Indications for pediatric cochlear implantation at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
OBJECTIVE
To classify and describe causes of hearing loss in children of Mississippi.


METHODS
Tertiary, university practice.


METHODS
Consecutive series of children undergoing cochlear implantation at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.


METHODS
A prospectively maintained database has been kept since the inception of the cochlear implant program at UMMC. Records were queried as to the diagnosis of hearing loss, perioperative complications, and postoperative acceptance of the device by the patient.


RESULTS
Fifty-nine children underwent cochlear implantation from April 2003 to March 2007. Twenty-two children had no risk factors for hearing loss and were presumed to have genetic hearing loss. Seven had hearing loss related to complications of prematurity. Four had abnormal genes for Connexin 26, and four had congenital cytomegalovirus infections. Three had unclassified autosomal dominant hearing loss.


CONCLUSIONS
Since nearly half of the patients in this series had no known risk factors for hearing loss, our findings support the need for universal newborn hearing screening. Further advancements in genomic research will facilitate diagnosis of genetic hearing loss.
Carron
Jeffrey D
JD
Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003638:Deafness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008403:Mass Screening; D008922:Mississippi / Q000453:epidemiology; D015997:Neonatal Screening