Developmental performance among pediatric candidates for cochlear implantation

Abstract

Background

Developmental evaluation of deaf children before cochlear implantation (CI) has not been given enough attention.

Objectives

This study was designed to evaluate the comprehensive developmental performance of deaf children who are CI candidates.

Materials and methods

The medical records of pediatric candidates for CI were reviewed. Five hundred children (287 boys; median age: 21.00 months; range: 6–72 months) with a diagnosis of severe-to-profound hearing loss were included. Preoperative developmental evaluation, including gross motor, fine motor, adaptability, language and social skill were retrieved. Comprehensive developmental performances including verbal and nonverbal skill were assessed. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to analyze the related developmental factors.

Results

Compared with normal developmental metrics, deaf children had developmental delay (p < .001), which occurred in not only the verbal but also nonverbal skill (all p < .05). Of the 500 deaf children, 50 (10%) had normal performance; the majority (51.6%) had mild neurological dysfunction. Of all the sub-developments, language developed worst (normal rate: 4.2%) and gross motor developed best (normal rate: 42%). Age of intervention was a risk factor for the developmental level of deaf children (β = −0.340, p < .05).

Conclusions

Pediatric candidates for CI had both verbal and nonverbal developmental delay. Age of intervention was a risk factor for the developmental level.

Significance

Comprehensive developmental evaluation of deaf children before cochlear implantation (CI) should be paid enough attention. Early intervention for improving hearing was of significance.

Chinese abstract

背景：耳蜗植入（CI）之前的聋儿发育评估尚未得到足够的重视。

目的：本研究旨在评估作为CI候选人的聋儿的综合发育表现。。

材料和方法：回顾了儿科CI候选儿童的病历。纳入诊断为重度至严重听力损失的五百名儿童（287名男孩；中位年龄：21.00个月；年龄范围：6-72个月）。术前发育评估, 包括大动作、小动作、适应能力、语言和社交技巧。评估了包括语言和非语言能力在内的综合发育表现。多元线性回归分析被用来分析相关的发育因素。

结果：与正常的发育指标相比, 聋儿的发育迟缓（p <.001）, 这不仅发生在语言技巧上, 也发生在非语言技巧上（p <.05）。在500名聋哑儿童中有50名（10％）的表现正常；大多数（51.6％）患有轻度神经功能障碍。在所有发育方面, 语言发育最差（正常率：4.2％）, 总运动能力最好（正常率：42％）。干预年龄是聋儿发育状况的危险因素（b¼0.340, p <.05）。

结论：儿科CI候选人在语言和非语言方面都发育迟缓。年龄干预是发育水平的风险因素。

意义：人工耳蜗植入前聋儿的综合发育评估（CI）应该引起足够的重视。早期干预对改善听力具有重要意义。

Keywords:

• Cochlear implantation
• deaf
• children
• developmental performance

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the The Special Fund of the Pediatric Medical Coordinated Development Center of Beijing Hospitals Authority (XTYB201828) and Beijing Hospitals Authority’ Ascent Plan (DFL20191201).