Publication
Title
Subjective benefits of sequential bilateral cochlear implantation in young children after 18 months of implant use
Author
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the subjective benefits of bilateral cochlear implantation in 33 young children after 18 months of second implant use. Method: The Würzburg questionnaire inquiring into a range of hearing functions was filled out by the parents. Additional data concerning the daily life and well-being of the children were gathered with an open-ended questionnaire and the Categories of Auditory Performance. Results were analyzed separately for children younger and older than 6 years at the time of the second implantation. Results: After 18 months of bilateral implant use 30% of the younger and 6% of the older children made the transition to an auditory-oral communication. In this period, 15% of all children switched to mainstream schools. The parents reported an evolution of their children's auditory abilities, which included a better sound and speech perception. Multiregression analysis revealed that early hearing aid fitting and the age at the second cochlear implantation significantly contributed to the variance of the Würzburg results. Conclusions: The results indicate a wide range of positive subjective changes associated with bilateral cochlear implantation, even in older children. This progress led to a better and easier communication and a better integration in the normal-hearing world.
Language
English
Source (journal)
ORL : journal for oto-rhino-laryngology and its related specialties. - Basel, 1972, currens
Publication
Basel : Karger , 2009
ISSN
0301-1569 [print]
1423-0275 [online]
DOI
10.1159/000203401
Volume/pages
71 :2 (2009) , p. 112-121
ISI
000264868600009
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 19.05.2009
Last edited 11.03.2024
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