TITLE:
Audiological Outcomes of Different Cochlear Implant Electrodes in Congenitally Deaf Children: A Prospective Observational Study
AUTHORS:
Badr Eldin Mostafa, Lobna El Fiky, Naglaa Nasser, Ahmed Mostafa, Abir Omara
KEYWORDS:
Cochlear Implants, Electrodes, Profound Hearing Loss, Hearing Outcomes
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,
Vol.15 No.4,
July
9,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: To evaluate short-term audiological outcomes in congenitally deaf pediatric patients implanted with lateral wall or perimodiolar cochlear implant electrode arrays. Study design: Prospective observational study. Methods: The study included children with bilateral congenital profound sensorineural hearing loss who underwent unilateral cochlear implantation between January 2022 and January 2023 at two tertiary referral centers. Audiological outcomes, including free field pure tone average (PTA) and word discrimination threshold (WDT), were assessed 6 months after initial device activation. Comparisons were performed according to electrode manufacturer and design. Results: A total of 259 patients (mean age 33.4 months) were analyzed. One hundred ninety-two patients received lateral wall electrodes and 67 received perimodiolar electrodes. The mean PTA was 33.01 dB HL for lateral wall arrays and 32.03 dB HL for perimodiolar arrays (p = 0.18). Mean WDT values were 64.22 dB HL and 62.72 dB HL, respectively (p = 0.25). No statistically significant differences were identified between electrode designs or among manufacturers. Conclusion: In the short term, lateral wall and perimodiolar cochlear implant electrode arrays provided comparable audiological outcomes in congenitally deaf pediatric patients.