Assessment of outcomes of hearing and speech rehabilitation in children with cochlear implantation

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the effect of hearing and speech rehabilitation in patients with Nurotron(®) cochlear implants. DESIGN: Ninety-eight paediatric patients with bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural deafness who received cochlear implantation were divided into three groups according to age: group A (≤3 years), group B (4–7 years), and group C (8–16 years). All patients were followed up for one year for hearing and speech performance after the surgery. The comprehensive Auditory Perception Assessment, MAIS, CAP and SIR hearing and speech assessments and rating materials were used for assessment before the surgery and at 3, 6, and 12 months after implant activation. RESULTS: The scores of patients in the open-set speech assessment, Chinese Auditory Perception Assessment, MAIS, CAP and SIR significantly improved after cochlear implantation in all age groups. The younger the age at implantation, the better the results. Moreover, the hearing and speech performance of cochlear implant recipients gradually improved with the extension of rehabilitation time. CONCLUSIONS: Nurotron(®) Venus™ cochlear implantation can improve the hearing and speech performance of patients with bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural deafness.