title: Current trends in pediatric cochlear implant candidate selection and postoperative follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this article, the authors describe current pediatric cochlear implant (CI) assessment and postoperative scheduling protocols in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted in 2 phases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates were similar between Phase I (10%) and Phase II (13%). Across phases, nearly all respondents reported assessing speech perception both preoperatively and postoperatively. The most frequently used parent questionnaires were the Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (Robbins, Renshaw, & Berry, 1991), the Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (Robbins et al., 1991), and LittlEARS (Kuehn-Inacken, Weichboldt, Tsiakpini, Coninx, & D'Haese, 2003). The most commonly used speech perception measure for children <23 months of age was the Early Speech Perception Test-Low Verbal (ESP-LV; Moog & Geers, 1990). The most commonly used measures for children 24-35 months of age were the ESP-LV, the Northwestern University of Children's Perception of Speech (Elliot & Katz, 1980), and the Mr. Potato Head task (Robbins, 1993). For children >36 months of age, there was a wide variety of speech perception tests utilized. Patient follow-up visits were weekly or biweekly immediately following CI activation, then every 3 months for the remainder of the 1st year. After the 1st year, most children were seen semiannually.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although trends emerged, there is a lack of consistency in the selection of speech perception measures utilized across centers for children <36 months of age. The development of a working group to establish a standard minimum pediatric test battery (similar to the adult Minimum Speech Test Battery) would promote uniformity in clinical protocols used to assess children who receive CIs.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uhler
authors.forename: René H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gifford
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires