The outcome of cochlear implantation among children with genetic syndromes

Abstract

Objective

To assess the outcome and efficacy of cochlear implantation in children with genetic syndromes.

Method

Study design: case–control study.

Setting

A cochlear implantation tertiary referral center.

Patients

All pediatric cochlear implantation recipients with Waardenburg syndrome, Usher syndrome, Dandy–Walker syndrome, or albinism. A control group was appropriately matched to the syndromic group with regard to age at implantation and duration of device use.

Intervention

Cochlear implantation.

Main outcome measures

Subjects' auditory abilities, speech intelligibility, and pure tone thresholds were compared between the syndromic and non-syndromic group.

Results

A total of 25 subjects (13 syndromic and 12 non-syndromic) participated in the study. Neither auditory ability nor speech intelligibility scores differed significantly by group. The final PTA of both the groups showed normal-to-mild hearing loss: 26 dB HL in the syndromic group and 23 dB HL for the control group.

Conclusions

Cochlear implant recipients with genetic syndromes achieved similar levels auditory perception and speech intelligibility as their peers with a genetic syndrome. The presence of any of the genetic syndromes described herein should not be a contraindication to cochlear implant provision, as it would have a positive impact on the patients' sensory perception and lifestyle.

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