Multichannel cochlear implantation in visually impaired patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcome of cochlear implantation in patients with severe to profound hearing loss and visual impairment.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective case review.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center with a large cochlear implant program.

PATIENTS: Six adults and two children with severe or profound hearing loss and significant visual impairment underwent multichannel cochlear implantation. Follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 9 years. Case history, etiology of visual and hearing loss, and benefit from cochlear implant were evaluated.

INTERVENTIONS: Cochlear implantation and subsequent rehabilitation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Speech perception measures were selected based on the patient age and cognitive abilities. Identical measures were used in each patient before and after implantation.

RESULTS

As a group, patients did well after cochlear implantation. There was significant improvement in speech perception when compared with the score before implantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Cochlear implants can play a significant rehabilitative role in patients with severe visual and auditory impairment. Additional skills are required by the implant team for rehabilitation of patients with multiple sensory deficits.