title: Comparative study between unilateral and bilateral cochlear implantation in children of 1 and 2 years of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of bilateral cochlear implantation in children suggest an improvement in hearing about sound localization and speech discrimination. In this paper we show the differences in audio-linguistic achievements with early bilateral cochlear implantation versus unilateral, and differences between simultaneous and sequential bilateral implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present 88 children with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss, treated with bilateral cochlear implantation in 32 cases and unilateral in 56 cases, during the first 12 months (27 children) of life and between 12 and 24 months (61 children). We conducted a statistical comparison of both groups in the audiometry, IT-Mais, Nottingham, LittlEars scales and verbal tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in hearing thresholds and questionnaires between unilateral and bilateral implantation were detected in either the first or second year. Verbal tests do show statistically significant differences: children with bilateral cochlear implant obtain 100% recognition of disyllabic and phrases within 2-3 years after implantation whilst children with one implant do not obtain those results at 5 years after surgery. No differences between simultaneous and sequential bilateral implantation were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We emphasize the importance of ensuring good early audiological screening, to carry out an early and bilateral cochlear implantation with the consequent development of audio-language skills similar to normal hearing children.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España. Electronic address: zingaro85@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Escorihuela García
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: María Ignacia
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Pitarch Ribas
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Llópez Carratalá
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Latorre Monteagudo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morant Ventura
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marco Algarra
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Audición residual; Bilateral cochlear implant; Children; Hipoacusia neurosensorial; Implante coclear bilateral; Lenguaje hablado; Niños; Residual hearing; Sensorineural hearing loss; Spoken language