Longitudinal outcomes with intracapsular tonsillectomy, a single surgeon's experience.

PURPOSE: To assess the risk of tonsillar regrowth and post-operative complications associated with intracapsular tonsillectomy (IT) when performed by a single surgeon using a standardized technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study was conducted as a retrospective chart review of all IT performed by a single surgeon between November 11, 2009 and July 22, 2020 at the Cleveland Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic Beachwood Family Health and Surgery Center . Data collection included patient demographics, surgical data, post operative results, complications, and available long-term follow-up data. RESULTS: There were 221 ITs performed between November 2009 and July 2020. The post operative bleeding rate was 3.5 %. A single adult patient required re-operation for bleeding. Rate of tonsillar regrowth was 3.9 % (n = 7) and 1.1 % (n = 2) required re-operation (total tonsillectomy). No patients in the current study developed post-operative dehydration or had excessive post-operative pain requiring an emergency department visit or hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated similar rates of post operative bleeding after IT when compared to established rates following TT. The current study's regrowth rate was 3.9 % with a low 1.1 % rate of re-operation. This study adds to a growing body of literature supporting the use of IT due to lower complication rates when compared to TT, including post-operative bleeding, dehydration, and pain, with minimal rate of re-operation for bleeding or regrowth.

Intelligence quotient testing in children with hearing loss: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current study is to perform a systematic review of the research literature to evaluate the impact of hearing loss on intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in pediatric patients. DATA SOURCES: Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched from their inception up to December 21st, 2021. REVIEW METHODS: Studies evaluating neurocognitive testing and hearing loss in children aged 21 years old or younger who had not undergone auditory rehabilitation were included in the study. Two independent reviewers evaluated titles, abstracts, and full texts for all included studies. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 3199 studies of which 431 studies underwent full-text screening. 21 studies were ultimately selected for inclusion and contained a total of 1716 pediatric patients assessed through 13 different validated tests of intelligence. Six studies included both hearing impaired (HI) and normal hearing (NH) patients, and IQ testing results. CONCLUSION: The results of this large systematic review demonstrate that hearing impaired children may perform lower than their age-matched normal hearing peers on IQ testing across a battery of IQ testing modalities.

Speech and Language outcomes in Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) children managed with amplification.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate speech and language outcomes in children with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) without significant comorbidities who received hearing rehabilitation in the form of hearing aids and/or cochlear implantation. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of pediatric ANSD patients at a large academic tertiary care institution from 2010 to 2019. Patients were included if they received a diagnosis of bilateral ANSD, had minimal to no comorbidities, and had speech and language testing (SLT) on at least two occasions. RESULTS: 51 patients were reviewed and 7 met inclusion criteria. Average age at ANSD diagnosis was 1 year and 11 months, and average age of hearing aid fitting was 3 years and 3 months. Hearing loss ranged from mild to profound, with four of the children wearing behind (BTE) hearing aids and three eventually receiving cochlear implants. Four of five patients who received hearing aids prior to their first speech and language evaluation demonstrated a delay at their initial evaluation, and all five patients continued to demonstrate a delay at their most recent evaluation, despite appropriate audiologic management and speech and language therapy. There were two patients who were unaided at the time of their initial and latest evaluations; one patient showed a delay at both timepoints, and one patient showed no speech delay at either timepoint. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric ANSD patients, who are otherwise typically developing and received hearing rehabilitation and speech and language therapy, continue to show a speech and language delay (SLD). This outcome underscores the importance of close monitoring of speech and language development, providing early amplification and/or cochlear implantation, and promoting additional education and psychosocial support.

