Additional difficulties associated with aetiologies of deafness: outcomes from a parent questionnaire of 540 children using cochlear implants.

AIM To update our clinical records of additional difficulties and significant health issues of children receiving cochlear implants (CIs) at the Nottingham Auditory Implant Programme, to investigate possible trends in cohorts of children with the same aetiology of deafness, and to discuss clinical implications. METHOD A written postal questionnaire was sent to parents/carers of 590 children asking if their child had been diagnosed with specified additional difficulties and any significant health issues likely to impact on their child's listening and language development. Responses to these questionnaires were collated and the data reviewed. RESULTS Of the 91.5% questionnaires returned, the percentage of children with additional difficulties was found to be 47%. The numbers of CI recipients with three or more additional difficulties in this group were found to be 11%. The distribution of additional difficulties within cohorts of CI recipients with the same aetiology was examined, and trends were identified. Those deafened by cytomegalovirus or meningitis and those with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder were found to have the greatest number of co-existing additional difficulties including epilepsy and autism, while those with an aetiology of Connexin 26 had almost no additional difficulties. CONCLUSION It is hoped that the information obtained will (i) inform the counselling of parents pre-implant, particularly with children whose aetiology means that there is a high risk of additional difficulties, and (ii) improve CI recipient care. The results suggest that children with severe-profound sensorineural deafness have more additional difficulties than has been previously cited.