Long-term Language, Educational, and Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Adolescents After Childhood Cochlear Implantation

Children then, adults now: long-term outcomes—performance at 15, 20, and 25 years of cochlear implant use

“…The results further indicate that cochlear implant centers should create the structure and funding to provide longterm support, counseling, audiologic follow-up, rehabilitation, and device monitoring to every implanted child (21). In the study published by Angelika et al (22), which presents data from implanted subjects with up to 17.75 years post implant (SD = 3.08; range [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28], it was demonstrated that the majority of participants who underwent implantation at an early age achieved discrimination of speech sounds without lipreading. Educational, vocational, and occupational levels achieved by this cohort were significantly poorer compared with the German and worldwide population average.…”

“…In their study from 2023, Gordon et al confirm the importance of providing hearing through CIs early in development. The study also reveals the need for ongoing reporting of long-term effects of CIs in children given the remaining statistical uncertainties and the evolution of CI technology and candidacy ( 15 ). Waltzman et al ( 16 ) presented a study with results that reveal significant gains in speech perception, use of oral language, and ability to function in a mainstream environment.…”

“…Follow-up studies of children after long periods of CI use become essential to inform professionals and families, both regarding therapy and expectations, as well as to better understand the factors involved in the process of developing the communicative, academic, and occupational skills of children who grew up using CIs (6,13,14). In their study from 2023, Gordon et al confirm the importance of providing hearing through CIs early in development.…”