Newborn hearing screening methodology impacts the timing of diagnosis for auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) accounts for 10 % to 15 % of pediatric hearing loss. In most cases, otoacoustic emissions (OAE) are present as the outer hair cell function is normal, and the auditory brainstem response (ABR) is abnormal. Newborn hearing screen (NBHS) is completed using OAE or ABR depending on the institution. Because OAEs are often present in ANSD, NBHS done solely with OAE can miss and delay diagnosis of patients with ANSD. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether NBHS methodology impacts the age of diagnosis of ANSD. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients, 0-18 years of age, diagnosed with ANSD at two tertiary pediatric hospitals from 1/01/2010 to 12/31/2018 after referral from NBHS performed in the community. Data recorded included patient demographics, method of NBHS, NICU stay, and age at ANSD diagnosis. RESULTS: 264 patients were diagnosed with ANSD. Of those, 123 (46.6 %) were female, and 141 (53.4 %) were male. Ninety-seven (36.8 %) were admitted to NICU and the mean stay was 6.98 weeks (STD = 10.7; CI = 4.8-9.1). The majority (244, 92.4 %) of patients had NBHS with ABR, and 20 (7.5 %) had NBHS with OAE. Patients screened with ABR were diagnosed with ANSD earlier than those who screened with OAE, with a mean age of 14.1 versus 27.3 weeks (p = 0.0397, CI = 15.2-39.3). Among those screened with ABR, median age at diagnosis was 4 months for NICU infants and 2.5 months for infants with no history of NICU stay over 5 days. In comparison, median diagnosis age was 8 months for non-NICU infants screened with OAEs. CONCLUSION: Patients with ANSD who had NBHS with ABR were diagnosed earlier than those with OAE. Our data suggest that universal screening with ABR may facilitate earlier diagnosis of ANSD and earlier evaluation for aural rehabilitation, especially in high-risk cohorts such as NICU patients. Further research is needed into factors that contribute to earlier diagnosis among patients screened with ABR.

Resolution of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder after shunt placement in a patient with hydrocephalus: A case report.

PURPOSE: There have been previous case reports suggesting the resolution of both sensorineural hearing loss and retrocochlear involvement through the management of hydrocephalus with shunt placement. This is a case report of a patient with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) that resolved after shunt placement in a patient with hydrocephalus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chart review of a single patient with a diagnosis of ANSD and hydrocephalus. Type of audiometric testing and results were document. RESULTS: Patient is an infant who was diagnosed with hydrocephalus at birth and ANSD in the right ear at 3 months of age. Patient underwent shunt placement at 9 months old and had behavioral testing 2 months later. Audiometry showed normal behavioral audiometric thresholds with presence of ipsilateral and contralateral reflexes which is suggestive of resolution of ANSD. CONCLUSIONS: This is a single case report of resolution of ANSD after shunt placement in a patient with hydrocephalus. Close monitoring and repeat audiological evaluation is recommended to follow these patients.

Utility of the finance-electronic medical record digital dashboard in pediatric otolaryngology.

BACKGROUND: The time and cost of data collection via chart review of the electronic medical record (EMR) is a research barrier. This study describes the development of a digital dashboard conjoining EMR and finance data and its application in a pediatric otolaryngology practice. METHODS: The dashboard creates a common language crosswalk between surgeries via the EMR, financial data, and national Vizient database. First, all Otolaryngology procedures billed via ICD-10 or CPT codes were categorized into Procedure Groups, which constitute the common language that links all data sources. The joined dataset was inputted into a Tableau workbook supporting dynamic filtering and custom real-time analysis. RESULTS: The dashboard includes 84 Procedure Groups within Otolaryngology. Examples for pediatrics include Sistrunk procedure and supraglottoplasty. User-friendly dynamic filtering by Procedure Group, surgery date range, age, insurance, hospital, surgeon, and discharge status were developed. Outcomes include length of stay, telephone callbacks, postoperative hemorrhage, reoperations, return to Emergency Department, readmissions, and mortality. National comparisons can be analyzed via embedded Vizient data. The usability of the dashboard was tested by evaluating pediatric tonsillectomy outcomes, which revealed a significantly higher rate of postoperative hemorrhages and reoperations during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: The hybrid finance/EMR dashboard creates a crosswalk between data sources and shows utility for use in evaluating patient outcomes via real-time data analysis and dynamic filtering. This innovative dashboard expedites data extraction, promoting efficient implementation of quality improvement initiatives and surgical outcomes research.

Diagnosis and patterns of hearing loss in children with severe developmental delay.

