Audiological results in children with a cochlear implant.
Audiological data collected through June 1984 were analyzed for 126 children with the cochlear implant. Preimplant hearing aid results were compared to cochlear implant results at 6-month follow-up test intervals. Auditory thresholds to warble tones and speech stimuli, and auditory discrimination test scores were significantly better with the cochlear implant at all test intervals than preoperatively with a hearing aid. Electrical measurements were also monitored. Mean thresholds remained consistent over time. Electrical comfort levels increased slightly over time, indicating a widening of the electrical dynamic range. Results have been extremely encouraging. Some trends are beginning to develop, but more long-term data are needed to define the potential benefit of the implant in children.
D000293:Adolescent; D001299:Audiometry; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000151:congenital / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception