Criteria for implantation
Age
- 0 to 18 years
- If deafness is congenital or prelingual, younger children seem to progress faster and benefit more than older children
- If deafness is postlingual (over age 5), children of any age can benefit, if implanted shortly after onset of profound hearing loss
Audiological criteria
- Severe to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss
- Limited benefit from hearing aids despite appropriate training and consistent hearing aid use
Speech and Language Level
- The gap between spoken language age and chronological age will need to be be assessed (as this has an impact on the expectations for speech-language success with the implant)
Educational
- The child must have access to a school and therapy program with a strong auditory emphasis
Psycho-social
- The family must be willing and able to take part in extensive pre- and post- implant assessment and therapy
- Family must have realistic expectations of benefit
- Child must understand process and provide consent (if possible and appropriate)
Medical/Surgical Criteria*
- Deafness can not be due to lesions of the acoustic nerve or central auditory pathways
- Deafness cannot be due to an absence of cochlear development
- Cochlear ossification that prevents electrode insertion may affect your child's candidacy
* medical/surgical contraindications are determined by the surgeon