Prognosis after cochlear implantation

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7437.419

BMJ 2004;328:419-420 (21 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7437.419

Editorial

Prognosis after cochlear implantation

Children benefit the most as do many adults

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Multichannel cochlear implant systems were approved by the Foodand Drug Administration for adults in 1985 and for childrenin 1990. NHS funding became available in the early 1990s. About4000 patients have received implants in the United Kingdom (50000 worldwide). Children now outnumber adults by 2:1. Cochlearimplants are reliable, and cochlear implant surgery is safedespite recent concerns regarding a risk of meningitis. Thenumbers of suitable candidates is rising as selection criteriachange, and it is timely to consider the benefits and risksof the technique.

A cochlear implant takes the place of the damaged organ of Cortiand stimulates the spiral ganglion cells directly. Acquiredcauses of hair cell loss include infection such as rubella,cytomegalovirus infection, mumps, measles, meningitis, and middleear infection, drug toxicity, trauma, and autoimmune disease,as well as Menière's disease and cochlear otosclerosis.Congenital hair cell loss may be due . . . [Full text of this article]

Richard T Ramsden, professor of otolaryngology

Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL richard.ramsden@man.ac.uk

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This article has been cited by other articles:

Soper, J. (2006). Deafblind people's experiences of cochlear implantation. British Journal of Visual Impairment 24: 19-29 [Abstract]

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