Long-term outcomes of cochlear implantation in children with cochlear nerve deficiency: auditory speech performance and predictive factors over 5 years

Goh BS; Hashim WFW; Lee OW

doi:10.1007/s00405-025-09813-y

Long-term outcomes of cochlear implantation in children with cochlear nerve deficiency: auditory speech performance and predictive factors over 5 years

Goh BS ¹ , Hashim WFW ² , Lee OW ³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
² Department of Medical Rehabilitation Services, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Mukhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
³ Centre for Rehabilitation & Special Needs Studies (iCaRehab), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. leeonnwah@ukm.edu.my

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2026 Mar;283(3):1587-1596.

PMID: 41620546 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-025-09813-y

Abstract

PURPOSE: While cochlear implantation (CI) is increasingly offered to children with cochlear nerve deficiency (CND), long-term outcomes and their predictors remain understudied. We evaluated 5-year auditory-speech performance and identified factors influencing outcomes.

METHODS: A retrospective review of the UKM Cochlear Implant Program (2007-2024) included 12 children with CND (CI aged 14-52 months). Primary outcomes measured were unaided/aided hearing thresholds, Categories of Auditory Performance II (CAP-II), Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scores preoperatively and at 1/3/5 years post-CI.

RESULTS: 11/12 children achieved CAP-II ≥ 5 (understanding phrases without lipreading); 7/12 attained SIR ≥ 3 (intelligible speech with lipreading) 5 years post-CI. Earlier implantation correlated with better hearing thresholds (p

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.