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVE: Children with cognitive delay often experience challenges with obtaining hearing thresholds through behavioral audiometry (BA). This necessitates sedated Auditory Brainstem Response (sABR) testing. This study aimed to evaluate diagnostic and hearing patterns in children with Down Syndrome (DS), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Global Developmental delay (GDD), and Cerebral Palsy (CP) who were unable to complete reliable BA testing due to severe cognitive delay. METHODS: Retrospective chart review on a cohort of children aged 0.5-18 years with a diagnosis of DS, ASD, GDD, or CP who underwent sABR due to unsuccessful BA testing. This was performed at a tertiary care institution from 2014 to 2019. Testing patterns and audiometric data were collected. RESULTS: Across 15 DS, 39 ASD, 10 GDD, and 11 CP patients, the average time from first nondiagnostic BA to sABR ranged from 8.6 months (in GDD) to 21.8 months (in DS). The average number of BAs performed before sABR ranged from 1.6 (in ASD and GDD) to 2.7 (in DS). Hearing loss (HL) was diagnosed in 10%, 13%, 36% and 46% of patients with GDD, ASD, CP and DS respectively. Up to 75% of the HL was sensorineural (in CP patients). CONCLUSION: In children with significant cognitive delays, a high incidence of HL (especially SNHL) was identified, therefore high suspicion for HL should be held in these patients. Multiple unsuccessful BAs contribute to prolonged time to diagnosis and treatment, thus prompt sABR should be performed in patients whose severe cognitive delay inhibits reliable testing with BA.

Auditory testing outcomes with hearing aids in patients with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the audiologic outcomes with hearing aids in pediatric patients with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) using the Infant Toddler-Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS), and the Ling 6 Sound Test (Ling 6). STUDY DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Single tertiary care academic medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All pediatric patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ANSD on Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing who presented to a single tertiary medical center between September 2008 and September 2018 were included. Only patients that underwent Infant Toddler-Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) and/or Ling 6 Sound Test (Ling 6) were included in the study. Audiologic testing performed after cochlear implantation was excluded. RESULTS: 60 pediatric patients with ANSD were analyzed. There were 10 patients included in the study with documented hearing aid use who underwent IT-MAIS and/or Ling 6 testing. Average IT-MAIS score improved by 20.4% after initial or extended trial of amplification. Similarly, average Ling 6 score improved from 3.6 to 4.8 after initial or extended trial of amplification. The four patients who did not receive amplification had higher average IT-MAIS and Ling 6 scores. CONCLUSION: In most children with ANSD, IT-MAIS and Ling 6 Sound Test scores improved with initial hearing aid use and over time with extended hearing aid use. Long-term prospective, multi-institutional studies are needed to determine the impact of the natural history of ANSD, comorbidities, and socioeconomic variables on auditory function testing results in children with ANSD using hearing aids.

Pediatric ear foreign body retrieval: A comparison across specialties.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze what characteristics of patients and/or ear foreign bodies should prompt referral to otolaryngology with the goal to maximize successful removal and minimize complications. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients who presented for ear foreign body removal from January to December 2016 at a tertiary hospital center. Data collection included successful removal, major or minor complications, use of general or conscious sedation, use of otic or oral antibiotics, age of patient, comorbid behavioral disorders, and foreign body characteristics. Major complications included tympanic membrane perforation or ossicular damage. Minor complications included injury of the canal wall. Patients with retained or extruded tympanostomy tubes were excluded. RESULTS: Of 275 patients aged 1-18 years, 16% presented initially to otolaryngology (ENT), 48.4% presented to the emergency department (ED), 21.8% presented to a pediatrician, and 13.8% presented to ENT after prior attempts at removal. Rate of successful retrieval by ENT was significantly higher than by PCP (95.4% vs 75.0%) or by ENT after prior failed attempts (65.8%), but not when compared to removal in the ED (85.7%). Retrieval by ENT after prior failed attempts had the highest rate of minor complications (26.3% vs 2.3-6.0%). There were two tympanic membrane perforations that were noted by ENT after prior failed attempts. Rate of operative intervention was significantly higher in patients who presented to ENT after prior attempts compared to patients who presented initially to ENT (34.2 vs 4.6%, p = 0.001). Of the patients who presented to ENT after previous failed attempts, there was a higher rate of complications and operative intervention if the patient was age 5 or under or the foreign body was difficult to grasp. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric ear foreign body presentation is common. Repeated attempts at removal are associated with higher rates of minor complications and operative intervention. Early consultation to otolaryngology should be considered if the foreign body is deemed difficult to grasp such as a bead or stone, especially if the patient is age five or younger.

