Long-term follow-up of implanted children with cytomegalovirus-related deafness.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate, with a long-term follow-up, the speech perception and language development in children with cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related deafness after cochlear implantation. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective study on CMV-related profound deafness and cochlear implantation was performed from 1995 to 2010. Six children with an average follow-up of 10 years were included in this research. Medical history, imaging, cognitive delay, speech perception and production data were reviewed. RESULTS Two of the 6 patients developed a functional language with the use of phrases and word sequences based on morphological and syntactic rules; the others demonstrated the development of a preverbal or transitional language with the use of single words only. CONCLUSION Patients with CMV-related deafness benefit from cochlear implantation; however, the expectations of the parents must be evaluated in a series of counseling efforts prior to the surgery.