A large review of data from 2,595 children with cochlear implants looked at how often these children actually use their devices. The study found that about 4.45% of children did not use their implants at all. Additionally, about 8.99% of children were found to have partial use, which is defined as using the device for less than 8 hours a day.
Several factors were linked to these lower usage rates. For example, children who had hearing loss for a longer period of time were more likely to show partial use. The age at which the implant was received also mattered; children implanted before 12 months of age showed lower rates of partial use compared to those implanted between 12 and 24 months.
Geographic location also showed differences, with much higher rates of non-use in Oceania compared to Europe. Because these findings show links rather than direct causes, they suggest that doctors can use these specific factors to identify which children might need more support to stay engaged with their devices.
