Who is a good candidate for cochlear implantation?

Good candidates include individuals with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears who receive limited benefit from conventional hearing aids. This includes both adults and children (typically age 12 months or older) who have intact auditory nerves. Contraindications include active middle ear infections, absence of the cochlea or auditory nerve, and certain medical conditions that increase surgical risk. A thorough audiological and medical evaluation is required before candidacy is confirmed.