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Cochlear implants represent an important medical advance for people with moderate to profound hearing loss. Cochlear implants can restore functional hearing and greatly improve quality of life, even in people who don’t benefit from traditional hearing aids and amplification devices.
UC has offered cochlear implant services for more than 20 years, since the first single channel implant was available. (We now offer the current technology, a multi-channel device.)
More than 150 adult patients have received a cochlear implant and follow-up care at our center. We also collaborate with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to provide the best possible care for both children and adults.
Medical appointments take place in the UC Physicians Medical Arts Building. Audiological mapping/rehabilitation appointments take place in the UC Barrett Cancer Center at University Hospital.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact the audiology department at (513) 475-8453.
What is a cochlear implant?
A cochlear implant is an electronic device that can restore useful hearing and provide improved communication abilities for persons who have moderate to profound hearing loss in both ears. A cochlear implant contains two components: an internal device (the implant itself) and an external speech processor.
How is a cochlear implant different from a hearing aid?
Cochlear implants differ from hearing aids in two important ways. First, hearing aids simply make sounds louder. A cochlear implant transforms speech and environmental sounds into electrical information, which in turn stimulates the auditory nerve structures that provide information to the brain. Second, unlike a removable hearing aid, a cochlear implant is inserted via a surgical procedure.
Who is a candidate for a cochlear implant?
Ages 12 to 24 months:
- Profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).
- No medical contraindications.
- Lack of progress in the development of auditory skills.
- High motivation and appropriate expectations from family.
- Ages 25 months to 17 years:
- Bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).
- Thirty percent or less understanding of words in the best aided condition.
- Lack of progress in the development of auditory skills.
- No medical contraindications.
- High motivation and expectations.
Ages 18 years or older:
- Bilateral moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).
- HINT sentence recognition of 50 percent or less in the ear to be implanted and 60 percent or less in the other ear or both ears. For Medicare, the criteria is 30 percent or less in the ear to be implanted and 40 percent in the other ear or both ears.
- Pre- or post-linguistic onset of severe to profound SNHL.
- No medical contraindications.
- A strong desire to be a part of the hearing world.
- Realistic expectations and motivation.
How do I know if a cochlear implant is right for me?
The first step is to have an evaluation by an audiologist. This appointment is approximately 90 minutes long and includes a case history, an audiological assessment, demonstration of implant devices and a question and answer session.
Next, you will be referred to one of our neurotologists for a medical history and physical. This appointment allows the surgeon to meet you and discuss any questions you may have regarding the surgery, as well as set up any other testing that may need to be done prior to surgery.
If you are not a candidate for a cochlear implant our team will provide other appropriate options.
What is the surgical process?
Cochlear implant surgery is typically an outpatient procedure, though some patients may have to stay in the hospital overnight. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and usually lasts about four hours.
There is a four to six week recovery period following surgery, after which the external speech processor is activated.
The Initial Activation
The initial activation is possibly the most complex part of the cochlear implant process. During an initial activation, your electrode array is checked to makes sure it is receiving stimulation. A map is made based on the your sound awareness and tolerance. The first week varies from person to person. Some people do very well immediately, while some dislike the sound quality and do not understand speech as well as they would like.
Therefore, many follow-up visits and collaboration between the patient, audiologist and family members is essential. The map will change in the beginning, but eventually people adapt to listening via the cochlear implant and reach a stable map. After you reach a stable map, follow-up appointments will be on an as-needed basis.
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