O implante coclear como ferramenta de desenvolvimento linguístico da criança suarda

In the sensorineural loss, the cochlear hair cells are reduced or destroyed. In profound and severe losses, amplification devices are of little help. The cochlear implant is a computerized prosthesis that stimulates directly the auditory nerve of the cochlea, thus performing the function of the lost hair cells. It is indicated for adults who have sustained profound post-linguistic (after 24 years of age) bilateral loss, but for less than 10 years, and who do not benefit from amplification devices. It is also indicated for children between 2-17 years of age who present profound bilateral loss either prelinguistic (i.e., before 2-4 years of age) or post-linguistic, provided that they have sustained it for less than six years. It is indicated for these children only if they have systematically failed closed sets of auditory discrimination tests, after concluding an auditory rehabilitation program for over six months with the use of adequate amplification devices. Multi-channel implants improve lip-reading skills, and may produce auditory recognition independent of lip-reading. The article provides technical information about cochlear implants, their indications and counterindications, the procedures involved in assessment, surgery, speech processor programming, and auditory rehabilitation. It discusses some benefits and limitations of implants, offers some practical recommendations, and provides information on how to obtain the implant in Brazil.