Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct and Cochlear Implants: The Effect of Early Counseling on the Length of Time Between Candidacy and Implantation.

Objective: To determine if discussing cochlear implantation (CI) with patients with enlarged vestibular aqueducts (EVA) and their families before reaching audiological criteria for CI candidacy effects the length of time between reaching audiological candidacy and CI surgery, and to describe the universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) results and communication modality in this sample.

Patients: Forty-two patients (25 females) with confirmed EVA and cochlear implants.

Intervention(s): Diagnostic CI visit.

Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure is the difference in length of time between reaching audiological candidacy for CI and surgical implantation between those who had preliminary discussions regarding CI with their medical and healthcare providers before reaching audiological candidacy versus who had discussions after reaching candidacy. The secondary outcome measure is the result of the UNHS and primary mode of communication used by each patient.

Results: Discussing CI before reaching audiological candidacy was associated with a significantly shorter duration between reaching audiological candidacy and receiving CI (median = 3.1 mo; interquartile range [IQR] = 1.7-5.4) as compared with discussing CI after reaching candidacy (median = 5.8 mo; IQR = 3.2-11.2; p = 0.012). Participants born after the implementation of the UNHS, 16 of 24 patients referred on one or both ears. Communication modalities were evenly divided between utilizing sign-support English and oral/aural communicators only.

Conclusions: Discussion of CI in patients with EVA before reaching audiological candidacy reduces the amount of time the child is without adequate auditory access and contributes to a constructive and interactive preparatory experience.