Who gets a Cochlear Implant?
Cochlear implants are recommended for usage by children and adults who are severely hard of hearing. The patient however, should keep in mind that the cochlear implant is an irreversible process. Cochlear implants are recommended for patients with hearing impairment between 70 and 90 decibels. When a hearing impaired patient finds hearing aids of little or no assistance, a cochlear implant is the next beneficial hearing and communication health step. Adults who are fitted with cochlear implants at a later age require intensive post operative therapy to help them understand speech without using sign language or other visual indicators. Children who have advanced inner ear dysfunctions can be fitted with cochlear implants between the ages of 2 to 6 years. A cochlear implant fitted in young children will give them the best hearing and communication advantage. In the year 2000 the Food and Drug Administration approved of children as young as12 months for one kind of cochlear implant. Caution has to be exercised and cochlear implants should be evaluated at a cochlear implant center and the operation conducted by a qualified and competent surgeon with extensive experience. Not all hearing impaired patients benefit from cochlear implants. Hearing aids should be regarded as the first option before making a decision to fit a cochlear implant. If a patient has medical problems that could make surgery precarious, a cochlear implant is not recommended. Cochlear implants have proved to be beneficial to deaf blind persons who find integrating and communication much easier when assisted by cochlear implants. Those who suffer from Ushers Syndrome a condition where deafness is accompanied by vision loss, a cochlear implant substantially improves awareness among patients. Cochlear Implants are thus permanent and powerful assistive devices for patients young and old with severe inner ear malfunctions.
