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Updated: Jul 29, 2025
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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
424
Cochlear Implantation in Very Young Children With Single-Sided Deafness.
Ankita Patro1, Jourdan T Holder1,2, Christine L Brown2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Summary
Cochlear implants (CIs) are safe and effective for children under five with single-sided deafness (SSD), showing significant speech benefits. Early implantation is well-accepted and beneficial, especially for those without cochlear nerve issues or developmental delays.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Audiology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Current cochlear implant (CI) approvals for single-sided deafness (SSD) exclude children under five, despite potential benefits.
- This study investigates the safety and efficacy of CI in younger children with SSD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the institution's experience with cochlear implantation for single-sided deafness in children aged five years and younger.
- To assess the safety, device usage, and speech outcomes in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case series was conducted using chart review.
- Nineteen patients aged five years and younger with SSD underwent cochlear implantation between 2014 and 2022.
- Data collected included baseline characteristics, perioperative complications, device use, and speech outcomes.
Main Results:
- Fifteen of nineteen patients (79%) were under five years old at implantation, with a median age of 2.8 years.
- No postoperative complications were reported.
- Twelve patients demonstrated consistent device use (average 9 hours/day), and those with available testing showed significant speech recognition benefits.
Conclusions:
- Cochlear implantation is a safe and viable option for children under five with single-sided deafness.
- Early implantation is well-tolerated and leads to notable improvements in speech recognition.
- Candidacy for CI in SSD could be expanded to include younger children, particularly those without contraindications like hypoplastic cochlear nerves or developmental delays.
