Current status of cochlear implants in Latin America

In recent years there has been sufficient clinical evidence gathered to show that cochlear implants can benefit a large number of postlingually and prelingually profoundly deaf patients who could not be helped with conventional hearing aids. The number of implanted patients is increasing rapidly around the world in spite of the diverse difficulties in diagnostic, surgical, and rehabilitation procedures involved in this new technology and the controversy among some otologists. Cochlear implant programs started in Latin America more than 10 years ago, and lately the number of cochlear implant teams and implanted patients have increased rapidly. It is the aim of this report to present the results of a recently completed survey regarding the current status of cochlear implant surgery and rehabilitation in Latin America.