American Cochlear Implant Alliance Task Force Guidelines for Clinical Assessment and Management of Cochlear Implantation in Children With Single-Sided Deafness

Abstract

More children with single-sided deafness (SSD) are receiving cochlear implants (CIs) due to the expansion of CI indications. This unique group of pediatric patients has different needs than the typical recipient with bilateral deafness and requires special consideration and care. The goal of cochlear implantation in these children is to provide bilateral input to encourage the development of binaural hearing. Considerations for candidacy and follow-up care should reflect and measure these goals. The purpose of this document is to review the current evidence and provide guidance for CI candidacy, evaluation, and management in children with SSD.

A cortical biomarker of audibility and processing efficacy in children with single-sided deafness using a cochlear implant

“…In addition, the results of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing (SSQ) questionnaire 51 were collected. The questionnaire evaluates hearing measures relying on binaural auditory processing and has been shown to be appropriate for assessing CI benefit in CHwSSD 52 . We utilized an adapted parental version 53 which includes 23 items that address the following functions: (1) Speech hearing-ability to listen to speech in various hearing contexts; (2) Spatial hearing-localization of sound from different directions, distances, and movement;…”

Task force Guideline of Brazilian Society of Otology – hearing loss in children – Part II — Treatment

“… 59 However, children with congenital SSD may present with anomalies of the eighth cranial nerve, such as hypoplasia or aplasia of the cochlear nerve, 60 which have been considered contraindications to cochlear implantation. 61 Thus, MRI should be conducted in the preoperative evaluation of patients with SSD.…”

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Task Force Guidelines for Clinical Assessment and Management of Adult Cochlear Implantation for Single-Sided Deafness

“…The performance benefits reported in adult CI recipients with post-lingual onset SSD may not be experienced in adult cases of congenital SSD due to the development of the auditory pathways in response to prolonged monaural hearing. We encourage the interested reader to review an accompanying manuscript discussing the current evidence of the effectiveness of cochlear implantation in children with congenital SSD (see Park et al 2022 ). Adults with congenital SSD have a reduced ability to benefit from binaural cues because of cortical reorganization ( Kral et al 2013 ; Kral et al 2015 ).…”

“…The present recommendations are also specific to adults with SSD. The reader is directed to Park et al (2022 ) for a comprehensive review of the current evidence and recommended guidelines for the preoperative evaluation and post-activation assessment and management of children with SSD.…”