Profiling linguistic outcomes in young children after cochlear implantation

Objective: To summarize the results of cost-utility analyses of pediatric cochlear implantation (PCI) in the United Kingdom. Method: Analyses were based on measured costs of health care and measured educational placements, but on estimates of the gain utility which results from PCI and estimates of the costs of educational placements. Results: The cost-utility ratio calculated from the costs of health care falls on the margin of the range considered acceptable within the British health-care system. If estimates of cost-savings associated with educational placements are also considered, the resulting ratio is similar to that of other therapies provided within the British health-care system. Conclusion: The analysis is highly sensitive to assumptions about future costs and benefits. There is a need to reduce the number of assumptions by measuring those values which are currently estimated: in particular, the gain in utility associated with PCI and the costs of different educational placements.