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.


METHODS
Retrospective case review.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center with a large cochlear implant program.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
Cochlear implantation and subsequent rehabilitation.


METHODS
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.
El-Kashlan
H K
HK
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0312, USA.
Boerst
A
A
Telian
S A
SA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D018450:Disease Progression; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test