Impact of perforation size and predictive factors for successful pediatric gelfoam myringoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: Rates of success with pediatric myringoplasty range from 35 to 95%. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of perforation size on successful closure of the tympanic membrane (TM) after gelfoam myringoplasty. We also aim to identify variables that affect perforation closure rates and define predictive factors for successful TM closure. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients that underwent gelfoam myringoplasty by a single surgeon from August 2008 through January 2015 was performed. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-nine patients met inclusion criteria and underwent a total of 219 procedures. Overall, gelfoam myringoplasty had an 83.1% rate of successful closure. Average perforation size was 15.31%. Classification tree analysis separated our cohort into three groups based on perforation size: Group 1 (<16.25%) had a 91% closure rate, group 2 (16.25% to <31.25%) had a 66.0% closure rate and group 3 (≥31.25%) had a 30.0% closure rate. Smaller perforations (P ≤0.001) were associated with increased success rates. Other factors associated with successful closure of the TM included younger age at the time of myringoplasty (P ≤0.001), fewer number of prior tympanostomy tubes (P = 0.016), and lesser duration of tube retention (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Gelfoam myringoplasty provides good overall TM closure rates and may be considered as a potential first-line option for repair of perforations, including those involving up to 40% of the TM. Younger patients with smaller perforations, fewer sets of tubes, shorter length of tube retention are more likely to have successful closure of the tympanic membrane.

Hearing Loss in Children: A Review.

IMPORTANCE: Hearing loss in children is common and by age 18 years, affects nearly 1 of every 5 children. Without hearing rehabilitation, hearing loss can cause detrimental effects on speech, language, developmental, educational, and cognitive outcomes in children. OBSERVATIONS: Consequences of hearing loss in children include worse outcomes in speech, language, education, social functioning, cognitive abilities, and quality of life. Hearing loss can be congenital, delayed onset, or acquired with possible etiologies including congenital infections, genetic causes including syndromic and nonsyndromic etiologies, and trauma, among others. Evaluation of hearing loss must be based on suspected diagnosis, type, laterality and degree of hearing loss, age of onset, and additional variables such as exposure to cranial irradiation. Hearing rehabilitation for children with hearing loss may include use of hearing aids, cochlear implants, bone anchored devices, or use of assistive devices such as frequency modulating systems. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Hearing loss in children is common, and there has been substantial progress in diagnosis and management of these cases. Early identification of hearing loss and understanding its etiology can assist with prognosis and counseling of families. In addition, awareness of treatment strategies including the many hearing device options, cochlear implant, and assistive devices can help direct management of the patient to optimize outcomes.

Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) in pediatric otolaryngology.

INTRODUCTION: Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) is a condition in which the vocal cords exhibit inappropriate inspiratory adduction, and it has been poorly studied in the pediatric population. METHODS: Pediatric patients diagnosed with PVCM by a pediatric otolaryngologist and doctor of speech pathology from 2008 to 2012 were reviewed. Patients in whom another cause for their respiratory disturbance was eventually identified were excluded. Patient demographics, characteristics, treatment, and outcomes were reviewed. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at our institution. RESULTS: Thirty patients met criteria for inclusion; one with chiari malformation was excluded. 17/29 (59%) were female. Body mass index (BMI) numbers ranged from 16 to 25 with a mean of 21. 9/29 (31%) competed at the highest level of a sport; only 3/29 (10%) did not participate in athletics. Average age of onset was 12.0years; average diagnosis delay was 1.3years. Mean follow up was 2.3years. 24/29 (83%) were previously treated for asthma. 23/29(79%) were previously treated for reflux. 25/29(86%) completed at least one session of respiratory and laryngeal control therapy with overall average of 2.2 sessions completed. All patients who attended a second therapy session were recorded as having improvement in symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with PVFM often participate in high levels of organized sports and the frequency of concurrent asthma and reflux symptoms in this population supports the theory that laryngeal hypersensitivity contributes to the pathophysiology of PVFM. These patients were not found to have any associated psychiatric diagnoses. Pediatric patients with PVFM have an excellent prognosis when treated with speech therapy and for comorbid conditions as indicated.

Role of adenoidectomy in chronic nasal obstruction after nasal steroid therapy failure.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical characteristics of pediatric patients that failed nasal steroid therapy for management of chronic nasal obstruction and to evaluate the efficacy of adenoidectomy in this subset of patients. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care academic center. SUBJECTS: Analysis was performed on children that underwent adenoidectomy between 2011 and 2015 for chronic nasal obstruction refractory to nasal steroids. RESULTS: Seventy-four cases were identified. Average age of presentation was 3.6years. Pre-operatively, 25.7% of patients had known asthma, 16.2% reported respiratory allergies, and 20.3% reported use of systemic antihistamines. The most common pre-operative symptoms included mouth breathing (82.4%), nasal congestion (81.1%), snoring (71.6%), and rhinorrhea (37.8%). Average adenoid size was 68% pre-operatively. Ninety-eight percent of patients experienced improvement or resolution of their symptoms following adenoidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates average rates of respiratory allergies, but high rates of asthma among patients that fail nasal steroid therapy for chronic nasal obstruction. Adenoidectomy is a highly efficacious intervention in this subset of patients.

