Device nonuse among adult cochlear implant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the causes and prevalence of previous and current device nonuse among adults who have received cochlear implants.


METHODS
Retrospective case review.


METHODS
Adult tertiary referral center for cochlear implantation.


METHODS
Two hundred fourteen consecutively implanted adult patients. The length of implant use ranged from 1 month to 14 years.


METHODS
A period of 4 consecutive weeks of nonuse of cochlear implant, including both obligatory and elective nonuse.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine adults (13.6% of implantees) were identified as having at some stage not used their device for a period of more than 4 consecutive weeks. The main reason was device failure (n = 11). Ten adults are current nonusers (4.7% of implantees). Reasons include surgical complication necessitating explantation (n = 3), comorbid illness (n = 3), elective nonuse (n = 2), audiologic complication (n = 1), and device failure (n = 1).


CONCLUSIONS
The overall prevalence of device nonuse was noted to increase slowly with time. The role of psychologic factors in contributing to the decision of an individual to elect to opt out of device use remains unproven.
Bhatt
Y M
YM
Manchester Cochlear Implant Programme, The University of Manchester, Manchester, England, UK.
Green
K M J
KM
Mawman
D J
DJ
Aplin
Y
Y
O'driscoll
M P
MP
Saeed
S R
SR
Ramsden
R T
RT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*