Single-Sided Deafness in the Medicare Population

Inclusion Criteria: * 65 years of age or older at the time of implantation * Unilateral profound hearing loss, as defined by a pure-tone average (500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz) of 90 dB or greater in the ear to be implanted * Sensorineural hearing loss in the ear to be implanted, as defined by an air-bone gap less than or equal to 10 dB at two or more frequencies out of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz * Normal or near-normal hearing in the non-implanted ear, as defined by a pure-tone average (500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz) of 30 dB or less * Word recognition in the ear to be implanted of 5% or less on CNC word score in quiet * Previous experience with an appropriately-fit CROS, BI-CROS, bone conduction, or traditional hearing aid, as deemed appropriate by investigator * Fluent in English Exclusion Criteria: * Duration of profound hearing loss of 10 years or more * Sudden onset of hearing loss within six months of implantation * Evidence of non-functional cochlear nerve or other retrocochlear hearing loss * Evidence of severe cochlear malformation (i.e., common cavity or ossification) * External or middle ear infection * Suspected cognitive concern * Other medical contraindication for surgery or anesthesia