title: Considerations for Pediatric Cochlear Implant Recipients With Unilateral or Asymmetric Hearing Loss: Assessment, Device Fitting, and Habilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this clinical report is to present case studies of children who are nontraditional candidates for cochlear implantation because they have significant residual hearing in 1 ear and to describe outcomes and considerations for their audiological management and habilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case information is presented for 5 children with profound hearing loss in 1 ear and normal or mild-to-moderate hearing loss in the opposite ear and who have undergone unilateral cochlear implantation. Pre- and postoperative assessments were performed per typical clinic routines with modifications described. Postimplant habilitation was customized for each recipient using a combination of traditional methods, newer technologies, and commercial materials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5 children included in this report are consistent users of their cochlear implants and demonstrate speech recognition in the implanted ear when isolated from the better hearing ear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Candidacy criteria for cochlear implantation are evolving. Children with single-sided deafness or asymmetric hearing loss who have traditionally not been considered candidates for cochlear implantation should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Audiological management of these recipients is not vastly different compared with children who are traditional cochlear implant recipients. Assessment and habilitation techniques must be modified to isolate the implanted ear to obtain accurate results and to provide meaningful therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greaver
authors.affiliation: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eskridge
authors.affiliation: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Holly F B
authors.initials: HFB
authors.lastname: Teagle
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013017:Sound Localization / Q000502:physiology*; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome