New Directions in Pediatric Cochlear Implantation

Cochlear implantation has been an approved surgical intervention for children (2-18 years) with profound deafness for nearly 10 years. The last decade has brought technological advances in cochlear implant designs with concomitant improvements in patient performance and subsequent broadening of cochlear implant candidacy. Although average performance levels clearly establish the efficacy of pediatric cochlear implantation, individual communication abilities vary widely. This, controversy exists regarding the appropriate expansion of evolving technology into new patient populations. In this chapter, we review current implant technology, patient selection criteria and performance results for pediatric cochlear implant recipients and consider the challenges inherent in the broadening of cochlear implant candidacy.