AORN JOURNAL NOVEMBER 1989, VOL. 50, NO 5

is necessary so that the readers of the Journal do not assume that cochlear implantation is a panacea for the deaf population, or that the recipient selection process is as sketchy as the article presents.

Cochlear implantation is an option primarily for deafened adults, but not all deafened adults qua@ as candidates. Generally accepted criteria include a candidate who is 18 years of age or older; is postlingually deafened, has profound, irreversible hearing loss in both ears; receives no benefit from conventional forms of hearing aid amplification; is a medically acceptable surgical risk; and is motivated and mentally fit to accept the implant and the rehabilitation process necessary for its successful use. Other criteria may include satisfactory promontory stimulation, results of auditory brainstem evoked response testing, realistic expectations, and a location that is close to a cochlear implant rehabilitation program.

Readers should understand that, although the selection criteria are different for children and adults, the qualification process is a team effort with nurse, audiologist or speech /language pathologist, and surgeon. The nurse obtains demographic data and general information regarding the patient’s candidacy for implantation; the audiologist conducts and interprets audiologic assessments and judges the patient a suitable candidate for implantation; and the surgeon renders the final judgment regarding the surgical potential for sucessful implantation.

DAVID M. RESNICK, PHD DIRECTOR

WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER WASHINGTON, DC

HEARING AND SPEECH CENTER

Authors’ response. The article on cochlear implantation was written with the perioperative nurse in mind. The major question that we wanted to address was what would help the perioperative nurse perform this kind of procedure better? This operation is definitely a team effort that includes the surgeon and his or her office staff, speech pathologist or audiologist, OR surgical team, postanesthesia care unit staff, hospital floor nursing staff, and of course, the patient and his or her

family. As members of this team, we receive our rewards when the surgeon shares the successful recovery of one of these patients with us.

An entire article could be written on the role of the audiologist in cochlear implantation. In no way was it our intention to slight this important team member.

JULIA A. YEAGER, RN, BSN SURGICAL ASSISTANT

GREENSBORO, NC DIANNE G. JOYCE, LPN, ORT

SURGERY ASSOCIATES, PA

CAMPBELL, STROUD, AND BROWN, DDS, PA

GREENSBORO (NC) HEAD AND NECK

‘Elder Care’ Column Receives Warm Response

our new column, “Elder Care,” which Y premiered in the August issue of the Journal, was excellent. I enjoyed the emphasis on caregiving and the options that are available to the caregiver.

Many articles concentrate on the options available in euthanasia. As nurses and caregivers, our primary concern is to care for the patient without imposing or assisting in any way with care that advocates death as an alternative. We do not have the right to consign our elderly to anything but loving and compassionate care. I hope more articles will be forthcoming on compassionate care of the elderly patient.

BARBARA JACKSON, RN

MONTEREY PENINSULA MONTEREY, CALIF

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OF THE

Hologram Garners Kudos

he cover of the August 1989 issue of the T Journal was outstanding! Congratulations on the excellent demonstration of laser technology and your continuing contributions to the world of nursing journalism.

LINDA S. SMITH, RN, MSN EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

DATA DESIGN, INC FRANKSVILLE. Wrs

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