title: Outcome of cochlear implantation at different ages from 0 to 6 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome of cochlear implantation in young children in relation to the age at implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of pediatric cochlear implant patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children with congenital deafness who underwent implantation before the age of 6 years (n = 48 for the longitudinal analysis and n = 70 for the cross-sectional analysis)
  
  
  METHODS
  All children received a multichannel cochlear implant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) score and integration into the mainstream school system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all children, the CAP score increased after implantation. Implantation beyond the age of 4 years hardly ever resulted in normal CAP scores or in integration into the mainstream primary school (20 to 30% of cases). Implantation between the age of 2 and 4 years always resulted in normal CAP scores after 3 years with a 66% probability of integration into the primary school. Implantation before the age of 2 years always resulted in immediate normalization of the CAP scores, with a 90% probability of integration into the mainstream kindergarten, well before entrance into the primary school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All children with congenital deafness who underwent implantation before the age of 6 years appeared to benefit from the implant. However, these data add evidence to the importance of early implantation (before the age of 2 years). Intervention before the age of 4 years seemed to be critical to avoid irreversible auditory performance losses, and intervention before the age of 2 years seemed to be critical to achieve optimal results.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Otolaryngology, St. Augustinus Hospital (University of Antwerp), Antwerp-Wilrijk, Belgium. dr.govaerts@eargroup.net
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Govaerts
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Beukelaer
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daemers
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Ceulaer
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yperman
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Somers
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schatteman
authors.forename: F Erwin
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Offeciers
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome