The effect of age at cochlear implantation outcomes in Saudi children

Objectives: To determine for the effect of age (late versus early age) on the cochlear implant outcomes; in terms of language development, auditory skills, speech perception, and production outcomes). Methods: 67 children were included in the study out of 93 implanted cases in the study period. Children were classified into 2 groups according to age at time of implantation. Group 1 contained 43 children who were implanted before the age of 5 years. Group 2 contained 24 children who were implanted after the age of 5 years. All children were evaluated pre-operatively and at 3, 6, 12, 24 months device experience using the language screening test, Standardized Arabic Language test, Listening Progress Profile (LiP Test), the Monosyllabic-Trochee-polysyllabic Test (MTP), and the meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS) Test. Charts with incomplete data were excluded. Results: Only 67 children had complete data out of 93 patients. The mean age (in months) for Group 1 was (43.37 +/- 8.63) and for Group 2 was (70.38 +/- 9.97) at time of implantation. Significantly higher mean values were detected for Group 2 in comparison to Group 1 in the pre-operative period. No significant difference was detected after 2 years evaluation using the test battery for language development and auditory skills. Conclusions: Children who were implanted under the 5 years of age had a better outcome in the form of better auditory skills, speech perception, and language production. Limited resources and the absence of a national hearing screening program in Saudi Arabia result in the late presentation of children for evaluation and intervention of hearing problem; this late intervention reduces the benefits the late implanted children derive from cochlear implantation. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.