Long-term Outcomes in Adolescents After Childhood Cochlear Implantation

In their cohort study in this issue of JAMA Otolaryngology –Head& Neck Surgery, Cejas and colleagues report the long-term language, educational, and self-reported quality-of-life outcomes from a group of adolescents (9-19 years of age, with 9-13 years of cochlear implant [CI] experience) who were followed from the time of cochlear implantation through the Childhood Development After Cochlear Implantation study (CDaCI). This type of clinical research is challenging because of the long time course of follow-up and multiple measures required but is essential to document the influence that CIs have had on children throughout their development. The main findings substantiate observations of clinics like ours at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which began providing CIs to children in the 1990s, have watched these children over decades grow into adults, and in some cases, have provided CIs to this initial cohort ’s children. The data also confirm the importance of providing hearing through CIs early in development and highlight the effects of social determinants of health (measured by household income). The study also reveals the complexity of identifying relevant comparator groups and the need for ongoin g reporting of long-term effects of CIs in children given remaining statistical uncertainties and evolution of CI technology and candidacy.
Source: JAMA Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Source Type: research