HAC Cochlear Implant Basics & Referral 5

Question 1

A patient with single-sided deafness (SSD) inquires about cochlear implantation. What should the audiologist know?

Accepted Answer

Cochlear implants have FDA approval for SSD in adults and are used to restore binaural input

Answer

The FDA approved cochlear implants for single-sided deafness in adults in 2019, providing a binaural solution rather than just routing sound to the better ear.

Question 2

Which test is most useful for assessing a potential pediatric cochlear implant candidate who cannot perform behavioral audiometry reliably?

Accepted Answer

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) with tone bursts

Answer

Tone-burst ABR provides frequency-specific threshold estimates without requiring behavioral response, making it essential for young or difficult-to-test children.

Question 3

After cochlear implant activation, a patient reports hearing only beeps and no speech. The audiologist should:

Accepted Answer

Reassure the patient that auditory learning and cortical reorganization take time after activation

Answer

Initial sound perception post-activation is often unnatural; the brain requires time and auditory therapy to learn to interpret electrical signals as meaningful sound.

Question 4

How does tonotopic organization factor into cochlear implant electrode placement?

Accepted Answer

Apical electrodes stimulate lower-frequency regions and basal electrodes stimulate higher-frequency regions, mimicking normal cochlear tonotopy

Answer

The cochlea is tonotopically organized with high frequencies at the base and low frequencies at the apex; electrode placement attempts to replicate this frequency mapping.

Question 5

A referring audiologist documents that an adult patient has a 3-frequency PTA of 95 dB HL bilaterally with 20% aided sentence recognition. The most appropriate referral is to:

Accepted Answer

A cochlear implant center for evaluation

Answer

A PTA of 95 dB HL with only 20% aided sentence recognition clearly meets cochlear implant candidacy criteria, warranting immediate referral to a CI center.

(HAC) Hearing Aid Certification Practice Test

(HAC) Hearing Aid Certification Practice Test

HAC Cochlear Implant Basics & Referral 5