Aetiology of hearing loss and other related factors versus language outcome after cochlear implantation in children

Objective: Cochlear implantation outcome in prelingually deafened children is highly variable. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the yearly improvements in speech and language scores after cochlear implantation in children, with the aetiology of the hearing loss and other related factors. Methods: We reviewed the case notes of children with early onset (0-2 years) of hearing loss, who were implanted in their first decade of life between 1992 and 2000 in Great Ormond Street Children Hospital. We assessed the relationship between the improvement of the receptive language and speech scores, on each year after implantation, with the aetiology of hearing toss and with the presence of additional medical problems. Results: Children with a syndromic diagnosis had lower speech and language improvement scores at years 4 and 5 after implantation than children with a hereditary-non syndromic or unknown diagnosis. Vision and vestibular problems were significant negative predictors for speech and language improvement scores. The disability score, i.e. an overall index of additional to the hearing loss problems, had a negative correlation with the speech and language improvement scores. Conclusions: The presence of a syndromic diagnosis, vision or vestibular problems, and the overall level of additional to the hearing loss problems, may be negative prognostic indicators for speech and language improvement after implantation. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.