OBJECTIVES: Timely access to hearing technology is paramount to ensure early auditory access to the sounds needed for listening and learning in children with early hearing loss (HL). Although children typically move to cochlear implants (CIs) after first having tried hearing aids (HAs), there are some cases where the HA trial may create unnecessary additional delays....
This case series suggests cochlear implantation without a prior hearing aid trial may be appropriate in select pediatric cases, but the small sample size (n=22) means clinicians should treat this as hypothesis-generating rather than practice-changing evidence; individualized clinical judgment remains essential.
Challenging the conventional hearing aid trial requirement before cochlear implantation could shorten the time to effective hearing intervention in children, potentially improving long-term language and developmental outcomes.
- 0122 pediatric patients received cochlear implants without a prior hearing aid trial.
- 02Challenges the traditional requirement for a hearing aid trial before CI candidacy.
- 03Emphasizes timely access to hearing technology for early hearing loss.
- 04Published in American Journal of Audiology.
- 05Small case series; findings are preliminary and hypothesis-generating.
Cochlear implantation in children without a prior hearing aid trial is feasible and may be appropriate in select cases.
studypartially supportedTimely access to hearing technology is critical for children with early hearing loss.
studysupported- PMID
- 42372799
- DOI
- 10.1044/2026_AJA-24-00127.
- Journal
- American Journal of Audiology
- Publication type
- case_report
- Evidence level
- 4
- Sample size
- 22
- Population
- Pediatric patients with early hearing loss undergoing cochlear implantation
- Intervention
- Cochlear implantation without prior hearing aid trial
Primary outcomes
Feasibility and appropriateness of CI without hearing aid trial; Access to timely hearing technology in children