Evaluation of cochlear implantation in children with inner ear malformation

Objective: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of cochlear implantation (CI) in children with malformed versus normal inner ear anatomy. Methods: We assessed 63 children with prelingual deafness, including 12 with inner ear malformations. All had undergone CI before the age of 5 y. We evaluated Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scores before surgery and at 6,12, and 24 months after surgery. Results: In both groups, the CAP and SIR scores increased with time after implantation in follow-up assessments. No significant differences were found in the CAP or SIR scores between the two groups at any of the four follow-up assessments. Conclusion: Children with inner ear malformation can benefit from CI. Although additional factors may influence the outcome of CI in children with inner ear malformations compared to children with deafness from other causes, early implantation may provide similar results.