Long-term outcome after cochlear implantation in children with additional developmental disabilities

Abstract

Objective: Candidacy criteria for cochlear implants have expanded to include children with complex developmental disabilities. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term benefits of cochlear implantation for this clinical population. Design: The study involved a retrospective chart review. Study sample: The review identified 21 children with complex disabilities who had received cochlear implants in a pediatric center prior to 2004. Length of cochlear implant use was between 7.3 and 19.0 years. Long-term functional auditory abilities were assessed pre and post-operatively using measures appropriate to the child's level of functioning. Cognitive assessments and developmental data were also available for the children. Results: Children's long-term speech recognition outcomes depended highly on their developmental status. Children with severe developmental delay showed no open-set speech recognition abilities while children with mild to moderate delays achieved open-set scores ranging from 48 to 94% on open-set word testing. Five of 13 (38%) children with complex needs had discontinued use of their cochlear implant. Conclusions: Long-term speech recognition abilities following cochlear implantation for children with complex developmental issues seem to be highly related to their developmental profile. Developmental status is an important consideration in counselling families as part of the cochlear implant decision process.

Key Words::

• Children
• hearing loss
• cochlear implants
• additional disabilities
• outcomes

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Julia Ham in the preparation of this manuscript. We also thank the audiologists at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario for their contributions in clarifying chart data.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest. The content and writing of the paper were solely the work of the authors. This study was supported in part by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Grant and a Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Career Enhancement Award to E.F. Funding for the Child Hearing Lab is gratefully acknowledged from the Masonic Foundation of Ontario.