Ear and audiology: adult cochlear implant candidacy: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Ear and audiology: adult cochlear implant candidacy

Sample item

Which adult is the best candidate for a cochlear implant?

AA patient with mild high-frequency loss from ageingBA patient with bilateral severe to profound sensorineural loss and poor speech scores despite well-fitted hearing aidsCA patient with an absent cochlear nerve on both sides on MRIDA patient with a 40 dB conductive loss from otosclerosis

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. A patient with bilateral severe to profound sensorineural loss and poor speech scores despite well-fitted hearing aids

Candidacy needs severe to profound sensorineural loss with limited benefit from optimally fitted hearing aids, an intact cochlear nerve and no medical contraindication. Conductive loss is treated by surgery or hearing aids. An absent cochlear nerve calls for a brainstem implant.

Option by option

A. A patient with mild high-frequency loss from ageing
Mild loss is managed with hearing aids.
B. A patient with bilateral severe to profound sensorineural loss and poor speech scores despite well-fitted hearing aids (correct)
Correct. Limited aided benefit in profound sensorineural loss is the core criterion.
C. A patient with an absent cochlear nerve on both sides on MRI
An implant needs an intact nerve; absent nerves require an auditory brainstem implant.
D. A patient with a 40 dB conductive loss from otosclerosis
Otosclerotic conductive loss is treated by stapes surgery or hearing aids.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, A patient with bilateral severe to profound sensorineural loss and poor speech scores despite well-fitted hearing aids. Candidacy needs severe to profound sensorineural loss with limited benefit from optimally fitted hearing aids, an intact cochlear nerve and no medical contraindication.

Why is "A patient with mild high-frequency loss from ageing" not the answer?

Mild loss is managed with hearing aids.

Why is "A patient with an absent cochlear nerve on both sides on MRI" not the answer?

An implant needs an intact nerve; absent nerves require an auditory brainstem implant.

Why is "A patient with a 40 dB conductive loss from otosclerosis" not the answer?

Otosclerotic conductive loss is treated by stapes surgery or hearing aids.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: adult cochlear implant candidacy in ENT. Conductive loss is treated by surgery or hearing aids. An absent cochlear nerve calls for a brainstem implant.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Ear and audiology: adult cochlear implant candidacy?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.