Functional Language in Children from a Public Cochlear Implant Program in a Developing Country

Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that ∼ 32 million children worldwide are affected by hearing loss (HL). Cochlear implant is the first-line treatment for severe to profound sensorineural HL. It is considered one of the most successful prostheses developed to date. Objective...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. e517 - e522
Main Authors:	Silva, Alice Lang, Roberto, Anderson Claudio, Ramos, Maithe Antonello, Alves, Debora Milene Ferreira, Stumpf, Isadora Martins Silva, Lacroix, Laura Prolla, Rosito, Letícia Petersen Schmidt
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda 01-07-2024 Fundação Otorrinolaringologia
Subjects:	cochlear implants language development Original Research OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY prelingual deafness sign language prelingual deafness sign language language development cochlear implants
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Summary:	Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that ∼ 32 million children worldwide are affected by hearing loss (HL). Cochlear implant is the first-line treatment for severe to profound sensorineural HL. It is considered one of the most successful prostheses developed to date. Objective To evaluate the oral language development of pediatric patients with prelingual deafness implanted in a reference hospital for the treatment of HL in southern Brazil. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study with a review of medical records of patients undergoing cochlear implant surgery between January 2009 and December 2018. Language development was assessed by reviewing consultations with speech therapy professionals from the cochlear implant group. Results A total of 152 children were included in the study. The mean age at cochlear implant surgery was of 41 months (standard deviation [SD]: ± 15). The patients were divided into six groups considering the type of language most used in their daily lives. We found that 36% of children use oral language as their primary form of communication. In a subanalysis, we observed that patients with developed or developing oral language had undergone cochlear implant surgery earlier than patients using Brazilian Sign Language (Língua Brasileira de Sinais, LIBRAS, in Portuguese) or those without developed language. Conclusion The cochlear implant is a state-of-the-art technology that enables the re-establishment of the sense of hearing and the development of oral language. However, language development is a complex process known to present a critical period to properly occur. We still see many patients receiving late diagnosis and treatment, which implies a delay and, often, the impossibility of developing oral communication. Level of Evidence Level 3 (cohort study).
ISSN:	1809-9777 1809-4864 1809-4864
DOI:	10.1055/s-0044-1785205