title: Long-term clinical outcomes of cochlear implantation in children with symptomatic epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe long-term clinical outcomes of cochlear implantation in deaf children with symptomatic epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective data analysis review of patients implanted at the Cochlear Implant Center of the University of Parma, Italy, was performed, searching for implanted children with a confirmed diagnosis of symptomatic epilepsy. Clinical data, imaging findings, pre- and post-operative epilepsy pattern and EEG traces were analyzed; communicative skills were assessed using the Profile of Actual Linguistic Skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Search retrieved two patients affected by profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and symptomatic epilepsy (associated respectively with methylmalonic acidemia and cerebral palsy). After careful parental counselling both patients were offered and underwent cochlear implantation. Activation and use of cochlear implant did not determine substantial changes of pre-existing seizure pattern and EEG traces. Both patients showed substantial development of their communicative abilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cochlear implantation in children with symptomatic epilepsy did not determine variations in seizure pattern or EEG traces. Both patients experienced substantial benefit from cochlear implantation.
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Audiology and Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma 43126, Italy. Electronic address: dilella@ao.pr.it.
authors: Filippo
authors: F
authors: Di Lella
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Audiology and Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma 43126, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Bacciu
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Audiology and Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma 43126, Italy.
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Falcioni
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Audiology and Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma 43126, Italy.
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Guida
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Audiology and Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma 43126, Italy.
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Vincenti
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cerebral palsy; Cochlear implant; Deafness; Epilepsy; Methylmalonic acidemia; Sensorineural hearing loss