Predictability of cochlear implant outcome in families.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to determine if the performance of the first implanted member of a family predicts the performance of subsequently implanted family members.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Seventy-one cochlear implant recipients, each belonging to a family with two or more implanted members, were the subjects of this study. Routine audiometric measurements and age-appropriate speech perception tests were performed pre- and postoperatively. In addition, length of deafness, age at implantation, etiology, and length of device usage were correlated to outcome.


RESULTS
All implant recipients within a family showed improvement postimplantation, and the predictive component between family members was strong. Presence of GJB2 mutations and greater age at implantation were predictive of poorer rehabilitative outcome, while length of device usage was associated with improved speech perception scores.


CONCLUSIONS
On average, if the first implanted family member performs well with a cochlear implant, those following will do well; however, GJB2-related deafness and increased age at implantation are associated with poorer outcome. These findings have important implications for members of families considering cochlear implantation.
Lalwani
Anil K
AK
Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Budenz
Cameron L
CL
Weisstuch
Adam S
AS
Babb
James
J
Roland
J Thomas
JT
Waltzman
Susan B
SB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017630:Connexins; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017630:Connexins; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; D000072259:Connexin 26