OBJECTIVETo observe the long-term safety and performance of Nurotron cochlear implant system. To analyze the auditory and speech rehabilitation characteristic of pediatric deafened patients after cochlear implantation.

METHODSTo analyze 3 years results of pediatric deafened patients with Nurotron® Venus™ cochlear implants. From April to June 2011, sixty deaf children received domestic cochlear implant. All subjects were switched on after 3 to 4 weeks of surgery, and were assessed the auditory rehabilitation on 3 months, 12 months, 24 months and 36 months after switching on. To evaluate the rehabilitation results by Aided Hearing Thresholds, Auditory & Verbal Ability Test and IT-MAIS Questionnaire. Meanwhile, the safety and performance of cochlear implant system were followed-up. Before surgery, all the recipients in this study were 12 to 71 months of age with the average hearing threshold higher than 90 dBHL.

RESULTSSixty cases of deaf children were implanted successfully. All the recipients used their devices every day, and all of their devices worked well. No complication or side effect related to implantation were found. The sound field aided hearing thresholds, vowels, consonants, monosyllabic words and two-syllable words test, as well as Ling's test, and IT-MAIS Questionnaire of all recipients were improved significantly with prolonged use of CI device. The results of grammatical competence, understanding, communication and presentation skills tests also get significantly promotion in 3 years follow up.

CONCLUSIONSWith prolonged use of CI device, the hearing and language tests of children recipients could obtain significantly improvement. The Nurotron® Venus™ CI system works safely and effectively.