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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
362
Factors Influencing Pediatric Cochlear Implant Use
Erika B Gagnon1, Erin M Thompson1, Lisa R Park1
1Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
American Journal of Audiology
|August 12, 2024
Summary
Pediatric cochlear implant device use, measured by hearing hours percentage (HHP), is crucial for spoken language outcomes. Factors like intellectual development delay (IDD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) negatively impact HHP, while age positively influences it.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Speech-language pathology
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Cochlear implant device use, quantified by hearing hours percentage (HHP), significantly impacts pediatric spoken language development.
- Understanding factors influencing HHP is essential for optimizing auditory access and intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key variables that predict hearing hours percentage (HHP) in pediatric cochlear implant recipients.
- To inform clinical interventions aimed at reducing barriers and enhancing HHP.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective chart review of 958 pediatric subjects (2019-2023) using data logging.
- A mixed-effects model analyzed HHP influenced by listener type, insurance, age at surgery, presence of ASD/IDD, and year of data collection.
Main Results:
- Mean HHP was 64.2%, below the recommended 80% goal.
- Lower HHP was associated with intellectual development delay (IDD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Medicaid insurance, and older age at surgery.
- HHP increased with age, and COVID-19 pandemic years showed reduced HHP across all listener types.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric cochlear implant users access sound less than half the time compared to typically hearing peers.
- Identified variables provide targets for cochlear implant teams to improve HHP in vulnerable populations.
- Further research is needed to develop effective interventions for increasing HHP.
