Kochleaimplantat bei Erwachsenen: Indikation und Durchführung

Abstract

From the technical point of view, cochlear implant (CI) surgery in adults is a well established procedure. Pre- and postoperative evaluation, surgical approach and rehabilitation programs are standardized, presenting CI as a low risk procedure with rare complications similar to those of middle ear surgery. Modern advanced CI devices offer technical reliability and multiple speech encoding strategies and recently, even small processors which are worn behind the ear. Further technical advances are continuously available, even for implanted patients. Upgrading is usually easy because the outer parts of the implant are exchangeable and software upgrades can be transmitted transcutaneously to the implant. Assuming that medical and rehabilitation requirements are available, there are only very few indications against CI in adults. Candidate patients should therefore be transferred to CI-centres where a decision can be taken depending on presurgical evaluation results.

Impact of Hearing Rehabilitation Using Cochlear Implants on Cognitive Function in Older Patients

“…In the treatment of deafened and severely hearing-impaired patients, the CI is considered the “gold standard” (2–4,6,7,21–23). In Germany, a considerable proportion of CI candidates are currently older patients, more than or equal to 65 years.…”

“…In consequence, the proportion of deafened and severely hearing-impaired patients is also rising (2). The cochlear implant (CI) has become an established method of achieving hearing rehabilitation in this group of patients (3,4). Audiological criteria are generally used to assess whether treatment with a CI is indicated (5).…”

Die Hörrehabilitation mittels Cochlea-Implantat – Eine Möglichkeit der Tinnitus-Reduktion im Alter

“…Bei vielen Patienten kommt es durch den chronischen Tinnitus zu massiven Einschränkungen im täglichen Leben mit einer deutlichen Reduktion der Lebensqualität. Besonders häufig sind ältere hochgradig schwerhörige und ertaubte Patienten betroffen, bei denen eine Hörrehabilitation in der Regel nur noch mittels CI möglich ist [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…ertaubten Patienten in der Regel nur noch mit einem Cochlea-Implantat (CI) möglich. Die CI-Versorgung hat sich mittlerweile in Deutschland zu einem Routineverfahren entwickelt, sodass jährlich etwa 3000 Menschen ein-oder beidseitig versorgt werden [7][8][9].…”