Background: Cochlear implantation (CI) became an effective procedure in restoring hearing in patients with severe to profound hearing loss (HL). It can help youngsters who do not benefit from hearing aids improve their auditory skills and speech perception. The outcome depends on several factors which affect it one at a time or in combination.
Aim: This study was designed to document factors that might affect the outcome of Cairo University's CI program.
Patients and Methods: This prospective study was conducted on fifty children with bilateral severe to profound sensorineural HL who underwent unilateral CI at the CI Unit, Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital, Cairo University. All patients were subjected to careful history taking, full medical examination, audiological and preoperative investigations, phoniatric and IQ assessment then subjected to audiological and language assessment after one year of using the device.
Results: After one year of CI, significant improvement in hearing was found with a significant association with the duration of using hearing aids. The language age and vocabulary size were significantly improved. Regarding vocabulary size, it was significantly improved and associated with the preoperative IQ level and preoperative vocabulary size. There was a statistically significant improvement in categories of auditory performance scores with a significant association with the postoperative vocabulary size.
Conclusion: CI is an effective and safe treatment in children with sensorineural HL. Its positive outcome could be affected by the preoperative use of hearing aids, preoperative language age, vocabulary size, and child's IQ.