Performance of 2- and 3-year-old children and prediction of 4-year from 1-year performance
Tyler, R.S.; Gantz, B.J.; Woodworth, G.G.; Fryauf-Bertschy, H.; Kelsay, D.M.
American Journal of Otology 18(6 Suppl): S157-S159
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0192-9763 PMID: 9391643 Document Number: 472317
Objective: To examine whether children perform better when they receive cochlear implants when they are 2 to 4 years of age than when they are older, and to determine whether 4-year performance can be predicted from 1-year results. Method: Children in two age groups (2 to 4, 4 to 9 years) were tested for performance, and the age groups were compared. Children were also tested 1 and 4 years after implantation. Results: The results suggest that the "implanted young" group scored higher than the "implanted old" group after 36 months, and that 1-year performance is helpful in predicting 4-year performance. Conclusion: It may be desirable for children to undergo implantation when they are under 2 years of age, provided that appropriate selection criteria can be determined.