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Review
. 2021 Jan-Dec:25:23312165211031751.
doi: 10.1177/23312165211031751.

Cochlear Implantation in Infants: Why and How

Patricia L Purcell  1 , Nicholas L Deep  2 , Susan B Waltzman  2 , J Thomas Roland Jr  2 , Sharon L Cushing  1 , Blake C Papsin  1 , Karen A Gordon  1
Affiliations
Review

Cochlear Implantation in Infants: Why and How

Patricia L Purcell et al. Trends Hear. 2021 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

In children with congenital deafness, cochlear implantation (CI) prior to 12 months of age offers the opportunity to foster more typical auditory development during late infancy and early childhood. Recent studies have found a positive association between early implantation and expressive and receptive language outcomes, with some children able to achieve normal language skills by the time of school entry. Universal newborn hearing screening improved early detection and diagnosis of congenital hearing loss, allowing for earlier intervention, including decision-making regarding cochlear implant (CI) candidacy. It can be more challenging to confirm CI candidacy in infants; therefore, a multidisciplinary approach, including objective audiometric testing, is recommended to not only confirm the diagnosis but also to counsel families regarding expectations and long-term management. Surgeons performing CI surgery in young children should consider both the anesthetic risks of surgery in infancy and the ways in which mastoid anatomy may differ between infants and older children or adults. Multiple studies have found CI surgery in infants can be performed safely and effectively. This article reviews current evidence regarding indications for implantation in children younger than 12 months of age and discusses perioperative considerations and surgical technique.

Keywords: cochlear implantation; congenital hearing loss; infants; profound hearing loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: S. L. C., B. C. P., and K. A. G. receive research support from Cochlear Americas. B. C. P. is on the Speaker’s Bureau for Cochlear Americas. K. A. G. is a consultant for Advanced Bionics, Salus University. J. T. R. is a consultant for Cochlear Pty Limited. J. T. R. and S. B. W. receive research support. Cochlear Corporation assisted with study coordination among the sites participating in this research.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Criteria for Multidisciplinary Cochlear Implant Candidacy Assessment in Very Young Children. CN VIII = cranial nerve eight.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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