title: The case for earlier cochlear implantation in postlingually deaf adults.
abstract: This paper aimed to estimate the difference in speech perception outcomes that may occur due to timing of cochlear implantation in relation to the progression of hearing loss.
  
  
  
  Data from a large population-based sample of adults with acquired hearing loss using cochlear implants (CIs) was used to estimate the effects of duration of hearing loss, age, and pre-implant auditory skills on outcomes for a hypothetical standard patient.
  
  
  
  A total of 310 adults with acquired severe/profound bilateral hearing loss who received a CI in Melbourne, Australia between 1994 and 2006 provided the speech perception data and demographic information to derive regression equations for estimating CI outcomes.
  
  
  
  For a hypothetical CI candidate with progressive sensorineural hearing loss, the estimates of speech perception scores following cochlear implantation are significantly better if implantation occurs relatively soon after onset of severe hearing loss and before the loss of all functional auditory skills.
  
  
  
  Improved CI outcomes and quality of life benefit may be achieved for adults with progressive severe hearing loss if they are implanted earlier in the progression of the pathology.
authors.affiliation: a The HEARing CRC , Melbourne , Australia .|b Cochlear Implant Clinic, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital , Melbourne , Australia , and.|c The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology , University of Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dowell
mesh_terms: D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D018579:Patient Selection; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cochlear implant; adult; hearing loss; predictive factors