Balance after simultaneous or sequential cochlear implantation in children

It is known in the literature that the cochlear implant (CI) has a positive function on maintaining static and dynamic stability but there are few studies in the pediatric age and some research groups propose to prefer the sequential CI to the simultaneous one in order to preserve peripheral receptor function in pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the static stability of pediatric patients who have had a CI since childhood. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 49 pediatric patients (24 M, 25 F) were enrolled, of which 21 had simultaneous IC, 12 had sequential IC and 16 had unilateral IC. All recruited subjects suffer from profound sensorineural hearing loss and were operated on by the same surgeon at the Audiology department of the IRCCS Cà Granda Foundation - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico in Milan with a regular operative and postoperative course. A control group of healthy subjects of the same age and sex at the time of the study was also enrolled. RESULTS. The average age at the time of data collection was 11.8 + 3.1 (range: 6-20 years). The control group is also made up of 49 subjects (25 males and 24 females) with an average age of 12.0 + 3.6 (range: 6-20 years). All the subjects examined were able to carry out the test in all four conditions without showing particular difficulties both in understanding the instructions provided and in executing them. Patients with CI show statistically significant differences in performance with the CI on and off. (p< 0.05) Static stability was worse in implanted patients compared to healthy controls but no statistically significant differences were found in the comparison between unilateral, bilateral simultaneous and bilateral sequential CI. Data on significant differences in sensory analysis and in relation to the maturation of balance control are also reported. CONCLUSION The cochlear implant acts directly on the control of static stability, improving balance performance in children. Static stabilometry confirms itself as a simple and reliable test for the evaluation of balance and vestibular function in pediatric age.