Cochlear Implants

The Procedure:

A cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically implanted artificial neural device that provides a person with moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss with a modified sense of sound.

A CI bypasses the normal auditory process and replaces it with electrical signals that directly stimulate the auditory nerve. A CI is an electronic device that partially restores hearing.

It can be an option for people with severe hearing loss due to damage to the inner ear who no longer benefit from hearing aids.

Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound, a cochlear implant bypasses the damaged parts of the ear to deliver sound signals to the auditory (hearing) nerve.

CIs use a sound processor that fits behind the ear.

The processor picks up the sound signals and sends them to a receiver implanted under the skin behind the ear.

The receiver sends the signals to electrodes implanted in the inner ear in a cochlea. The signals stimulate the auditory nerve, which then routes them to the brain.

The brain translates these signals into sounds, although these sounds will not be the same as natural hearing. It takes time and training to learn how to interpret the signals from the cochlear implant.

Within a year of use, most people with cochlear implants make significant gains in speech understanding. Cochlear implants can be placed in one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral). Adults and children as young as six to 12 months can benefit from cochlear implants. Patients who want to undergo such treatment must be highly motivated to participate in hearing rehabilitation and be part of the world of hearing. Complications are rare and can include: bleeding, facial paralysis, infection at the surgical site. Infection of the device or problems with balance and dizziness. Taste rehabilitation will involve training the brain to understand the sounds heard through the cochlear implant. Speech and everyday environmental noises will sound different from what the patient remembers. The results of cochlear implant surgery vary from person to person, but many people who meet the hearing criteria for a cochlear implant will eventually have clearer hearing with the device.