Utility of a multidisciplinary approach to pediatric hearing loss.

INTRODUCTION: Because management of hearing loss (HL) often requires multiple specialists, a multidisciplinary clinic, Pediatric Hearing Management Clinic, (PHMC) was established to coordinate care for children with newly diagnosed HL. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients seen in PHMC from February 2009 to April 2010. RESULTS: Clinic information was available for 40/41 of the patients and was included in the study. 37/41 had confirmed HL. HL was categorized into bilateral/symmetric [15], bilateral/asymmetric [12] and unilateral [10]. Sixteen patients subsequently received hearing amplification after PHMC visit. Follow up was successfully established with otolaryngology in 23/32 (72%) patients, audiology in 29/40 (73%) patients, speech pathology in 11/12 (92%) patients, and ophthalmology in 15/30 (50%) patients. Twenty-nine patients completed evaluations of PHMC. The mean score in six total categories was 3.8/4.0 (4.0 as the highest satisfaction). CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary clinic approach provides a convenient and effective way to coordinate care for children with HL.

Rhinosinusitis in children: a comparison of patients requiring surgery for acute complications versus chronic disease.

BACKGROUND: Patient characteristics, risk factors, and microbiology are important to consider in the management of complications of acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS) in pediatric patients. This study evaluates this subset of patients and compares them to patients that undergo surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of all pediatric patients from 2002 to 2011, who underwent sinus surgery at a tertiary hospital. Patients who underwent surgery for ABS complication were compared to patients who underwent surgery for CRS. Statistical analysis was completed using chi-square test or Fisher's exact test with a statistical significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with a complication of ABS and 77 patients with CRS were analyzed. The groups did not differ demographically. Patients with a complication were statistically less likely to have seasonal allergies, prior sinusitis, prior nasal steroid use, or adenoidectomy (p<0.05). In addition, they had more frequent involvement of ethmoid and frontal sinuses (p<0.05). The most common cultures results were no growth (30.8%), Streptococcus milleri (30.8%), and normal flora (19.2%) in ABS for the with a complication group, and normal flora (41.5%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus (22%), and Propionobacterium (19.5%) for the CRS group. Most prevalent complications were preseptal cellulitis (55.5%), orbital subperiosteal abscess (29.6%), subgaleal abscess (22%), and epidural abscess (22%). Five patients had simultaneous orbital and intracranial complications. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who present with complications of ABS vary significantly from the CRS patients. Location of most commonly affected sinuses and microbiology also differ and is crucial for understanding the management of this disease process.

Cochlear Implantation Outcomes in Pediatric Unilateral Hearing Loss: Impact of Device Use and Direct Input.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of daily cochlear implant (CI) use on speech perception outcomes among children with unilateral hearing loss (UHL). STUDY DESIGN: Multi-institutional retrospective case series of pediatric patients with UHL who underwent CI between 2018 to 2022. SETTING: Three tertiary children's hospitals. METHODS: Demographics were obtained including duration of deafness and age at CI. Best consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) word scores and data logs describing hours of CI usage were assessed postimplantation. Use of direct audio input (DAI) during rehabilitation was recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-seven children were included, with a mean age at CI of 7.8 years. Mean datalogging time was 7.8 ± 3.0 hours/day. 40.7% of children utilized daily DAI. The mean CNC score using the best score during the study period was 34.9%. There was no significant correlation between hours of CI usage and CNC score. There was a significant improvement in CNC score associated with whether the child used DAI during rehabilitation (CNC 50.91% [yes] vs 23.81% [no]), which remained significant when adjusting for age at CI, duration of deafness, and data log hours. CONCLUSION: Unlike children with bilateral hearing loss and CI, children with UHL and CI demonstrate no significant correlation between hours of daily CI usage and CNC scores. However, children who used DAI during postoperative rehabilitation achieved significantly higher CNC scores than those who did not. This suggests that rehabilitation focused on isolated listening with the implanted ear maybe critical in optimizing outcomes with CI in UHL patients.

