Bilateral versus unilateral cochlear implants in children: speech recognition, sound localization, and parental reports

• Published in: International journal of audiology Vol. 51; no. 11; p. 817
• Main Authors: Asp, Filip, Mäki-Torkko, Elina, Karltorp, Eva, Harder, Henrik, Hergils, Leif, Eskilsson, Gunnar, Stenfelt, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation; Auditory Threshold; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Cochlear Implants; Deafness - surgery; Humans; Linear Models; Noise; Parents; Sound Localization; Speech Perception; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1708-8186
• DOI: 10.3109/14992027.2012.705898

To compare bilateral and unilateral speech recognition in quiet and in multi-source noise, and horizontal sound localization of low and high frequency sounds in children with bilateral cochlear implants. Bilateral performance was compared to performance of the implanted side with the best monaural speech recognition in quiet result. Parental reports were collected in a questionnaire. Results from the CI children were compared to binaural and monaural performance of normal-hearing peers. Sixty-four children aged 5.1-11.9 years who were daily users of bilateral cochlear implants. Thirty normal-hearing children aged 4.8-9.0 years were recruited as controls. Group data showed a statistically significant bilateral speech recognition and sound localization benefit, both behaviorally and in parental reports. The bilateral speech recognition benefit was smaller in quiet than in noise. The majority of subjects localized high and low frequency sounds significantly better than chance using bilateral implants, while localization accuracy was close to chance using unilateral implants. Binaural normal-hearing performance was better than bilateral performance in implanted children across tests, while bilaterally implanted children showed better localization than normal-hearing children under acute monaural conditions.