Cochlear Implants

What is a cochlear implant?

In the case of profound deafness, almost all of the sensory cells are missing or so severely damaged that sound cannot be converted into the electrical impulses that ultimately generate the sensations of hearing, even with the help of modern digital hearing aids. The primary function of a cochlear implant is to convert sound energy into low-level electrical currents that are used to stimulate the auditory or hearing nerve directly, thus by-passing the damaged inner ear or cochlea.

Cochlear implants have become the medical treatment of choice for those adults and children who, because of the severity of their hearing impairment, cannot understand spoken language sufficiently through amplified residual hearing.

Who is suitable for a cochlear implant?

A child may be candidate if:

s/he has a severe to profound hearing loss in both ears;
s/he cannot hear all speech sounds with hearing aids, and/or hearing aids provide little or no benefit despite consistent use and appropriate intervention; and
medical testing confirms no barriers to surgery.

There is no minimum age for referral for assessment for a cochlear implant.