The Field Representative's Manual defined a Cochlear implant as, "a medical device that bypasses damaged structures in the inner ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve, allowing some deaf individuals to learn to hear and interpret sounds and speech." This definition was not routinely included in the survey question.

These include:

• used an assistive listening device (HRALDUSE, 1990, 2007)

• currently uses a cochlear implant (HRCOCNOW, 1990, 2007)

• a telephone for deaf people in which a keyboard is used to send printed messages (TDD) or a teletype (TTY) (HRALDTTY 1990, 2007)

• pocket talker (HRALDTALKER, 2007)

)

• an amplified telephone (HRALDPHONE, 2007)

)

• amplified alarm clock (HRALDCLOCK, 2007)

)

• signaling system (HRALDSIGNAL, 2007)

)

• a headset or CCTV (HRALDCCTV, 2007)

)

• a sign language interpreter (HRALDASL, 2007)

)

• video relay service (HRALDVIDEO, 2007)

)

• other special equipment (HRALDOTHER, 1990, 2007)

)

In 2007, this variable was part of a Sample Adult Hearing Supplement, (sponsored by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The hearing supplement questions were included to address the Healthy People 2010 program initiatives, including increasing access by persons who have hearing impairments to hearing rehabilitation services and adaptive devices (such as cochlear implants), increasing the proportion of persons who have had a hearing examination on schedule, and reducing adult hearing loss in the noise-exposed public. For a full list of hearing related variables see HEARING,quality of hearing.