Cochlear Implantation in Children under the Age of Two: The MHH Experience with the Clarion® Cochlear Implant

Abstract

This paper examines reports on the selection criteria, the surgical procedure, and the postoperative performance for children under the age of 2 implanted with the CLARION® Multi-Strategy™ Cochlear Implant (1.2 device). Eighteen children have been implanted since 1996 with a mean age at implantation of 18 months (range 11 to 23 months). All children were selected by means of a standardized preoperative diagnostic protocol. The surgical procedure used in older children was modified depending on the head and mastoid size, skull thickness, and recurrent otitis media. Auditory perception was tested prior to as well as 3, 6, 12, and 18 months following implantation by means of a standardized age-adapted test protocol. The electrode array was inserted without difficulty in all cases, with no complications to date. On average, auditory performance improved over time up to 18 months after implantation. Closed-set test scores increased by 25% to 55% in 18 months. Open-set test scores began to show improvement between 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Overall, our experience indicates that cochlear implantation in children under the age of 2 is relatively safe and reliable. The Clarion 1.2 device surgery can be performed without complications. Auditory performance results support the effectiveness of early implantation.