Who is a candidate for a cochlear implant?
Adults:
If hearing aids are no longer offering you enough benefit, you may be a candidate for a cochlear implant. Some indicators include:
- A moderate to severe or profound hearing loss in both ears
- Very little or no benefit from hearing aids
- Having difficulty following conversations without lip-reading
- Feeling isolated and limited, both socially and occupationally, because of your hearing loss
- When your speech intelligibility is affected by your hearing loss
Children:
Children who are cochlear implant candidates should be implanted as soon as possible if parents want to strive for age appropriate speech, language and academic development. Some indicators include:
- A moderate to severe or profound hearing loss in both ears
- Very little or no benefit from hearing aids
- A child whose hearing loss was caused by Meningitis
- A speech and/or language delay caused by their hearing loss