Auditory Outcomes Following Cochlear Implantation in Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) in children is associated with speech and language delays. Cochlear implantation (CI) is currently the only rehabilitative option that restores binaural hearing. This study aims to describe auditory outcomes in children who underwent CI for UHL and to determine the association between duration of hearing loss and auditory outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Three tertiary-level, academic institutions. PATIENTS: Children <18 years with UHL who underwent CI between 2018 and 2021. INTERVENTION: Cochlear implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Speech perception and Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) were assessed postimplantation. Scores >50% on speech perception and SSQ scores >8 points were considered satisfactory. Associations between duration of UHL and implantation age and outcomes were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: Of the 38 children included, mean age at CI was 7.9 ± 3.2 years and mean UHL duration was 5.0 ± 2.8 years. Mean datalogging was 8.1 ± 3.1 hours/day. Mean auditory testing scores were SSQ, 7.9 ± 1.2; BABY BIO, 68.1 ± 30.2%; CNC, 38.4 ± 28.4%; WIPI, 52.5 ± 23.1%. Scores >50% on CNC testing were achieved by 40% of patients. SSQ scores >8 points were reported by 78% (7/9) of patients. There were no significant correlations between UHL duration and auditory outcomes. CONCLUSION: Overall, children with UHL who undergo CI can achieve satisfactory speech perception scores and SSQ scores. There were no associations between duration of hearing loss and age at implantation with auditory outcomes. Multiple variables may impact auditory outcomes, including motivation, family support, access to technology, and consistent isolated auditory training postactivation and should be taken into consideration in addition to age at implantation and duration of UHL in determination of CI candidacy.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Age-Related Hearing Loss Executive Summary.

OBJECTIVE: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a prevalent but often underdiagnosed and undertreated condition among individuals aged 50 and above. It is associated with various sociodemographic factors and health risks including dementia, depression, cardiovascular disease, and falls. While the causes of ARHL and its downstream effects are well defined, there is a lack of priority placed by clinicians as well as guidance regarding the identification, education, and management of this condition. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical practice guideline is to identify quality improvement opportunities and provide clinicians trustworthy, evidence-based recommendations regarding the identification and management of ARHL. These opportunities are communicated through clear actionable statements with an explanation of the support in the literature, the evaluation of the quality of the evidence, and recommendations on implementation. The target patients for the guideline are any individuals aged 50 years and older. The target audience is all clinicians in all care settings. This guideline is intended to focus on evidence-based quality improvement opportunities judged most important by the Guideline Development Group (GDG). It is not intended to be a comprehensive, general guide regarding the management of ARHL. The statements in this guideline are not intended to limit or restrict care provided by clinicians based on their experience and assessment of individual patients. ACTION STATEMENTS: The GDG made strong recommendations for the following key action statements (KASs): (KAS 4) If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should obtain or refer to a clinician who can obtain an audiogram. (KAS 8) Clinicians should offer, or refer to a clinician who can offer, appropriately fit amplification to patients with ARHL. (KAS 9) Clinicians should refer patients for an evaluation of cochlear implantation candidacy when patients have appropriately fit amplification and persistent hearing difficulty with poor speech understanding. The GDG made recommendations for the following KASs: (KAS 1) Clinicians should screen patients aged 50 years and older for hearing loss at the time of a health care encounter. (KAS 2) If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should examine the ear canal and tympanic membrane with otoscopy or refer to a clinician who can examine the ears for cerumen impaction, infection, or other abnormalities. (KAS 3) If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should identify sociodemographic factors and patient preferences that influence access to and utilization of hearing health care. (KAS 5) Clinicians should evaluate and treat or refer to a clinician who can evaluate and treat patients with significant asymmetric hearing loss, conductive or mixed hearing loss, or poor word recognition on diagnostic testing. (KAS 6) Clinicians should educate and counsel patients with hearing loss and their family/care partner(s) about the impact of hearing loss on their communication, safety, function, cognition, and quality of life. (KAS 7) Clinicians should counsel patients with hearing loss on communication strategies and assistive listening devices. (KAS 10) For patients with hearing loss, clinicians should assess if communication goals have been met and if there has been improvement in hearing-related quality of life at a subsequent health care encounter or within 1 year. The GDG offered the following KAS as an option: (KAS 11) Clinicians should assess hearing at least every 3 years in patients with known hearing loss or with reported concern for changes in hearing.