Question

Please read this brief case history below and answer the following questions in detail at the best of your ability. Please cite websites/resources that are used.

A healthy female failed the newborn hearing screening at birth and was diagnosed with a severe sensorineural hearing loss bilaterally at age 3 months. By age 6 months, this infant was fitted with behind-the-ear hearing aids. The parents notice that their daughter is not receiving benefit from this amplification and requested that she receive cochlear implantation.

(a) Is this infant an appropriate candidate for cochlear implantation? Why or why not?

(b) Which medical and educational professionals are involved in determination of CI candidacy?

(c) What are the roles of the speech–language pathologist and auditory–verbal therapist in working with this infant to prepare her for oral speech and language?

(d) Would these candidacy criteria change if the child were age 5 years? Or age 15 years? Why or why not?

(e) Which (if any) hearing assistance technology could be used after cochlear implantation surgery to improve speech understanding in the home and/or in the classroom?

Answer 1

a) CI Candidacy for Children

- 12+ months

- Bilateral, severe to profound SNHL

- Limited benefit w/ HA

- Lack of progress in auditory skills development

- No medical contraindications

- Realistic expectations and commitment to F/U

- Family motivation

b) Audiologist and otorhinolaryngologist determine the candidacy of CI

c) Role of speech - language pathologist and auditory - verbal therapist are :-

SLP role on Pediatric CI Team

Determine pre-CI language, speech, listening skills

Educate/counsel family on modes of communication, education/therapy options, appropriate expectations for listening and spoken language development

Provide aural habilitation/speech therapy post-CI evaluation

#. SLP role on Pediatric CI Team

Provide annual reevaluations post CI to obtain post-CI lang, speech, listening skills

Provide feedback on listening and spoken language skills and development to Audiologist

They will reprogram/reMAPP if needed

Referrals to professional and parent organizations

4. Yes ,the candidacy creiteria changes :-

current candidacy guidelines for children aged 2 to 17 years old :-

Severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss (nerve deafness) AU (PTA 70 dB or greater)

ANSD without aided benefit

Receive little or no benefit from hearing aids

Lack of progress in the development of auditory skills

High motivation and realistic expectations from child and family