Who are the best candidates for cochlear implants?
The device can be an effective treatment option for several types of patients, particularly children 12 months of age or even younger who suffer moderately severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Hearing-impaired adults who receive little or no benefit from conventional amplification (hearing aids) are also good candidates. To achieve optimum benefit from a cochlear implant, adult candidates need to be highly motivated to learn how to use the device and must have realistic expectations. Of course, there should be no medical contra-indications. Certainly, the number of implants has increased steadily since we introduced our first commercial cochlear device in 1989. Thousands of our devices are being implanted each year in more than 80 countries worldwide. What advances have made cochlear implant technology more viable? Improved microchip technology makes it possible for us to design highly flexible and energy-efficient circuits. Implants can now stimulate at very high rates — bey
