In March 2020 the FDA approved the first expansion of pediatric indications in 20 years. Dr. Jace Wolfe, Director of Audiology and Research at the Hearts for Hearing Foundation in Oklahoma City, analyzes the benefits of early implantation and its impact on brain development.
Wolfe highlights Jaime Leigh’s study1 that suggests the need to mitigate delay in implantation. For example, if a young child is implanted, that child can parallel one year of language progress in one calendar year without falling behind their peers.
On the other hand, if a child with severe to profound hearing loss waits to be implanted, he or she can only make three months of progress for every calendar year without a cochlear implant.
Wolfe continues by addressing the variability in cochlear implant recipient outcomes. According to Leigh, age accounts for 67% in variability of outcomes in children with hearing loss.1 So, implanting as early as possible can be key, especially as pediatric patients reach hearing and language milestones.
Through partnership together we can reach further to give pediatric patients the progress and possibilities that come with early access to sound.
Why wait? Watch now to learn more about earlier implantation!
To learn more about early implantation visit our TECH Talks page or website.
References:
- Leigh, J.R., Dettman, S.J., & Dowell, R.C. (2016). Evidence-based guidelines for recommending cochlear implantation for young children: audiological criteria and optimizing age at implantation. International Journal of Audiology, 55, S9-S18.
In the US, the cochlear implant system is intended for use in children 9 to 24 months of age who have bilateral profound sensorineural deafness and demonstrate limited benefit from appropriate binaural hearing aids. Children two years of age or older may demonstrate severe to profound hearing loss bilaterally. In Canada, the cochlear implant system is intended for use in children 12 to 24 months of age who have bilateral profound sensorineural deafness and demonstrate limited benefit from appropriate binaural hearing aids. Children two years of age or older may demonstrate severe to profound hearing loss bilaterally.
