Impacts of hearing history, etiology, vestibular and balance function, and socioeconomic marginalization on developmental outcomes in children with cochlear implants

Children with bilateral cochlear implants (BCIs) remain vulnerable to developmental challenges relative to typically developing peers (TD), even when access to sound through acoustic or amplified hearing is achieved within the first year of life....

Audiologists fitting pediatric cochlear implants should routinely assess vestibular and balance function and document socioeconomic risk factors, as both independently influence developmental outcomes and should inform multidisciplinary rehabilitation planning.

Highlighting vestibular function and socioeconomic marginalization as outcome drivers in pediatric cochlear implant recipients expands the clinical evaluation framework beyond auditory metrics alone.

1. 01Study examines multiple predictors of developmental outcomes in children with bilateral cochlear implants.
2. 02Vestibular and balance dysfunction — common after cochlear implantation — independently predicted developmental delays.
3. 03Socioeconomic marginalization was identified as a significant factor in developmental outcomes, underscoring equity concerns.
4. 04Hearing history (age at implantation, duration of deafness) and etiology of hearing loss were also evaluated as variables.
5. 05Findings support a holistic, multidisciplinary assessment model for pediatric cochlear implant programs.

PMID

42236749

DOI

10.1038/s41598-026-39747-2.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Children with bilateral cochlear implants, varying in hearing history, etiology, vestibular/balance function, and socioeconomic status

Intervention

Assessment of hearing history, etiology, vestibular/balance function, and socioeconomic marginalization as predictors