S Baron1, M Blanchard2, M Parodi2, I Rouillon2, N Loundon2. 1. Centre hospitalier Sud Francilien, Corbeil Essonnes, France. Electronic address: sandrinebaron@hotmail.fr. 2. Hôpital universitaire Necker-Enfants-Malades, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Cochlear implants (CI) have enabled an increasing proportion of deaf children to develop oral communication. Despite the well-known benefits of bilateral implantation, many of these children and teenagers have only a unilateral implant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of sequential bilateral CI and the influence of relevant factors on outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective study included 109 children and adolescents who received a second sequential CI between 2008 and 2016. Subjects were evaluated before sequential implantation and subsequently at 3, 12 and 24 months, on Speech Intelligibility Rating and speech perception tests: Categories of Auditory Performance, word and sentence recognition in silence and in noise. The influence of inter-implant interval and performance with the first CI were analyzed. RESULTS: In the majority of patients, sequential CI provided significant improvement in speech and intelligibility perception. These benefits were seen not only for short but also for long inter-implant intervals. Some subjects with poor performance with their first implant showed significant progression after sequential bilateral implantation. CONCLUSION: In view of the benefits of sequential bilateral CI, we suggest that a second CI should be proposed to all unilaterally implanted children and adolescents, regardless of inter-implant interval and initial performance with the first CI. Further studies need to be conducted to identify prognostic factors for success in sequential contralateral implantation.
OBJECTIVES: Cochlear implants (CI) have enabled an increasing proportion of deaf children to develop oral communication. Despite the well-known benefits of bilateral implantation, many of these children and teenagers have only a unilateral implant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of sequential bilateral CI and the influence of relevant factors on outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective study included 109 children and adolescents who received a second sequential CI between 2008 and 2016. Subjects were evaluated before sequential implantation and subsequently at 3, 12 and 24 months, on Speech Intelligibility Rating and speech perception tests: Categories of Auditory Performance, word and sentence recognition in silence and in noise. The influence of inter-implant interval and performance with the first CI were analyzed. RESULTS: In the majority of patients, sequential CI provided significant improvement in speech and intelligibility perception. These benefits were seen not only for short but also for long inter-implant intervals. Some subjects with poor performance with their first implant showed significant progression after sequential bilateral implantation. CONCLUSION: In view of the benefits of sequential bilateral CI, we suggest that a second CI should be proposed to all unilaterally implanted children and adolescents, regardless of inter-implant interval and initial performance with the first CI. Further studies need to be conducted to identify prognostic factors for success in sequential contralateral implantation.