Multichannel cochlear implantation in visually impaired patients

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of cochlear implantation in patients wit h 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 implantat ion. Follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 9 years. Case history, etiolo gy of visual and hearing loss, and benefit from cochlear implant were evalu ated. Interventions: Cochlear implantation and subsequent rehabilitation. Main Outcome Measures: Speech perception measures were selected based on th e 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 w as significant improvement in speech perception when compared with the scor e before implantation. Conclusions: Cochlear implants can play a significant rehabilitative role i n patients with severe visual and auditory impairment, Additional skills ar e required by the implant tram for rehabilitation of patients with multiple sensory deficits.