Cochlear implants recommended by National Institutes of Health (NIH)
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Describing cochlear implants as "unparalleled" in their ability to bring the sounds of the world to many who are deaf, a National Institutes of Health panel has recommended the device for adults with severe hearing loss who receive marginal benefit from hearing aids. NIH estimates this could allow nearly one million people with severe hearing impairment to understand speech. Only children and profoundly deaf adults currently receive the device, but more than 12,000 persons worldwide have been given the implant over the past 20 years.