Functional outcome of sequential bilateral cochlear implantation in young children: 36 months postoperative results.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of sequential bilateral cochlear implantation (CI) on the life of young children after 36 months of bilateral implant use.


METHODS
Thirty-five children were assessed prior to and 3 until 36 months after activation of the second CI. Main outcome measures were: the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP), Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR), communication mode, classroom placement, parent reports and the Würzburg questionnaire. Results were analysed separately for children younger and older than 6 years at the time of the second implantation.


RESULTS
At the 3-year test interval, 80% of the younger children attended mainstream schools and were comprehensible for all listeners. They all used oral communication and almost 70% of them could have a conversation over the telephone. After 3 years of bilateral implant use less than 50% of the older children obtained the highest score on the SIR and CAP. Approximately 70% of them was integrated in mainstream schools and used oral communication. All parents reported a more natural communication and an improved quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Sequential bilateral implantation seems to offer a wide range of participation benefits to all children and facilitates the social intercourse with their hearing environment.
Scherf
Fanny Wilhelmina Adriana Cornelia
FW
University Department ORL, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp University, Edegem, Belgium. Fanny.Scherf@uza.be
van Deun
Lieselot
L
van Wieringen
Astrid
A
Wouters
Jan
J
Desloovere
Christian
C
Dhooge
Ingeborg
I
Offeciers
Erwin
E
Deggouj
Naïma
N
De Raeve
Leo
L
De Bodt
Marc
M
Van de Heyning
Paul Henry
PH
D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014705:Verbal Behavior