If you have moderate to severe hearing loss and have seen minimal benefits from hearing aids, a cochlear implant may be the right hearing solution for you.
What are Cochlear Implants? 
Cochlear implants are small electronic devices that use an electrical current to stimulate the auditory nerve. The device comes in two parts.
- The external processor sits behind the ear and contains a microphone and battery.
- The internal processor includes electronics, a magnet and electrodes. The magnet and electronics are surgically implanted behind the ear and the electrodes are inserted into the cochlea in the inner ear.
Are Cochlear Implants Right for You?
Cochlear implants aren’t for everyone. Your audiologist and other medical professionals will work together to decide whether or not they are a good option. In general, you might be a candidate if you:
- Have moderate to profound hearing loss in both ears
- Have shown little to no benefit from hearing aids, especially when it comes to understanding speech
- Do not have any medical conditions that would make surgery risky
- Display a willingness to commit to rehabilitation
- Understand the capabilities and limitations of cochlear implants
- Have a support system in place that can help you understand sounds and speech
What are the Benefits?
If you have severe hearing loss cochlear implants can help improve your quality of life. They can
- Make you feel more confident in your ability to navigate through the world
- Help you comprehend speech without needing to lip read
- Make social gatherings like dinner with friends at Magnolias more enjoyable
- Improve your ability to hear sounds for your own protection like ambulances or alarms
- Make phone calls easier to understand
- Improve your ability to listen to music or watch TV
What is the Procedure Like?
Cochlear implant surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. The process usually lasts around two to three hours. The surgery is completed using a minimal incision and is generally safe.
It’s important to note that your implant will not be activated for several weeks after surgery to give you time to heal.
Are They an Appropriate Treatment for Children?
Infants or children may benefit from cochlear implants if they meet the following criteria:
- They have severe or profound hearing loss in both ears
- Have shown no real benefit from binaural amplification. This can be in terms of hearing ability, or when old enough to assess, limited speech and language development, as well.
Cochlear implants give infants and young children with progressive hearing loss the ability to meet developmental milestones at a similar pace to their peers. This opportunity is greater the earlier they have the procedure done.
If you would like additional information or to schedule an appointment, call Charleston ENT & Allergy today.