Canadian researchers
have found that over the last 20 years, three percent of deaf children
who got cochlear implants at their hospital needed new ones because of
technical problems. Almost all of the kids who needed a new device
implanted maintained or improved their hearing and speaking abilities
after the second procedure. Complications of the implant procedures are rare, but include infections and damage to the devices. The
implants and related surgeries are usually covered by insurance. More than 200,000 people have received cochlear
implants, including about 70,000 in the United States. According to the
Food and Drug Administration, they have been approved for commercial use
in the U.S. since the mid-1980s.