Cochlear Implant Surgery

What is a cochlear implant?

A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds louder, cochlear implants do the work of damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) to send sound signals to the brain.

Who can benefit from Cochlear Implant ?

Cochlear implants can help children who:

• Have severe to profound sensorineural (inner ear) hearing loss in both ears and

• Receive no real hearing benefit from hearing aids and

• Are not making progress in developing speech and

• Have parents and families dedicated to their child learning speech and being part of the hearing world

How is an implant different from a hearing aid?

Cochlear implants differ from hearing aids in two important ways:

1. Hearing aids simply amplify sounds. A cochlear implant, on the other hand, transforms speech and other sounds into electrical energy that is used to stimulate the hearing nerve in the inner ear.

2. Unlike most hearing aids, cochlear implants have both internal and external components. The implant system consists of an external speech processor and headset (worn behind the ear) and an internal, surgically implanted receiver/stimulator package with an electrode array