Who Could Benefit from a Cochlear Implant?

A Cochlear Implant may be an option if your child:

• Has a bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss

• Has restricted or no useful (limited) benefit from hearing aids

The following criteria are considered in determining a child’s candidacy for cochlear implant surgery of one ear (unilateral) and follow-up at BC Children's Hospital:

• Age range of 12 months through 18 years. The earliest age a child can receive a cochlear implant is 12 months of age.
• A bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss
• Little or no benefit from consistent use of appropriately fitted hearing aids worn at least 3-6 months as shown through minimal progress in auditory development
• Inner ear which can accommodate the implant device/ integrity of auditory nerve, as determined by MRI/ CT Scan
• No medical contra-indications, including active middle ear disease or ossification of cochlea, which would interfere with implant surgery or the post-implant (re)habilitation process
• Family and/or child with good motivation and realistic expectations about the cochlear implant
• Family prepared and committed to the time and travel costs associated with cochlear implant follow-up as well as the continuing costs of sound processor supplies and upgrades
• Enrolment in an appropriate educational program with emphasis on development of auditory/oral skills

Referral

• Initial referral to the Cochlear Implant Services can be made by anyone (e.g. parents, audiologists, teacher, and physician).
• A physician referral to Dr. Kozak will eventually be needed but can be done after initial referral to the team.
• We accept referrals for children birth to 18 years of age.
• When in doubt if a child can benefit from a cochlear implant it is best to refer.

Download the Referral Form (PDF).

Who can benefit from having two (bilateral) cochlear implants?

There are many benefits to having two cochlear implants such as localization (knowing where a sound is coming from) and listening in noise. The clinic has been providing bilateral cochlear implants since 2008.

A second cochlear implant may be offered to all children who meet all the following conditions:

1. Meet BC Children's Cochlera Implant Services criteria for unilateral cochlear implantation
   
2. Fall under one of the following categories:
• Have had meningitis
• Have visual impairment
• Young children with bilateral profound hearing loss who get little benefit from a hearing aid in the non implanted ear
• Children with sudden onset or progressive hearing loss that results in poorer or limited hearing aid benefit.
  
3. Have no other conditions that would prevent the expectation of benefit with a second implant (e.g., lack of progress in speech-language and auditory development)
   
4. Older children who have had their first implant for many years may be offered a second implant if:
• They have received their first implant prior to 3 years of age
• They are 10 years of age or younger
• They demonstrate significant benefit from the first implant shown by a minimum of 60% open set speech discrimination.
• They do not have any other conditions which would prevent safe implantation or suggest limited benefit from a second cochlear implant.