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Home » Hearing » Cochlear Implant Program

Cochlear Implant Program

Cochlear implant surgery may be an alternative for people with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Cochlear implants change sound into electrical impulses and use these impulses to stimulate the hearing nerve. The brain then interprets the impulses as sound.

How Cochlear Implants Work

During an outpatient procedure, an auditory prosthesis is implanted under the skin, bypassing damaged parts of the auditory system. The implant sends electrical signals directly to the auditory nerve. When used with an external speech processor and a microphone or headpiece, the cochlear implant patient has enhanced hearing.

Who is a Candidate

Children (at least 12 months old) and adults may benefit from a cochlear implant, whether hearing loss began at birth or gradually with age. Appropriate adults and children candidates should have:

  • A severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears;
  • Limited or no benefit from the use of hearing aids;
  • Have a positive attitude, motivation to hear, and good health.

From Evaluation to Rehabilitation

Potential candidates for cochlear implants undergo a complete audiological evaluation to determine the type and degree of hearing loss and helpfulness of hearing aids. Other medical tests may be conducted as well. These may include an ear examination and X-rays of the cochlea to make sure there are no external or middle ear diseases that might prevent implementation. Cochlear implant patients will work with their doctor to determine which cochlear implant device will provide them with the best hearing performance.

Surgery is performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Your cochlear implant surgeon will discuss the surgery and post-operative recovery period with you. Patients require a four-to-six-week recovery period to ensure complete healing around the implant site.

Following the surgical recovery period, rehabilitation is initiated at BHSC and includes fitting of the external speech processor and headpiece. During this process, the sound levels of the cochlear implant are adjusted specifically for the patient, a procedure known as mapping. Patients typically return to the implant center several times during the first weeks or months that follow the initial programming of the cochlear implant. Visits to the audiologist will lessen over time until they are only necessary for annual checkups or to address any unexpected changes. Additional visits with the audiologist and speech-language pathologist for aural rehabilitation will be scheduled according to a patients' individual needs. The costs of surgery and rehabilitation are covered by most third party insurances.