This systematic review investigates the effect of interventions (e.g., antiviral therapy, cochlear implantation) on hearing thresholds and speech and language outcomes in young children with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related hearing loss. This summary highlights conclusions regarding cochlear implantation within the scope of audiology and speech-language pathology.
"Data regarding the impact of cochlear implantation in children with [cytomegalovirus] CMV-associated severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss are mixed. Comparative data suggest that children with congenital CMV will advance more slowly than those with other causes of hearing loss. Some studies suggest that they will ultimately advance to match their non-CMV counterparts, but others suggest that their performance will plateau at lower levels. Regardless, CMV implantees do appear to advance beyond their pre-implanted state. It is unclear, however, whether any CMV-related limitations are due to an intrinsic feature of the hearing loss itself or associated with additional CMV-associated cognitive or neurological conditions" (p. 673).
