Cochlear Implant Device Use Recorded via Data-Logging and Language Outcomes
Matt McCall, Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand
Authors List
Introduction/Aims: It has been suggested that the best chance of a child with pre-lingual deafness achieving optimal language outcomes is if they receive cochlear implantation as early as possible, however more recent studies have shown age at full time CI use is a better predictor. The aims of this study were three-fold: (1) to establish how long post-implantation it takes to establish consistent use (2) to observe whether there is a correlation between age at implantation and establishing consistent use and (3) to observe if there is a correlation between device use and language outcomes.
Method: A retrospective analysis of 47 participants, identified by the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme, who received cochlear implants before the age of 18 months was conducted. Device use was measured via data-logging at multiple ages and participants had language outcomes measured at 3 years post-implantation. Two definitions of consistent use were used including 8 hours per day and 80% of average awake hours for the typically developing child.
Results: At 2 years post-implantation, 55% of participants (95%CI 0.53-0.57) had established consistent use. At 3 years, 72% (95%CI 0.70-0.74) had established consistent use. 38% of participants had not established consistent use by the end of the study period. There was no correlation between age of implantation and language outcomes. Participants who established consistent use at a younger age had better language outcomes.
Conclusion: Those establishing consistent use at a younger age had better language outcomes, however age of implantation did not seem to affect whether or not a child will establish consistent use. A large proportion of children implanted before the age of 18 months are still not establishing consistent use 3 years later. There are clearly more variables implicated in predicting why some children have better use, and therefore better language outcomes, after cochlear implantation.
- McCall, M., CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Jayawardana, J., CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Bird, P., CDHB, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Pearson, J., University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
Introduction/Aims: It has been suggested that the best chance of a child with pre-lingual deafness achieving optimal language outcomes is if they receive cochlear implantation as early as possible, however more recent studies have shown age at full time CI use is a better predictor. The aims of this study were three-fold: (1) to establish how long post-implantation it takes to establish consistent use (2) to observe whether there is a correlation between age at implantation and establishing consistent use and (3) to observe if there is a correlation between device use and language outcomes.
Method: A retrospective analysis of 47 participants, identified by the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme, who received cochlear implants before the age of 18 months was conducted. Device use was measured via data-logging at multiple ages and participants had language outcomes measured at 3 years post-implantation. Two definitions of consistent use were used including 8 hours per day and 80% of average awake hours for the typically developing child.
Results: At 2 years post-implantation, 55% of participants (95%CI 0.53-0.57) had established consistent use. At 3 years, 72% (95%CI 0.70-0.74) had established consistent use. 38% of participants had not established consistent use by the end of the study period. There was no correlation between age of implantation and language outcomes. Participants who established consistent use at a younger age had better language outcomes.
Conclusion: Those establishing consistent use at a younger age had better language outcomes, however age of implantation did not seem to affect whether or not a child will establish consistent use. A large proportion of children implanted before the age of 18 months are still not establishing consistent use 3 years later. There are clearly more variables implicated in predicting why some children have better use, and therefore better language outcomes, after cochlear implantation.
