Cochlear Implants and the Mentally Retarded Population

Question

Answer

There has not been a large-scale study of cochlear implantation in the mentally challenged population, largely due to the wide variety of handicapping conditions that might be involved. Such a study would be difficult to control, at best. Mental retardation in and of itself does not necessarily eliminate a patient from cochlear implantation. There is a wide variety of factors that must be considered for any patient. For a patient with mental retardation, the extent of developmental delay and degree of developmental progress must both be taken into consideration. If possible, the patient's aptitude for learning language should be determined. A number of patients with mental retardation have been implanted and have demonstrated varying degrees of benefit with implantation. The key to implantation in patients with multiple and/or severe coexisting conditions is to provide the patient and/or family with honest and realistic counseling prior to implantation. The patient and family must have realistic expectations, based on the abilities and limitations of that patient.


Bio.
Aimee Gross, M.S., CCC-A
Clinical Specialist
MED-EL Corporation

Aimee Gross serves as Clinical Specialist with MED-EL Corporation. She is based at MED-EL's North American Headquarters in Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC and is largely responsible for clinical education and training. Mrs. Gross is a member of both the Clinical Support and Patient Support teams at MED-EL Corporation. Before joining MED-EL, she worked with the cochlear implant team at the University of North Carolina Hospitals. Mrs. Gross holds a Master of Science degree in audiology from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and certification in audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.


For more information on MED-EL click here.

Click here to visit the MED-EL website.