| Abstract: | In the University of Sydney cochlear implant programmes, 109 adults and teenagers have received a 22 electrode cochlear implant (Cochlear™ implant) since 1984; and 127 children have received a Cochlear™ implant since 1987. The results were analysed when all patients were still using the MSP speech processors rather than the newer SPEAK processors. Seventy five percent of adults and teenagers deafened after learning speech for a period of less than 15 years were able to recognise some words by audition alone. Only 30 percent of adults and teenagers deafened for over 15 years regaining hearing were able to recognise any words by audition alone but most found the device very helpful in aiding lipreading. None of adults and teenagers who were born deaf who received a cochlear implant found they could recognise any sounds and half of them abandoned using the device. Children who were deafened after learning speech usually did extremely well with a cochlear implant and could remain in their regular school situation. Children who had done well with hearing aids were also very likely to succeed with a cochlear implant. Children who had learnt to communicate by gestures or signs who had reached an age of over 6 years did poorly with the cochlear implant with 73 percent unable to recognise speech by listening alone and unable to improve their speech production to an intelligible level. |
