Results after simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation in small children

Bilateral cochlear implantation (CI) is indicated in children with bilateral severe hearing loss. Simultaneous surgery requires only one anesthesia and hospital stay and allows for simultaneous maturation of both central auditory pathways.

50 children aged between 8 and 55 months who received simultaneous bilateral CI were studied regarding duration of anesthesia and surgery, perioperative complications, age of implantation, bilingualism and the cause of hearing impairment. Hearing and speech developement were assesed using Schmid Giovannini and Pollack tests as well as Little Ears questionnair.

Time of surgery averaged 2:27h, time of surgery 3:33h. Perioperative complications included inspiratory stridor after extubation (n=2), laryngospasm after extubation (n=1), and postoperative vertigo (n=1) Causes of hearing impairment included Connexin 26 mutation (n=9), meningitis (n=3), CMV infection (n=3), Waardenburg’s syndrome (n=1), Perrault’s syndrome (n=1), Usher’s syndrome (n=1), in 32 cases the cause of deafness was unclear. The majority of the children grows up in a multilingual surrounding (n=36, 72%). Hearing and speech developement showed very good results, developement of individual sides will be studied seperately.

Simultaneous bilateral CI allows for a shorter total time of anesthesia and requires only one hospital stay and rehabilitation process. We did not find increased complication rates due to the longer surgical intervention. Results of hearing and speech developement are promising. Side differences are decreased.

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Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020