title: A study to determine factors influencing outcomes of paediatric cochlear implants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cochlear implantation is a powerful tool for helping children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss to gain the ability to hear, achieve age appropriate communication skills. However patient selection is of utmost importance to achieve optimum results.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was done on 75 children who had undergone unilateral cochlear implantation. Hearing was assessed by, The Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS) and speech perception was assessed by the Meaningful Use of Speech Scale (MUSS) as a parent reported scale in an interview format.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cochlear implantation improved auditory skills and speech perception of the children who underwent cochlear implantation. Children who had less than 40 months auditory deprivation and those who had higher educated parents had better auditory skills and speech perception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early cochlear implantation and good auditory verbal therapy have better outcomes of hearing and speech.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Dept of ENT, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India.
authors.forename: Himanshu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Swami
authors.affiliation: Ex-Professor & Head, Dept of ENT, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Dept of ENT, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sabrigirish
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Dept of ENT, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Resident, Dept of ENT, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India.
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohal
keywords: Cochlear implantation; Factors; Outcome