Effect of bilateral cochlear implants on language development in children aged 2-7 years

Abstract

Aims: Pediatric patients with bilateral total sensorineural hearing loss have very poor or no language development compared to their peers. The hearing and language development of these patients is usually managed via cochlear implants (CIs). 
 Methods: This study examined the factors that affect the language development of children aged 24-84 months who have undergone CI surgery. The language development outcomes of patients with bilateral CIs and patients with unilateral CIs were compared. The participants were receiving regular hearing rehabilitation training and had undergone unilateral or bilateral CI surgery at various centers. Their language development was evaluated using the Turkish adaptation of the Test of Early Language Development-3 (TELD-3). 
 Results: The expressive language development of the patients with unilateral implants was delayed by 14.0±18.1 months, while the expressive language development of patients with bilateral implants was delayed by 2.8±8.7 months. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.025). 
 Conclusion: Although the levels of receptive language development of patients with bilateral and unilateral CIs were similar, the expressive language development of patients with bilateral CIs was better. We recommend that bilateral CI surgery be performed in a single session for patients with congenital bilateral total sensorineural hearing loss.