Cochlear reimplantation in children: soft signs, symptoms and results

Abstract

Specific complaints, frequent need for device adjustments and reduced speech recognition can be precursors to device failures, underscoring the need for routine follow-up evaluations. Reimplantation with newer technology does not guarantee improved speech understanding and often requires an adjustment period to reach pre-reimplantation levels.

Pain in cochlear implant recipients: An uncommon, yet serious, consequence of cochlear implantation

“…1,2,[4][5][6] Mild complications usually resolve spontaneously or with conservative treatment and include minor wound problems, temporary facial injury, mastoiditis and in sporadic reportspain. 1,[4][5][6][7] Pain around the receiver/stimulator (RS) is rarely reported, and is usually described as a mild late complication. In most reports the pain was related to device activation.…”

“…Major complications are those that require revision surgery or cause serious sequelae and include permanent facial palsy, meningitis, device malpositioning, device failure, protrusion, and extrusion . Mild complications usually resolve spontaneously or with conservative treatment and include minor wound problems, temporary facial injury, mastoiditis and in sporadic reports‐pain …”

When to replace legacy cochlear implants for technological upgrades: Indications and outcomes

“…6,7 It is important to note that patients will require variable time to adapt to their new device and achieve these stable or improved scores. 8 Although previous authors acknowledge technological upgrade as a possible reason for CIR, they do not report on any cases in this category. 2,4 The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of individuals initially implanted with an Advanced Bionics (AB) Clarion C1.2 internal device (Advanced Bionics, LLC, Valencia, CA) who underwent CIR with AB HiRes90K Advantage HiFocus Mid Scala or AB HiRes Ultra HiFocus Mid Scala internal device as a means of technology upgrade.…”

“…The rate of declined performance is typically less than 15% of reimplanted patients, with some groups reporting stable or improved audiometric performance in 100% of their CIR patients . It is important to note that patients will require variable time to adapt to their new device and achieve these stable or improved scores . Although previous authors acknowledge technological upgrade as a possible reason for CIR, they do not report on any cases in this category …”

Facilitating speech and language development in children with cochlear implants using computer technology

“…Moog and Geers, 1999;Tomblin et al, 1999;Svirsky et al, 2000). Successful outcomes are critically dependent on factors such as the age of onset and age of detection of hearing loss, aetiology of deafness, age at implantation, hearing sensitivity, speech recognition ability, implant technology, communication mode, family support and motivation, type of preschool or school environment and duration of implant experience (Waltzman, 2000). Nonetheless, many children with cochlear implants still remain 4 to 5 years behind hearing children in English skill performance (Blamey et al, 2001).…”