory performance was measured using revised categories of auditory performance score at 1 year post cochlear implantation. A Statistical analysis of several factors was performed to reveal any significant relation with outcomes of cochlear implantation. The results of the study showed that patients with younger age at implantation, patient who used hearing aid prior to surgery and patients with normal cochlear morphology had better auditory outcomes post cochlear implantation than their counter group and are the factors which have positive effect on the cochlear implantation outcomes, whereas factors which did not showed any significant relation with the auditory outcomes of cochlear implantation are gender, consanguinity and birth hypoxia. Age at implantation, use of hearing aid prior to surgery and cochlear morphology are the factors with direct impact on the outcomes of cochlear implant.
