Preoperative Variables Affecting Outcome Of Cochlear Implant

Cochlear implants (CIs) represent one of the most important achievements of modern medicine as, for the first time in history, an electronic device is able to restore a lost sense - hearing. As of December 2012, approximately 324,200 cochlear implants have been implanted worldwide. In the United States, roughly 58,000 devices have been implanted in adults and 38,000 in children .

Cochlear implantation is a powerful tool for helping children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss to gain the ability to hear, and to achieve age appropriate communication skills. Evaluating the development of auditory, speech, language skills and the personality of implanted child is useful for the parent, the teacher, the therapist, and the subsequent rehabilitation progress .

However the final outcome in pediatric implantation is yet not entirely predictable as there are a large number of factors which alone or in combination will decide the outcome of cochlear implantation.

Categorizing these determinants increases the ability of clinicians to offer educated preoperative prognosis and might potentially allow for manipulation of variables in an attempt to achieve the best possible outcome .

Before implantation, a trial period with appropriate amplification combined with intensive auditory training should be attempted to ensure that maximal benefit is achieved.