A Prospective Study of the Cost-Utility of the Multichannel Cochlear Implant

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
EPIDEMIOLOGIC studies in the United States indicate that approximately 9% of all adults self-report hearing impairment that affects speech comprehension on a daily basis.1 A more recent study employing audiometric testing within communities indicated that the prevalence of significant hearing impairment may be as much as 5 times greater than this.2 An estimated 10% of individuals with sensorineural hearing loss experience impairment so advanced that conventional amplification provides little benefit; thus, these individuals are considered profoundly hearing impaired.3 Because the severity of sensorineural hearing loss accelerates with age, changing demographic characteristics in the United States will considerably increase the prevalence of profound hearing impairment. The public health concern entailed by the growing prevalence of deafness is underscored by observations of consequences, including constrained access to general medical and mental health services.4,5

This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit: