Pediatric cochlear implant patient performance as a function of age at implantation.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the effect that age at implantation has on performance of children who received multichannel cochlear implants.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study of 295 children who were broken down into 5 age groups based on age at implantation: 1-3 years, 3-5 years, 5-7 years, 7-9 years, and 9-11 years. Speech perception test scores obtained 12, 24, and 36 months postactivation were compared for the 5 groups using repeated-measures analysis of variance.


METHODS
This study was carried out at a tertiary academic medical center.


METHODS
Subjects consisted of 295 children who ranged in age from 12 months to 10 years 11 months at the time they obtained their cochlear implant.


METHODS
All patients received their cochlear implant at a single implant facility.


METHODS
Performance on several speech perception tests was compared 12, 24, and 36 months postactivation. Performance was evaluated as a function of age at implantation.


RESULTS
Patients in all 5 groups demonstrated improved scores when compared with scores obtained preoperatively with hearing aids. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant group by time interaction for 3 of the 5 measures. For all three of these measures, children implanted at younger ages demonstrated greater gains in speech perception over time than children implanted at older ages.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are in agreement with those of previous studies indicating that early implantation facilitates improved development of speech perception skills in profoundly deaf children.
Zwolan
T A
TA
University of Michigan Cochlear Implant Program, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108, USA. zwolan@umich.edu
Ashbaugh
C M
CM
Alarfaj
A
A
Kileny
P R
PR
Arts
H A
HA
El-Kashlan
H K
HK
Telian
S A
SA
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013067:Speech Perception; D016896:Treatment Outcome