scholarly journals Costs involved in using a cochlear implant in South Africa

Author(s):  
Gillian Robyn Kerr ◽  
Seppo Tuomi ◽  
Alida Müller

Cochlear implantation is an expensive but effective lifelong intervention for individuals with a severe-to-profound hearing loss. The primary aim of this study was to survey the short- and long-term costs of cochlear implantation. Individuals (N=154) using cochlear implants obtained from the University of Stellenbosch-Tygerberg Hospital Cochlear Implant Unit in Cape Town, South Africa were surveyed using a questionnaire and patient record review. The questionnaire used a combination of closed and open-ended questions to gather both quantitative and qualitative information. Costs were categorised as short- and long-term costs. All costs were converted to constant rands (June 2010) using the Consumer Price Index to allow for comparison in real terms over time. In the first 10 years of implantation the average estimated costs incurred by adults totalled R379 626, and by children R455 225. The initial purchase of the implant system was the most substantial cost, followed by upgrading of the processor. Travel and accommodation costs peaked in the first 2 years. On average the participants spent R2 550 per year on batteries and spares. Rehabilitation for children cost an average of R7 200. Insurance costs averaged R4 040 per year, and processor repairs R3 000 each. In addition to the upfront expense of obtaining the cochlear implant system, individuals using a cochlear implant in South Africa should be prepared for the long-term costs of maintenance, accessing the unit, support services and additional costs associated with use. Knowledge of these costs is important to ensure that individuals are successful users of their cochlear implants in the long term.

2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (9) ◽  
pp. 854-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
W-K Low ◽  
C A Tham ◽  
V-D D'Souza ◽  
S-W Teng

AbstractObjective:Except for a single case report, musical ear syndrome in cochlear implantees has not been studied. We aimed to study the prevalence and nature of musical ear syndrome among adult cochlear implant patients, as well as the effect on their emotional well-being.Study design, patients and intervention:A cross-sectional survey of patients aged 18 years and above who had received cochlear implants for profound hearing loss between 1997 and 2010.Results:Of the 82 patients studied, 18 (22 per cent) were found to have experienced musical ear syndrome. Seven and 11 patients had musical ear syndrome prior to and after cochlear implantation, respectively. The character of musical ear syndrome symptoms was described as instrumental music (n = 2), singing (6) or both (10). Fourteen patients reported an adverse emotional effect, with three expressing ‘intolerance’.Conclusions:In this study, 22 per cent of cochlear implantees experienced musical ear syndrome. These symptoms affected patients' emotional state, but most coped well. Musical ear syndrome can occur prior to and after cochlear implantation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Waltzman

Abstract Due to advances in cochlear implant technology and the remarkable outcomes often achieved by persons with severe to profound hearing loss, cochlear implant candidacy criteria has expanded since the first children were implanted almost twenty years ago. Evidence of this can be seen in the increased willingness to provide cochlear implants for children with multiple disabilities. Over the last decade, several reports have appeared in the peer-reviewed literature describing cochlear implant outcomes of children with multiple disabilities. This paper will summarize those reports, discuss realistic expectations of implantation for children with multiple disabilities, and describe contemporary management protocols for the otologic, audiologic, and rehabilitative management of children with multiple disabilities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 881-892
Author(s):  
Bénédicte GRANDON ◽  
Marie-José MARTINEZ ◽  
Adeline SAMSON ◽  
Anne VILAIN

AbstractOur study compares the intelligibility of French-speaking children with a cochlear implant (N = 13) and age-matched children with typical hearing (N = 13) in a narrative task. This contrasts with previous studies in which speech intelligibility of children with cochlear implants is most often tested using repetition or reading tasks. Languages other than English are seldom considered. Their productions were graded by naive and expert listeners. The results show that (1) children with CIs have lower intelligibility, (2) early implantation is a predictor of good intelligibility, and (3) late implantation after two years of age does not prevent the children from eventually reaching good intelligibility.


2011 ◽  
Vol 125 (7) ◽  
pp. 741-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y-M Feng ◽  
Y-Q Wu ◽  
H-Q Zhou ◽  
H-B Shi

AbstractObjective:We report a patient who underwent cochlear implantation in an ear with long-term deafness, after an acoustic neuroma had been removed surgically from the other, hitherto good ear and the cochlear nerve had subsequently been resected to relieve severe tinnitus.Method:Case report.Results:The patient could not tolerate the cochlear implant, because of a moderate headache due to the stimulation level necessary for environmental sound discrimination.Conclusion:Cochlear implantation in patients with long-term deafness should be considered carefully, even if deafness is monaural.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Y. Roukema ◽  
M. C. Van Loon ◽  
C. Smits ◽  
C. F. Smit ◽  
S. T. Goverts ◽  
...  

Objective. To describe the audiological, anesthesiological, and surgical key points of cochlear implantation after bacterial meningitis in very young infants.Material and Methods. Between 2005 and 2010, 4 patients received 7 cochlear implants before the age of 9 months (range 4–8 months) because of profound hearing loss after pneumococcal meningitis.Results. Full electrode insertions were achieved in all operated ears. The audiological and linguistic outcome varied considerably, with categories of auditory performance (CAP) scores between 3 and 6, and speech intelligibility rating (SIR) scores between 0 and 5. The audiological, anesthesiological, and surgical issues that apply in this patient group are discussed.Conclusion. Cochlear implantation in very young postmeningitic infants is challenging due to their young age, sequelae of meningitis, and the risk of cochlear obliteration. A swift diagnostic workup is essential, specific audiological, anesthesiological, and surgical considerations apply, and the outcome is variable even in successful implantations.


