Children and adults can be candidates for cochlear implants, it all depends on the type of hearing loss. The FDA approves the criteria for cochlear implantation candidacy when new devices are introduced to the market, but insurance companies also develop their own criteria for implantation’s. To determine candidacy for a patient each case has to be done individually depending on their own insurance. The general guidelines for cochlear implant candidacy outlined by The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association include:
Adults:
Adults can qualify for cochlear implantation if they lost their hearing before or after learning speech and language. Adults who lost their hearing after learning language will have a greater success rate than an adult who never learned language. It is generally agreed that the best adult candidates are those who:
- Have severe to profound hearing loss in both ears
- Have had limited benefit from hearing aids
- Have no other medical problems that would make the surgery risky
- Have a strong desire to be part of the hearing world and communicate through listening, speaking, and speechreading
- Have lost their hearing after speech and language development
Children:
Children as young as 12 months of age can be implanted with a cochlear implant. Audiologists and other researchers have recommended the younger the child is at the time of implantation the better. This is important to expose children to the critical period for developing language on track with their peers. After implantation the child must go through speech and language therapy to achieve the best outcomes from the cochlear implant. It is generally agreed that the best child candidates are those who:
- Have profound hearing loss in both ears
- Have had limited benefit from hearing aids
- Are healthy and have no medical conditions that would make the surgery risky
- Are involved (when able), along with their parents, in all the steps in the process
- Understand (when able), along with their parents, their role in the successful use of cochlear implants
- Have (when able), along with their parents, realistic expectations for cochlear implant use
- Have support from their educational program to emphasize the development of auditory skills
In my next blog I will discuss what to expect before, during, and after surgery for cochlear implants.