Comorbid Psychological Diagnoses in Children With Single-Sided Deafness Who Received or Are Under Consideration for Cochlear Implantation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the range and prevalence of comorbid psychological diagnoses in patients with single-sided deafness (SSD)1 identified during routine neuropsychological evaluations before and after cochlear implantation.

METHOD: A retrospective chart review of all patients with SSD referred for neuropsychological evaluation for consideration or following receipt of a cochlear implant (CI) from January 2021 to June 2024 was conducted. Neuropsychological evaluation findings were reviewed to identify the presence of comorbid psychological condition(s).

RESULTS

Twenty-three of 52 (44.23%) children with SSD in this clinical sample were found to have a comorbid psychological diagnosis. The most common diagnoses in school-aged children were attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety disorders. For 15 of the 52 (28.85%) subjects, neuropsychological testing revealed previously undiagnosed and untreated diagnoses. A total of 55.56% of children with SSD 6 years of age or older who received a CI had a comorbid psychological condition.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with SSD who are referred for CI evaluation appear to be at a greater risk for psychological diagnoses than the general population. This highlights the need for standardized psychological/neuropsychological assessments in this population, as these evaluations help ensure that all the needs of children with SSD are well supported, including psychological interventions when needed.