Systematic Review of Cochlear Implantation in Patients With Inner Ear Malformations
PLoS One
Shah, S., Walters, R., et al. (2022).
PLoS One, 17(10), e0275543.
This systematic review compares the outcomes of cochlear implantation (CI) in children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and congenital inner ear malformations (IEMs) to the outcomes of CI in children with SNHL without IEMs.
No funding received
January 1, 2016 to February 14, 2022
Excludes review articles, meta-analyses, abstracts, conference proceedings, editorials/letters, and case reports
12
Twelve studies investigating cochlear implantation (CI) outcomes in children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and inner ear malformations (IEMs) found improved speech perception and speech production. CI recipients with IEMs and CI recipients without IEMs showed no statistical difference in open-set word testing and speech intelligibility rating scores. Children with more severe IEMs (e.g., common cavity deformity or incomplete partition type-III malformations) demonstrated worse performance on closed-set word testing and Categories of Auditory Performance testing post-CI. Depending on the type of IEM, patients experienced postoperative complications (e.g., cerebrospinal fluid gushers, postoperative facial nerve stimulation) more frequently than other CI patients. Despite these increased complication rates, the authors conclude that "cochlear implantation is an appropriate intervention in patients with IEMs" (p. 15).
