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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Factors Impacting Datalogging After Prelingual Cochlear Implantation in Children
Ashwini M Tilak1, Hengameh K Behzadpour1, Francesca T DeFaria1
1Division of Otolaryngology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Insights
Cochlear implant (CI) usage in children with prelingual deafness is lower with inner ear malformations, medical comorbidities, and in non-White children. Age at implantation did not significantly impact CI device usage.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Audiology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Children with prelingual deafness face management delays and are vulnerable to socioeconomic factors impacting cochlear implant (CI) use.
- Understanding factors influencing CI device usage is crucial for optimizing outcomes in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patient factors associated with cochlear implant usage in children with prelingual deafness.
- To identify predictors of CI device usage using objective datalogging measures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 102 children with prelingual deafness (165 ears) from 2008-2024.
- Multivariate and univariate regression analyses examined associations between age at implantation, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, inner ear malformation, and CI usage.
Main Results:
- Average daily CI usage was 8.3 hours.
- Significantly lower usage was observed in children with inner ear malformations (6.8h), medical comorbidities (8.0h), and non-White children (5.3h).
- Age at implantation (average 31.2 months) was not statistically associated with CI usage.
Conclusions:
- Inner ear malformation, race, presence of comorbidity, and time since implant activation are significant factors influencing CI usage in children with prelingual deafness.
- Objective datalogging reveals key variables impacting device utilization in this vulnerable population.
- Findings aid in patient selection and counseling for cochlear implantation.
Introduction:
Children with prelingual deafness can experience delays in management and be especially vulnerable to socioeconomic factors affecting implant usage. We hypothesized that older age at cochlear implant and presence of additional comorbidity would be negatively correlated with usage as measured by datalogging.
Methods:
Retrospective review of patient factors impacting children with prelingual deafness from 2008 to 2024 at a tertiary free-standing children's hospital. Multivariate and univariate regression analyses were used to identify associations with age at implantation, socioeconomic status, presence of additional comorbidity, and inner ear malformation between CI device usage.
Results:
A total of 102 patients met the inclusion criteria, with each ear being evaluated separately, leading to a total of 165 ears included in the study. The average age at implantation was 31.2 months (SD 32.6), and the mean daily average datalogging was 8.3 h/day (SD 4.6). Average daily datalogging was significantly lower in ears with the presence of cochlear malformation (6.8 vs. 9.5, p = 0.03), medical comorbidity (8.0 vs. 9.5, p = 0.0032), and non-White children (5.3 vs. 9.5 vs. 10.4, p = 0.0021). Age at implantation was not statistically associated with CI usage (r 2 = 0.013, p = 0.268). Multivariate regression showed significant associations between inner ear malformation, race, presence of comorbidity, and time since implant activation on CI usage.
Conclusion:
Our study represents one of the only analyses exclusively of this population with an objective usage output measure demonstrating variables impacting implant usage. This study provides additional data that can be used during patient selection and counseling both before and after this possibly life-altering intervention.
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