Click here for an explanation of these scores
Answer Rating key
|
search
|
|
strong
|
|
appraisal
|
|
weak
|
|
confidence
|
|
moderate
|
Question answered:29/11/06 Warning! this question is over two years old.
The RNID have produced a fact sheet on cochlear implants in which they discuss their suitability in deaf adults:
“Are cochlear implants suitable for all deaf adults?
No. You may find a cochlear implant suitable if you have profound sensorineural deafness in both ears and hearing aids don't help you very much. Sensorineural deafness is usually the result of damage to tiny hair cells in the cochlea. For an implant to work, your hearing nerve has to function even though your cochlea does not work. The cochlear implant bypasses the damaged hair cells in your cochlea and sends signals directly to your hearing nerve and on to your brain.
Will a cochlear implant be right for me?
If you are an adult who has been deaf from birth, or before learning to speak or understand language, then cochlear implants are not recommended. This is because you need some memory of sound in order to make sense of the signals passed to your brain by the implant.
If you became profoundly deaf after you developed spoken language skills, then a cochlear implant might be suitable, but this is not the case for everyone.
If you find that you benefit from conventional high-powered hearing aids with well-fitting moulds, then you are unlikely to be considered for a cochlear implant.
Your age is not important when your doctors are deciding whether an implant will be suitable for you, as long as you are in good health and able to undergo the major operation that is carried out. However, you may get more benefit from your implant if you receive it soon after becoming deaf…” [1]
A Canadian systematic review on cochlear implants in adults, adolescents and children concludes:
“…cochlear implantation technology can be considered "accepted" in the case of adults with profound hearing loss of recent onset and postlingually profoundly deaf children; "innovative" in the case of early-implanted congenitally and prelingually deaf children over two years of age; and "experimental" in the case of congenitally and prelingually deaf children implanted before the age of two years. Lastly, with a few exceptions, the cochlear implant is not a technology sought after by adults and adolescents with prelingual deafness or long-standing postlingual deafness.” [2]
GPNotebook also lists bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss as being an indication for cochlear implants.[3]
Finally, Sargent notes in an e-Medicine article:
“Strongest predictors of performance include the duration of deafness and the patient's age at implantation. As in children, these factors account for only part of the variance in cochlear implant performance. In general, patients receiving implants soon after the onset of profound hearing loss perform better than those implanted later.” [4]
References
1. RNID. Cochlear implants (factsheet). (http://www.rnid.org.uk/information_resources/factsheets/medical/factsheets_leaflets/cochlear_implants.htm)
2. Conseil d'Evaluation des Technologies de la Sante du Quebec. The cochlear implant in adults, adolescents and children - systematic review. Montreal: Conseil d'Evaluation des Technologies de la Sante du Quebec (CETS), 1997:100. (http://agatha.york.ac.uk/online/hta/978315.htm).
3. GPNotebook. Indications for cochlear implants. (http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-925892538&linkID=10085&cook=yes).
4. Sargent W. Cochlear implants, indications.e-Medicine. Spetember 2005. (http://www.emedicine.com/ent/topic424.htm#section~cochlear_implantation_in_adults).
DISCLAIMER: TRIPanswers is a collection of clinical questions and answers. Each provider will have their own methodology in answering questions and these are likely not to be as rigorous as systematic review. If you have any doubt as to the implications of this contact the Q&A Service Provider for further information. This document is presented for information purposes only. This document cannot and should not be used as a basis of diagnosis or choice of treatment, and is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. TRIPanswers and TRIP Database Ltd are not responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, ANY form of damage whatsoever resulting from the use/misuse of information contained in or implied by this document. Also, ensure you have read the terms and conditions for using the site.