· People with severe sensorineural hearing loss* in both ears but with a still functioning auditory nerve
· Those who have lived only a short time with hearing loss
· Those with good speech and English language skills
· People living with family willing to work hard in support of the candidate toward acquiring speech and language skills
· Those physically able to handle anesthesia and surgery
· And those who have a desire to live in a hearing world and have realistic expectations about the procedure
*note: Sensorineural hearing loss is a destruction of the hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear that transmit sound signals to the auditory nerve
