It’s some what common knowledge that the younger you are the better results you might have with a CI. I’ve also read that learning curve or maybe a better work is “adjusting period” speeds up for younger candidates versus older candidates. Yet it would seem the far majority of people who require a CI or who are thinking of getting one are classified as the “older generation”. Just saying far more people have serious hearing issues later in life versus younger generations, yet it almost appears as if CI are best suited for those under sixty five.
Now I understand medical science claims there’s no specific cut off age range for CI surgery.
And there have been people who have received CI in there late 80’s, 90’s and possibly beyond. All good if CI patients came out better than before they started their CI journey. Yet it’s a fact that many older folks can’t adapt to a CI due to age related issues. Some of those issues might be related to cognitive brain decline that impacts many people in their later years.
It would be nice if medial science came out with studies for CI candidates over age 65 that,
- Could adapt to a CI after “X” amount of time (percentage wise)
- Couldn’t adapt to a CI after “X” amount of time (percentage wise)
Personally I don’t think medical science addresses old age and the success rates of CI in a clear and straight forward manner. Maybe there’s just too many other factors to consider, but I’m well aware that many elderly people who have taken the CI jump ended up getting below average result, or results that were less than their expectations. And here I’m talking people in their 70’s and 80’s - plus. And not someone under 65 years old.
My understanding is someone has to really work (mentally) to adjust to a CI over a long period of time. With that said, I’d really like to see some medical studies on the success/failure rate for those say 70 years and older who chose to have a CI. Maybe after reading such studies I’d be surprised to learn there were more “thumbs up versus down”.