title: Common cavity and custom-made electrodes: speech perception and audiological performance of children with common cavity implanted with a custom-made MED-EL electrode.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies exist on children with common cavity, fewer still on their long-term audiological development after having received a cochlear implant. Our goal was to observe and report the long-term audiological progress of children with common cavity who were implanted with a custom-made electrode.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this longitudinal, multi-center study, 19 children were implanted with a MED-EL custom-made electrode via either single slit cochleostomy or double posterior labyrinthotomy. We observed their audiological development with a test battery consisting of Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP), Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR), and Ling 6-Sounds tests. We tested the children 1 month prior to the surgery; at first fitting; at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months post first-fitting; at 2 years after first-fitting; and, whenever possible, at 3, 4, and 5 years after first-fitting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with common cavity tend to steadily and significantly improve their audiological skills over time. This development may, however, be highly individual; probably in part due to relatively high levels of additional needs. Parents should be counseled to establish realistic post-implantation expectations. Surgically, contrary to our expectations, we cannot confirm that double posterior labyrinthotomy reduces intracochlear electrode movement or that the MED-EL custom electrode leads to fewer incidences of intra- or post-implantation complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cochlear implantation is a safe and effective treatment option in children with common cavity. The majority of children with CC derive significant audiological benefit from implantation. Intra- and post-surgical complications, while serious, and be dealt with effectively in most cases.
authors.affiliation: Centro Clinico, Piazza Achille Leoni, 22, Rovereto, TN, Italy. millo@beltrame.info
authors.forename: Millo Achille
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Beltrame
authors.forename: Catherine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Birman
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cervera Escario
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kassouma
authors.forename: Spiros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manolidis
authors.forename: Michael Blair
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sainz Quevedo
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shanks
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suckfüll
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomás Barberán
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000002:abnormalities*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology*; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: CSF gusher; Cochlear implant; Common cavity; Custom-made electrode; Double posterior labyrinthotomy; Malformed cochlea