RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Measurements of electrode impedance values are routinely performed after cochlear implantation. The primary objective of the study was to determine if pediatric, prelingually deafened patients with different postoperative performances showed significantly different impedance values one year after implantation. METHODS: This study comprised 42 pediatric cochlear implant recipients provided with the device in a single academic tertiary referral center between 1 January 2000, and 31 December 2016. Medical chart analysis was performed in order to assess evolution of impedance values during the first postoperative year on a monthly basis. Electrode impedance values measurements one year postoperatively were compared between children with successful and unsuccessful auditory and language skills development assessed using the EARS protocol (a name of a performance test). Furthermore, values were compared among recipients of different implant types and among different cochlear segments. RESULTS: A gradual rise of average impedance values was found during the first months of implant use (1st month, 7.32 kΩ; 3rd month, 7.86 kΩ) with the peak at the 4th postoperative month (7.96 kΩ), followed by a gradual decrease towards the 12th month (6th month, 7.62 kΩ; 12th month, 6.86 kΩ). Lower values at the 12th postoperative month were observed in recipients with successful development compared to patients presented with unsuccessful development (6.22 kΩ vs. 7.82 kΩ; p = 0.001). Mean impedance values were different when compared among cochlear segments and among different implant types. CONCLUSION: High electrode impedance values one year after implantation in pediatric patients may imply insufficient auditory and language skills development. Further studies are needed in order to validate our results.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to analyse the socioeconomic status of implanted children families, candidates for implantation families and families of deaf children whose parents elicit not to proceed with cochlear implantation and to find out if the socioeconomic status has an influence on parental decision-making process. The following variables describe the socioeconomic status: place of living (urban/rural area), parental educational level and household monthly income (in Euro). WORK METHOD: Forty children divided in two groups were included in the study: Group 1 (23 implanted children and 7 candidates for implantation) and Group 2 (10 deaf children whose parents elicit not to proceed). Data were obtained from parents of children by phone. It was not possible to establish the contact with parents of three children. WORK RESULTS: As for the place of living, 20 families were from urban area, 17 families were from rural area and the place of living of 3 families was unknown. Average number of completed school grades by parents was respectively: Group 1- 5.92 and Group 2 - 5.33. CONCLUSION: Concerning the place of living, parental educational level and household monthly income no differences can be seen between groups. Therefore, the authors concluded that socioeconomic status has no influence on making decision process.
