Cochlear implants are for both adults and children who simply are not getting enough benefit from hearing aids. The following questions can help determine if your child is a cochlear implant candidate:
- Has your infant/child been diagnosed with a severe or profound hearing loss in both ears?
- Does your infant/child respond to familiar sounds in his/her environment, such as the doorbell or dog barking, and respond appropriately?
- Does your child have delayed speech and language development?
- Does your child rarely respond to his/her name?
- Does your child avoid or lack appropriate social interaction with other children/siblings and adults?
- Do you have concerns about your child’s ability to hear speech in noisy environments?
- Do you have concerns about your child’s ability to participate and succeed in school with normal hearing peers?
If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, your child may benefit from a cochlear implant. This suggests that you should have an evaluation at a Cochlear Implant Clinic to determine if your child is a candidate for a cochlear implant, that is if a cochlear implant will help your child hear better than hearing aids.
A team approach is often taken to determine candidacy for cochlear implantation. A surgeon rules out medical contraindications with a physical examination, an MRI or a CT scan, and medical record review.
An audiologist will evaluate the type and degree of hearing loss, assess the functional benefit received with hearing aids, and discuss the potential benefits to be gained from a cochlear implant.
A speech-language pathologist evaluates the communication abilities, including vocabulary (receptive and expressive), language (receptive and expressive), articulation/intelligibility, and reading skills (if age appropriate).
Educator(s) may provide information regarding academic progress, educational setting, and social interactions.
A psychologist assesses cognition, sensory, and motor development, learning style of the child, and your expectations and motivations.
Finally, you, as the child’s parent are the key member of this team as you know your child best.
Every child comes into the hearing journey with his or her own individual hearing potential. Some biological factors that can influence hearing potential are:
- How old your child was when the hearing loss began
- How long your child has had a hearing loss
- How old your child is when he/she gets a cochlear implant
- The medical health of your child’s inner ear
- Other related medical conditions
For children with cochlear implants, there are many options for rehabilitation. Generally, rehab programs that focus on learning to listen and provide an auditory-rich environment will maximize a child’s performance potential with cochlear implants. You should discuss your options with your hearing health professionals.
Regardless of biological factors and habilitation effort, it takes technology to bring
sound to the impaired ear. Hearing aids provide limited benefit to people with severe or profound hearing loss because the technology is designed to simply amplify sound.
Cochlear implants, in contrast, do not just amplify sound. Instead, they bypass damaged parts of the inner ear and deliver sound signals directly to the hearing nerve using precise electrical currents, which get instantly “translated” in the brain.
The only way to know for certain if your child can benefit from a cochlear implant is to be evaluated at a Cochlear Implant Clinic in your area. Use our Clinic Finder to find a clinic near you.
Next: Questions and Answers About Cochlear Implants>>
