Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2025
Robotic Cochlear Implantation for Direct Cochlear Access
Published on: June 16, 2022
Early cochlear implantation in children with complex medical needs: A multidisciplinary approach
Dani Stern1, Laura Greaver1, Steven Hamilton2
1Children's Hospital Colorado, 4125 Briargate Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, USA.
Insights
Children with hearing loss and other medical conditions experience longer cochlear implant (CI) evaluation times. Additional medical needs may cause delays, but should not prevent CI candidacy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Otolaryngology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Early cochlear implantation (CI) is crucial for speech and language development in children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).
- Children with co-occurring medical diagnoses may face unique challenges in accessing timely CI care.
Purpose of the Study:
- This study aimed to compare the cochlear implant evaluation timeline for infants with hearing loss and additional medical diagnoses versus those with hearing loss as their sole diagnosis.
- To identify potential barriers to early CI intervention in this vulnerable pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study was conducted on 43 infants diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss by three months of age who received cochlear implants between 2017 and 2022.
- The primary outcome measure was the difference in CI evaluation time between patients with and without additional medical diagnoses.
Main Results:
- Infants with additional medical diagnoses (n=20) had a longer average CI evaluation period (13.5 months) compared to those with hearing loss only (n=23, 12 months).
- While the number of core CI team appointments was similar, patients with additional diagnoses had significantly more appointments with external medical specialties.
Conclusions:
- Additional medical diagnoses are associated with extended cochlear implant evaluation timelines, likely due to increased external specialist consultations.
- Healthcare providers should manage expectations for potential delays while ensuring children with complex needs are not excluded from CI candidacy.
Objectives:
To determine if children with hearing loss and additional medical diagnoses are achieving early cochlear implantation when compared to their peers with hearing loss as their sole diagnosis.
Study Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
Pediatric outpatient clinic.
Patients:
43 infants diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss, at least severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in one ear, by three months of age and received cochlear implant(s) between 2017 and 2022.
Main Outcome Measure:
Difference in cochlear implant (CI) evaluation time between patients with additional medical diagnoses and patients with hearing loss only.
Results:
20 patients had additional diagnoses and 23 had hearing loss without other diagnoses. On average, patients with additional diagnoses had a longer CI evaluation time than patients without an additional diagnosis (13.5 months evaluation period for patients with additional diagnosis vs 12 months for patients without additional diagnosis). Appointments prior to cochlear implantation were reviewed for both groups. There was no difference in the number of appointments with the core CI team between the two groups studied. Patients with additional diagnoses had significantly more appointments with specialties outside of the core CI team prior to cochlear implantation than their peers.
Conclusions:
Patients with additional diagnoses had a longer CI evaluation time than those with hearing loss alone. This may be attributed to the need for appointments with medical specialties outside of the core CI team. A medical diagnosis in addition to hearing loss should not preclude a child from progressing through the candidacy evaluation process. However, it may be helpful to manage expectations regarding the potential delays in cochlear implantation.
