Cochlear Implantation in Children With Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection

Objective: To assess the impact of cochlear implantation (CI) on children with cytomegalovirus (CMV)-induced deafness. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Patients: Four children with congenital CMV-related deafness (CMV group) and 17 children with congenital deafness without CMV infection as the cause of deafness (non-CMV group). The age at CI ranged from 2.0 to 3.3 years (mean, 2.6 yr) in the CMV group and from 1.8 to 3.6 years (mean, 2.6 yr) in the non-CMV group. Their follow-up period ranged from 3.0 to 4.3 years (mean, 3.3 yr) in the CMV group and from 1.6 to 4.3 years (mean, 3.3 yr) in the non-CMV group. Methods: Evaluation and comparison of preoperative and postoperative hearing levels, motor, social, and language development, Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale, and Enjoji Scale of Infant Analytical Development between the 2 groups. Results: Within 12 months after CI, the mean score of both language perception and production was poorer in the CMV group than in the non-CMV group, and the difference in the language production was statistically significant. However, 12 months after CI, the language perception and production showed good progress at levels similar to that of the non-CMV group. Conclusion: Long-term results of the language perception and production after CI was satisfactory in Japanese children with congenital CMV-related deafness compared with in subjects deafened by other causes. CMV alone, as a cause of deafness, is not likely a contraindication for CI.