Surgical considerations and speech outcomes in infants who undergo cochlear implantation: Experience of the King Abdullah Ear Specialist Center

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of cochlear implantation (CI) in infancy. METHODS: All infants who underwent CI from January 2011 to October 2018 at a tertiary referral center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, factors associated with early detection, and any surgical difficulties or postoperative complications were extracted from the medical records. The outcome of CI was determined by a speech pathologist. RESULTS: Fifteen patients underwent CI during the study period (9 bilateral and performed simultaneously, 6 unilateral). The round window was difficult to identify in 5 cases. Incomplete electrode insertion because of cochlear ossification secondary to meningitis was documented in one patient. No major postoperative complications were encountered. The average auditory performance score was 7 and the speech intelligibility rating was 5. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the largest national cohort of pediatric patients undergoing CI in infancy. In this series, the surgery was safe and the speech outcome was good. With implementation of the neonatal screening program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the number of infants undergoing CI is likely to increase in the near future, paving the way for more research in infant CI.