Cochlear Implant Surgery

A cochlear implant is a small, electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.

A cochlear implant does not restore normal hearing. Instead, it gives a person or child a representation of sounds in the environment and also help them to understand speech. A cochlear implant is very different from a hearing aid. Hearing aids amplify sounds so they may be detected by damaged ears. Cochlear implants bypass damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve.

Children and adults who are deaf or severely hard-of-hearing can be fitted for cochlear implants. Children beginning at 12 months of age can use cochlear implants. Using a cochlear implant while they are young exposes them to sounds during an optimal period to develop speech and language skills. Some adults who have lost all or most of their hearing later in life can also benefit from cochlear implants. They learn to associate the signals from the implant with sounds they remember, including speech, without requiring any visual cues such as those provided by lip reading or sign language.

Use of a cochlear implant requires both a surgical procedure and significant therapy to learn or relearn the sense of hearing. Not everyone performs at the same level with this device.