Pediatric Outcomes with the Nucleus 24 Contour: North American Clinical Trial

Abstract

The Nucleus 24 Contour is a new cochlear implant that has recently undergone clinical trials in adults and children. The Contour uses the same electronics as the previous-generation Nucleus 24 (CI24M) but incorporates a downsized receiver-stimulator and a perimodiolar electrode array. The indications for use were expanded to include children as young as 12 months of age and children 24 months of age and older with severe to profound hearing loss who had open-set word recognition up to 30%. The Contour was successfully implanted in 256 children. The mean level of postoperative speech perception with the Contour was significantly better than the preoperative baseline with hearing aids on all measures. Children who had open-set speech perception in an audition-only condition before surgery demonstrated higher levels of postoperative performance with the Contour than children with no open-set speech perception before surgery.