1992 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Berger-Vachon ◽  
Bachir Djedou ◽  
Lionel Collet ◽  
Alain Morgon

Considering the recognition performance obtained by an implanted patient, the authors have developed models to explain the decrease in performance when the number of open channels on the prosthesis is increased. The French cochlear implant Chorimac was used in this experiment. Two models have been developed. The first is monodimensional and the second is multidimensional. They respectively represent an increase in information and its superposition. Results suggest that for the patient, the superposition factor prevails and is detrimental to recognition. Its elimination should be a major goal. A good selection of electrodes in a relatively small number seems to be the best policy. This is already done in some cochlear implants. Some other parameters in the signal that seem worth being analyzed are introduced.


2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamala S. Bradham ◽  
Geneine Snell ◽  
David Haynes

Abstract Technological advances, specifically cochlear implants, have significantly impacted the treatment of children with severe to profound hearing loss. There are, however, very few professional guidelines or resources providing direction for hearing healthcare providers who are serving children with cochlear implants. The following article discusses a comprehensive management protocol for interdisciplinary teams providing cochlear implant services for children.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micol Busi ◽  
Monica Rosignoli ◽  
Alessandro Castiglione ◽  
Federica Minazzi ◽  
Patrizia Trevisi ◽  
...  

Background. Specific clinical conditions could compromise cochlear implantation outcomes and drastically reduce the chance of an acceptable development of perceptual and linguistic capabilities. These conditions should certainly include the presence of inner ear malformations or brain abnormalities. The aims of this work were to study the diagnostic value of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with sensorineural hearing loss who were candidates for cochlear implants and to analyse the anatomic abnormalities of the ear and brain in patients who underwent cochlear implantation. We also analysed the effects of ear malformations and brain anomalies on the CI outcomes, speculating on their potential role in the management of language developmental disorders.Methods. The present study is a retrospective observational review of cochlear implant outcomes among hearing-impaired children who presented ear and/or brain anomalies at neuroimaging investigations with MRI and HRCT. Furthermore, genetic results from molecular genetic investigations (GJB2/GJB6and, additionally, in selected cases,SLC26A4or mitochondrial-DNA mutations) on this study group were herein described. Longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis was conducted using statistical tests.Results. Between January 1, 1996 and April 1, 2012, at the ENT-Audiology Department of the University Hospital of Ferrara, 620 cochlear implantations were performed. There were 426 implanted children at the time of the present study (who were <18 years). Among these, 143 patients (64 females and 79 males) presented ear and/or brain anomalies/lesions/malformations at neuroimaging investigations with MRI and HRCT. The age of the main study group (143 implanted children) ranged from 9 months and 16 years (average = 4.4; median = 3.0).Conclusions. Good outcomes with cochlear implants are possible in patients who present with inner ear or brain abnormalities, even if central nervous system anomalies represent a negative prognostic factor that is made worse by the concomitant presence of cochlear malformations. Common cavity and stenosis of the internal auditory canal (less than 2 mm) are negative prognostic factors even if brain lesions are absent.


1992 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Seicshnaydre ◽  
Michele H. Johnson ◽  
M. Suzanne Hasenstab ◽  
George H. Williams

Preoperative temporal bone computed tomography (CT) can demonstrate anatomic details relevant to surgical management and is therefore essential in the presurgical evaluation of patients receiving cochlear implants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate preoperative CT studies and compare them to surgical findings in 34 children who received the Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant. The focus of this report is to discuss the dependability of CT scans in predicting surgical findings at the time of cochlear implantation. Results indicate that agreement of CT interpretations with surgical findings is partially related to the etiology of hearing loss and the experience of the surgeon and neuroradiologist. Advantages and limitations of the CT scans in predicting surgical findings are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Santosh Kumar Swain

Cochlear implantation is indicated in patients with severe to profound hearing loss that cannot be adequately treated by other auditory rehabilitation measures. The definitive indication of cochlear implantation is made on the basis of an extensive interdisciplinary clinical, audiological, radiological, and psychological diagnostic work-up. There are numerous changes are happening in cochlear implant candidacy. These have been associated with concomitant changes in surgical techniques, which enhanced the utility and safety of cochlear implantation. Currently, cochlear implants are approved for individuals with severe to profound unilateral hearing loss rather than previously needed for bilateral profound hearing loss. Studies have begun using the short electrode arrays for shallow insertion in patients with low-frequency residual hearing loss. The advancement in designs of the cochlear implant along with improvements in surgical techniques reduce the complications and result in the safety and efficacy of the cochlear implant which further encourages the use of these devices. This review article aims to discuss the new concepts in the candidacy of the cochlear implant, cochlear implant in younger children and hearing preservation, a cochlear implant for unilateral deafness, bilateral cochlear implant, and cochlear implant with neural plasticity and selection of patients for the cochlear implant.


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