Cochlear implant in guinea: results and perspectives

Introduction: The cochlear implant is a medical device placed in the inner ear through surgery. It is used to correct profound sensorineural hearing loss in patients. Objective: To report the results of the first cohort of cochlear implants in Guinea and present future prospects. Methodology: This was a descriptive study with retrospective data collection over 6 months (July – December 2024), conducted at the ENT Department of Donka National Hospital. Results: We recorded 15 cases of cochlear implants performed during three missions in three different countries (8 in Guinea; 5 in Morocco; and 2 in Ivory Cost). The patients included 7 girls and 8 boys. Their average age was 3.13 years. All presented with severe to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, including 11 children with pre-lingual deafness. Cochlear implantation was unilateral in all patients. Device tuning and speech therapy rehabilitation were conducted regularly. Pre- and postoperative therapeutic education was provided to all parents. Results were satisfactory (6-month follow-up), based on speech therapy reports and parental feedback. Factors influencing these satisfactory outcomes included early cochlear implantation, strong parental involvement, and consistent speech therapy follow-up. Conclusion: The emergence of cochlear implantation in Guinea is the result of support from policymakers and partners. Our major future goal is to establish a cochlear implant center in Guinea. Keywords: cochlear implant, results, prospects, guinea