Rehabilitation of adult patients with severe-to-profound hearing impairment - why not cochlear implants?

In Sweden, an estimated prevalence of adult patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss is 0.2%, which corresponds to roughly 20,000. We know little about the use of cochlear implants (CIs) in this population and why not most of them are not offered CI. To investigate the reasons for no rehabilitation with CI among this patient group. Data were collected from 1076 patients in the Swedish Quality Register of Otorhinolaryngology. A baseline questionnaire and the reason for no CI, was evaluated. Only 14.5% of the patients started a CI investigation, and 8.5% were rehabilitated with CI. Significantly more women (56.5%) than men received CI. The most common reasons for not receiving CI, were (30.5%), indicating satisfaction with technical equipment, and (25%). The oldest patient group (81-100 years old) had the highest risk for . Patients receiving extended audiological rehabilitation (53.5%) had a significantly lower risk for It is worrying that the oldest patient group (81-100 years old) seemed to have fewer chances to start a CI investigation. An extended audiological rehabilitation increased the chances that professionals would discuss CI. This study shows that surprisingly few patients are offered CI despite their severe-to-profound hearing loss.