Candidacy

Children and adults with an advanced level of sensorineural hearing loss in both ears may benefit from a cochlear implant. A cochlear implant may be considered for someone with a hearing loss that is severe enough to limit speech understanding, even with well-fit hearing aids. The inability to hear more than one half of amplified words provides a guide that helps define candidacy.

Success with a cochlear implant begins with carefully planned evaluations. These include medical, audiological, psychological, and communication testing to help ensure that a candidate is likely to derive benefit from a cochlear implant. Both childhood and adult candidates must have experience with hearing aids. Training ,,, basic communication skills is also helpful in some cases before a cochlear implant is placed.

The assessment of candidacy will evaluate a range of factors now known to be important, if not crucial to success. A cochlear implant candidate's ability to attend to sound, to make meaningful associations with sounds, and to integrate hearing into social interactions will ultimately reinforce use of the device. Skills in problem-solving, attention, and memory can further strengthen communication abilities after a cochlear implant is placed. The emotional experience of learning to hear with a cochlear implant is significant. Thus the psychological assessment of candidates and families often provides important insights into how best to tailor a complete plan of intervention.

Counseling informs candidates and their families of what to expect. A realistic expectation of what a cochlear implant can provide is the starting point at which successful use of a cochlear implant may begin.

Are you a Cochlear Implant Candidate ?

If you want to know if you qualify for a cochlear implant or are interested in starting the implant process here at Johns Hopkins, please submit the following:

a. An unaided audiogram performed within the last 6 months with speech discrimination scores for both ears,
b. An aided audiogram performed within the last 6 months with speech discrimination scores without visual cues (presentation level 60 dB HL)
c. Completed Case History Form ( Adult and Pediatric available)

You can submit this information by fax - 443-287-6340

Attention Mary Young, or mary@thelisteningcenter.com

Note: If records are emailed, audiograms must be scanned and attached.
Please allow 2-3 weeks for review.

Click the links below for the necessary forms... print, complete, then fax,
or scan and email.

Adult Case History Form - a .pdf file

Pediatric Case History Form - a .pdf file

Patient Information Form - a .pdf file