title: Cochlear implantation in deaf children with associated disabilities: challenges and outcomes.
abstract: The issue of cochlear implantation in deaf children with associated disabilities is an emerging subject. Currently, there is no consensus on whether to implant children with multiple impairments; moreover, it may be difficult to evaluate these children with standard tests pre- or post-implantation. In addition, these children often have poor speech perception and language skills, making assessment more difficult. Despite these factors, these children often receive important benefits in daily life, with an overall improvement in quality of life. In the present study, post-implant outcomes of 23 profoundly deaf children with neuropsychiatric disorders were analysed, using objective measures of speech perception, and a questionnaire administered to the parents, aimed at evaluating the benefits in daily life after implantation. The results were quite variable, but overall positive, in terms of speech perception, communication abilities, and improvement in quality of life. The findings add an additional piece of evidence to support the effectiveness of cochlear implantation in these special cases.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Department, ENT Unit, University of Pisa, Italy. s.berrettini@med.unipi.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berrettini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forli
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: Rosamaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santarelli
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chilosi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cipriani
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome