Abstract
A recent trend has been the implantation of bilateral cochlear implants (CIs) for children with severe to profound hearing loss. A review of available research on bilateral CIs was conducted to determine the support for this trend. A replicable review was undertaken to evaluate published research studies that examined the effectiveness of bilateral paediatric cochlear implantation. Databases, reference lists, and journals were searched for relevant documents using a pre-determined search protocol. Twenty-nine articles met the review's inclusion criteria and were retrieved and reviewed. This review adds to the previously published reviews on the topic by identifying additional paediatric studies. Sound localization and speech recognition in noise appear to be improved with bilateral compared to unilateral cochlear implants. Similarly, evoked potential measures suggest improved morphology when the second CI is implanted early. Well-designed and controlled studies that explore a variety of outcomes including cost-effectiveness, quality of life, speech, language, and psycho-educational measures should be further explored in order to provide additional support for parents and clinicians confronted with the bilateral cochlear implant decision.
Abbreviations | ||
ABR | = | Auditory brainstem response |
AdSpon | = | Adaptive Spondee Test |
BICI | = | Bilateral cochlear implant |
CAEP | = | Cortical auditory evoked potentials |
CI | = | Cochlear implant |
CIHA | = | Cochlear implant and hearing aid |
CRISP | = | Children's Realistic Index of Speech Perception |
ESPT | = | Early Speech Perception Test |
FM | = | Frequency modulation |
HA | = | Hearing aid |
HINT | = | Hearing in Noise Test |
LNT | = | Lexical Neighbourhood Test |
MAA | = | Minimum audible angle |
MLNT | = | Multisyllabic Lexical Neighbourhood Test |
N | = | Number of participants |
NH | = | Normal hearing |
PedsQL | = | Pediatric Quality of Life Measure |
R/L | = | Right/left |
SRM | = | Spatial Release from Masking |
SSQ | = | Speech, Spatial, and Qualities-of-Hearing Scale |
WNL | = | Within normal levels |
Abbreviations | ||
ABR | = | Auditory brainstem response |
AdSpon | = | Adaptive Spondee Test |
BICI | = | Bilateral cochlear implant |
CAEP | = | Cortical auditory evoked potentials |
CI | = | Cochlear implant |
CIHA | = | Cochlear implant and hearing aid |
CRISP | = | Children's Realistic Index of Speech Perception |
ESPT | = | Early Speech Perception Test |
FM | = | Frequency modulation |
HA | = | Hearing aid |
HINT | = | Hearing in Noise Test |
LNT | = | Lexical Neighbourhood Test |
MAA | = | Minimum audible angle |
MLNT | = | Multisyllabic Lexical Neighbourhood Test |
N | = | Number of participants |
NH | = | Normal hearing |
PedsQL | = | Pediatric Quality of Life Measure |
R/L | = | Right/left |
SRM | = | Spatial Release from Masking |
SSQ | = | Speech, Spatial, and Qualities-of-Hearing Scale |
WNL | = | Within normal levels |
Sumario
Una tendencia reciente ha sido la colocación bilateral de implantes cocleares (IC) en niños con hipoacusias severas a profundas. Se condujo una revisión de la investigación disponible sobre IC bilaterales para determinar el apoyo a esta tendencia. Se realizó una revisión replicable para evaluar los estudios de investigación publicados que examinan la efectividad de la implantación coclear pediátrica bilateral. Se revisaron bases de datos, listas de referencias y revistas buscando documentos relevantes y utilizando un protocolo pre-determinado de búsqueda. Veintinueve artículos cumplieron los criterios de inclusión de la revisión y se extrajeron para ser revisados. Esta revisión se suma a revisiones publicadas previamente sobre el tema, identificando estudios pediátricos adicionales. La localización del sonido y el reconocimiento del lenguaje en ruido parecen mejorar con implantes cocleares bilaterales comparado con unilaterales. Similarmente, las mediciones de potenciales evocados sugieren una mejoría en la morfología cuando el segundo IC se coloca tempranamente. Estudios bien diseñados y controlados que exploren una variedad de resultados, incluyendo costo-efectividad, calidad de vida, habla, lenguaje y medidas psico-sociales deberían ser examinados para aportar apoyo adicional a los padres y clínicos confrontados con la decisión de una implantación coclear bilateral.