Two ears and two (or more?) devices: a pediatric case study of bilateral profound hearing loss.
Advances in technology and expanding candidacy guidelines have motivated many clinics to consider children with precipitously sloping high-frequency hearing loss as candidates for cochlear implants (CIs). A case study is presented of a pediatric CI patient whose hearing thresholds were preserved within 10 dB of preimplant levels (125-750 Hz) after receiving a fully inserted 31.5-mm electrode array at one ear. The primary goal of this study was to explore the possible benefit of using both a hearing aid (HA) and a CI at one ear while using a HA at the opposite ear. The authors find that although the use of bilateral hearing aids with a CI may only provide a slight benefit, careful attention must be paid to the coordinated fitting of devices, especially at the ear with two devices.
Uchanski
Rosalie M
RM
Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA. uchanskir@ent.wustl.edu
Davidson
Lisa S
LS
Quadrizius
Sharon
S
Reeder
Ruth
R
Cadieux
Jamie
J
Kettel
Jerrica
J
Chole
Richard A
RA
D001299:Audiometry; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D010898:Pitch Perception; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013017:Sound Localization; D013067:Speech Perception; D016896:Treatment Outcome