Cost isn't a barrier to proper care for children needing cochlear implants, according to a study published in the Archives of Otolaryngology. It appears that a lack of post-operative care, on the other hand, is a problem.

The study focused on Ohio children who received health insurance coverage through Medicaid or though a private individual health insurance company.

Despite having full coverage, the research found that Ohio children on Medicaid suffered from more post-surgery complications and were less likely to get follow-up care.

"Despite equal access among Medicaid-insured and privately insured patients, there seem to be important differences between the groups postimplantation that influence outcome, namely, decreased follow-up compliance, increased incidence of minor and major complications and decreased rates of sequential bilateral implantation," the authors say.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders says that cochlear implants differ from hearing aids in that they don't amplify sound. The sound produced by cochlear implants is different from natural sound and requires therapy to acquire speech and other skills.

The study's findings also show that initiatives to provide access to healthcare may not completely bring care to those who need it.