Comparison of pediatric clarion recipients with and without the electrode positioner

Objective: To compare surgical experience and measures of electrode and patient performance of children who were implanted with the Clarion (Advanced Bionics, Sylmar, CA. U.S.A.) device with and without the new electrode positioner (EP). Study Design: Prospectively and retrospectively collected data were compared between two independent groups. Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital. Patients: Twenty-four children (mean age, 3.0 years) implanted during the original Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clinical trial required for commercial approval of the Clarion and 15 children (mean age, 3.4 years) implanted with the EP as part of an ongoing FDA trial. Intervention: Cochlear implant with and without EP. Main Outcome Measures: Electrical psychophysical threshold, most comfortable loudness level (MCL), electrode impedance, and speech perception measures were compared at 3 and 6 months after initial stimulation. Results and Conclusion: All children had complete insertion of electrodes. No difficulty inserting the EP occurred nor did subsequent related complications. Subjects with the EP had significantly lower threshold and MCL levels. Electrode impedance declined on stimulated electrodes in both groups. Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale scores significantly improved in both groups; the EP group appeared to receive as much benefit as the non-EP group.