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Are children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss receiving cochlear implants?
Alexandra F Corbin1, Erin M Gawel1, Ellen Piccillo2
1Jacobs School Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|December 26, 2023
Summary
The use of cochlear implants (CI) for children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has significantly increased since 2012. This trend continued even before the FDA expanded CI indications in 2019.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric audiology
- Medical device technology
Background:
- Cochlear implants (CI) were first approved for children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in 1990.
- In 2019, the FDA expanded CI indications to include children with unilateral SNHL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of unilateral SNHL in pediatric CI recipients between 2012 and 2021.
- To analyze trends in CI usage for unilateral versus bilateral SNHL in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Pediatric database.
- Inclusion of patients under 18 years undergoing CI for SNHL between 2012-2021.
- Identification of CI procedures using Current Procedural Terminology code 69930.
Main Results:
- 9863 pediatric CI patients were analyzed; 7.5% had unilateral SNHL, 92.5% had bilateral SNHL.
- The percentage of pediatric CI for unilateral SNHL increased from 3.3% in 2012 to 14.3% in 2021 (p < .001).
- Children with bilateral SNHL undergoing CI were younger (5.0 years) than those with unilateral SNHL (6.9 years).
Conclusions:
- The proportion of pediatric CIs for unilateral SNHL has shown a consistent annual increase.
- This upward trend in unilateral SNHL CI usage predates the 2019 FDA indication expansion.
