Medical and Surgical Evaluation Prior to Pediatric Cochlear Implantation

Abstract

Abstract The evaluation of children for cochlear implantation requires a multidisciplinary effort among several groups of professionals. Given the recent trend towards very early identification of hearing loss, clinicians have begun to evaluate these children and make intervention recommendations in the first few months of life. In addition to an accurate audiological assessment, a search for the etiology of the hearing loss as well as associated medical conditions is critical and frequently affects the management paradigm. The evaluation usually requires a number of studies, including imaging of the temporal bones and brain, electrocardiograms, genetic testing, and careful review of medical records. The timely identification, and management of, confounding otological problems such as otitis externa and otitis media is frequently needed. This presentation will focus on an otologist's perspective in the multidisciplinary evaluation prior to the implantation process.