Cochlear implant mechanical failures.

Cochlear implants have proven to be an effective treatment for profoundly deafened individuals. Unfortunately, like most mechanical devices, these implants occasionally cease to function. The rate at which the cochlear implant fails, however, does not appear to be the same in adults and children. The failure rate for children far exceeds that observed in adults. The overall failure rate reported by Cochlear Corporation notes that whereas only 3% of the adults have had this type of problem, 9% of the children have had failed internal receivers. This research reports on the experiences of a large implant facility in the Northeast. The clinical presentation and the evaluation of children suspected of having an implant failure are reviewed. The mechanical causes for failures are analyzed. Intraoperative findings and results of reimplantation surgery are presented. The possible causes for the increased incidence of failure in children are discussed.