Bilateral cochlear implants in children.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of bilateral cochlear implants (CIs) use on speech perception in quiet and noise. The eleven children included in our study were prelingually deaf. With the two-stage technique, the two CIs were performed in all children. They underwent testing from four to 28 months after activation of bilateral hearing. Speech perception tests in quiet and in noise were performed in all children with the first CI alone and bilaterally. In speech-in-noise test, words and noise were presented from the front. Subjects showed varying degrees of improved performance on speech perception tests in quiet and noise according to bilateral auditory experience. Bilateral CIs can offer a substantial benefit in speech perception in quiet and noise. Copyright 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.