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When is the best timing for the second implant in pediatric bilateral cochlear implantation?
Author(s) -
Santa Maria Peter L.,
Oghalai John S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.24465
Subject(s) - medicine , cochlear implant , cochlear implantation , implant , audiology , hearing loss , surgery
BACKGROUND The benefits of bilateral cochlear implantation in the pediatric population include better sound localization, benefits with speech in noise, and improved language development. In the pediatric patient who meets the criteria for bilateral cochlear implantation, should the surgeries be performed simultaneously or sequentially? If sequentially, what is the best timing? The importance of early implantation in this group has been recognized; however, some concerns have affected the timing of the second implant. Concerns that bilateral implantation may risk bilateral vestibular hypofunction, the loss of an intact cochlear for future therapies, or financial and reimbursement issues have lead some clinics to wait for the second side. Families may choose to wait for a variety of nonmedical reasons. This article aims to address these issues, as well as to review the benefits of early implantation in the second side.