Repair issues associated with cochlear implants in children.

Objective: To examine the number and type of repair issues associated with the use of cochlear implants in children who have worn either the body-level or ear-level style for 4 to 5 years.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: Specialty eye and ear institute.

Methods: Charts for all children who received cochlear implants from one of the authors between 1994 and 2002 and who received 4 to 5 years of follow-up for either the body or the ear-level style were examined. Based on the return merchandise authorizations and chart notes, implant problems were classified as external or internal. External problems were further subclassified as affecting the batteries, case, earhook, cords/cables, microphone, speech processor, coil, and/or external magnet; internal problems were subclassified as affecting the internal magnet, electrode(s), or other.

Main Outcome Measures: Type and number of internal and external cochlear implant component breakdowns over time (including external component repair rates per year) and number of associated hospital visits.

Results: Of the 22 children, 4 (18.2%) had internal component problems. For the external components, the repair rate per year was 4.1 and 2.7 for the body style and ear-level style, respectively. For the group of children who was seen for each of 4 years, the mean number of repair problems declined 32% and 43% over that period for the body-worn and ear-level implants, respectively. The mean repair cost per year, based on Years 4 and 5 of use, was $794 and $317 for the body-worn and ear-level styles, respectively.

Conclusion: The declines over time in repair problems and associated hospital visits suggest that children learn, over time, to better maintain and care for their cochlear implant. Although most had external component breakdowns, relatively few had internal component repair issues.