| Abstract [eng] |
The data of 122 pediatric cochlear implant users was analysed during this multicenter, interdisciplinary, cross-sectional study. The aims of the study were to assess the results of cochlear implantation (CI) in children and determine their prognostic factors. The etiological profile of hearing loss amongst pediatric cochlear implant users was identified by performing genetic testing, detecting CMV DNA in dried blood spots and analyzing perinatal risk factors. The major etiology in our study was non-syndromic hearing loss. The prevalence of inner ear malformations in the group of pediatric CI users was established after analysis of temporal bone CT images. Speech perception and speech and language development outcomes after pediatric cochlear implantation were evaluated during this study. Demographic, audiologic, surgical, implant-associated, etiological, radiological, family, rehabilitation and education-related factors were analysed in order to find the relation to postoperative results. An analysis of prognostic factors revealed that results of speech perception and language development of pediatric CI users are mostly associated with family, education and rehabilitation – related factors. A multivariate regression analysis proved that age at implantation, postoperative CI-aided thresholds and the diameter of the bone cochlear nerve canal are independent prognostic factors of speech perception after pediatric CI. Results of speech and language development depend on parents’ engagement in child’s learning process and accessibility of speech and language therapy. |
