Which statement describes common cochlear implant candidacy criteria?

• A. Mild hearing loss with good hearing aid benefit.
• B. Severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss, limited benefit from amplification, consideration of implant safety and neural integrity.
• C. Visual impairment with tinnitus.
• D. Any hearing loss can be implanted.

Answer: (B)

Cochlear implant candidacy is based on the level of hearing loss and how much benefit a person gets from traditional amplification, along with medical suitability. The description that fits best is for someone with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss who gains limited or no meaningful benefit from hearing aids, and who also undergoes evaluation to confirm implant safety and the integrity of the auditory system. This combination reflects how candidacy is determined in practice: significant hearing loss, poor response to amplification, and medical/nerve readiness to receive an implant.

Milder loss with good hearing aid benefit isn’t typically a CI candidate because amplification provides adequate improvement. Visual impairment with tinnitus isn’t a determining factor for implantation, and saying any hearing loss can be implanted ignores the medical and functional criteria used to screen candidates.