Audiological rehabilitation with cochlear implants and tactile aids

Although a tremendous amount of information has been obtained about the benefits derived from implants and tactile aids during the last few years, many areas of research need to be addressed. Objective measures are needed to assess nerve survival in potential implant candidates, factors need to be identified that predict levels of implant performance, and extensive research needs to be conducted to identify methods to optimize fitting strategies with implants. To date, relatively few studies have examined the performance of clinical populations, especially profoundly hearing-impaired children, with sophisticated multichannel tactile aids. Further, it is not known what type of tactile transform provides the greatest improvements in performance. It appears as if learning effects extend over many years in pediatric users of implants and tactile aids, and it is crucial that longitudinal data be collected. Further, there is a need to document gains in speech perception and speech production skills when both hearing aids and tactile aids are used by profoundly hearing-impaired children who demonstrate residual hearing. As technology improves and new sensory aids become available, the need for continued research expands. Even in these early stages of investigation, both cochlear implants and tactile aids have proven effective in the rehabilitation of children and adults who are profoundly deaf.