Cochlear implantation update.

Cochlear implantation is recognized as a valuable intervention with important implications for the acquisition of speech perception and verbal language in children with severe to profound hearing impairment. Auditory rehabilitation, language intervention, and close coordination between parents, schools, and the implant center are necessary to maximize efficacy. Early identification of hearing loss, early hearing aid use and language intervention, and cochlear implantation by 2 years of age are positive predictors for language acquisition that can approach the levels of normal-hearing children. There are early indications that increased access to mainstream education and gains in quality of life are long-term benefits that render cochlear implantation a cost-effective intervention.