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When a hearing aid isn’t enough

Recently, Medicare expanded cochlear implant coverage to include older adults who could identify up to 60% of words on a speech recognition test, increasing eligibility and addressing prior restrictions.
Research led by implant centers documented cognitive and speech-test improvements after implantation, with the Johns Hopkins study finding older adults 65 and older identified about 50 more words on the AzBio test.
The surgical team implants an internal receiver and electrodes, and an audiologist later activates the processor two to three weeks post-op, with many patients achieving a 60% to 70% AzBio score at one year.
Access gaps persist as implants rise about 10% annually but referrals from audiologists remain low, while older people without insurance face costs of $100,000 or more.
Clinicians note the field has shifted: what was once rare in over-80s is now routine, with patients over 80 showing similar gains and some as old as 99; clinical trials of an entirely internal device are underway.

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When a hearing aid isn’t enough

Kitty Grutzmacher had contended with poor hearing for a decade, but the problem had worsened over the past year. Even with her hearing aids, “there was little or no sound,” she said.

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