Longitudinal Developmental Outcomes and Early Cochlear Implantation Benefits in Children with Prelingual Single-Sided Deafness: Evidence Synthesis and Clinical Recommendations

Children with prelingual single-sided deafness (SSD) face deficits in speech perception in noise, sound localization, and verbal cognition if untreated.
Early cochlear implantation (CI) before 2.5 years significantly improves spatial hearing abilities and verbal intelligence quotient (IQ), normalizing performance relative to bilateral normal-hearing peers.
CIs in SSD facilitate typical longitudinal developmental trajectories across auditory, cognitive, and balance domains without adverse effects on postural control.
Guidelines for clinical follow-up and individualized rehabilitation protocols are essential to optimize long-term outcomes in children with SSD receiving early CI.

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