Multichannel Cochlear Implantation in Visually Impaired Patients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of cochlear implantation in patients with severe to profound hearing loss and visual impairment. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center with a large cochlear implant program. PATIENTS: Six adults and two children with severe or profound hearing loss and significant visual impairment underwent multichannel cochlear implantation. Follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 9 years. Case history, etiology of visual and hearing loss, and benefit from cochlear implant were evaluated. INTERVENTIONS: Cochlear implantation and subsequent rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Speech perception measures were selected based on the patient age and cognitive abilities. Identical measures were used in each patient before and after implantation. RESULTS: As a group, patients did well after cochlear implantation. There was significant improvement in speech perception when compared with the score before implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Cochlear implants can play a significant rehabilitative role in patients with severe visual and auditory impairment. Additional skills are required by the implant team for rehabilitation of patients with multiple sensory deficits.