BACKGROUND: The success of cochlear implants in children was followed by a stepwise reduction in age at time of surgery. As a result of newborn hearing-screening (NHS) and the reliable audiologic diagnostic procedure, the question is raised as to whether an implantation before the age of 1 year is effective and safe in terms of surgery and rehabilitation. METHOD AND PATIENTS: This retrospective study included 27 children implanted before the age of 1 year (Gr. 1) and 89 children implanted between the age of 1 and 2 years (Gr. 2). Patient related data were analysed for individual history, surgery, rehabilitation and speech understanding. RESULTS: The incidence of complications was not increased in Gr. 1. The fitting of a speech processor was effective and uneventful in all children. The development of hearing and speech understanding showed better results after 2 years in Gr. 1. This development is more obvious for absolute age and not to rehabilitation time. CONCLUSION: In order to achieve an optimal timing for the development of speech understanding, cochlear implantation should be performed before the age of 2 years. This study revealed no additional risks for children in Gr. 1, but the development of speech understanding was better. As a consequence, cochlear implantation should be considered for very young children with an identified bilateral profound hearing loss.
BACKGROUND: The success of cochlear implants in children was followed by a stepwise reduction in age at time of surgery. As a result of newborn hearing-screening (NHS) and the reliable audiologic diagnostic procedure, the question is raised as to whether an implantation before the age of 1 year is effective and safe in terms of surgery and rehabilitation. METHOD AND PATIENTS: This retrospective study included 27 children implanted before the age of 1 year (Gr. 1) and 89 children implanted between the age of 1 and 2 years (Gr. 2). Patient related data were analysed for individual history, surgery, rehabilitation and speech understanding. RESULTS: The incidence of complications was not increased in Gr. 1. The fitting of a speech processor was effective and uneventful in all children. The development of hearing and speech understanding showed better results after 2 years in Gr. 1. This development is more obvious for absolute age and not to rehabilitation time. CONCLUSION: In order to achieve an optimal timing for the development of speech understanding, cochlear implantation should be performed before the age of 2 years. This study revealed no additional risks for children in Gr. 1, but the development of speech understanding was better. As a consequence, cochlear implantation should be considered for very young children with an identified bilateral profound hearing loss.
Authors: Wolf Dieter Baumgartner; Stefan Marcel Pok; Brigitte Egelierler; Peter Franz; Wolfgang Gstoettner; Jafar Hamzavi Journal: Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2002-02-25 Impact factor: 1.675
Authors: A Lamprecht-Dinnesen; U Sick; P Sandrieser; A Illg; A Lesinski-Schiedat; W H Döring; J Müller-Deile; J Kiefer; K Matthias; A Wüst; E Konradi; M Riebandt; P Matulat; S Von Der Haar-Heise; J Swart; K Elixmann; K Neumann; A Hildmann; F Coninx; V Meyer; M Gross; E Kruse; T Lenarz Journal: Laryngorhinootologie Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 1.057
Authors: T Moser; N Strenzke; A Meyer; A Lesinski-Schiedat; T Lenarz; D Beutner; A Foerst; R Lang-Roth; H von Wedel; M Walger; M Gross; A Keilmann; A Limberger; T Steffens; J Strutz Journal: HNO Date: 2006-11 Impact factor: 1.284
Authors: K Reichmuth; A Nickisch; P Matulat; A Fiori; J Swart; K Elixmann-Mittler; V Voigtmann; W Döring; A Stollenwerk; A Lesinski-Schiedat; S von der Haar-Heise; A Knief; A am Zehnhoff-Dinnesen Journal: HNO Date: 2010-12 Impact factor: 1.284