Cochlear Implants

Cochlear Implant Evaluations

The decision to get cochlear implants should be a well-informed one. It is a process, not an appointment. The following will give you a thorough idea of what is involved, from the initial evaluation appointment to your ongoing, post-implant follow-ups.

Audiologic Cochlear Implant Evaluation

Otolaryngologic Evaluation

Possible Additional Evaluations

• An x-ray evaluation may be performed to evaluate the anatomy of your inner ear.
• You may be tested to determine your current degree of balance and whether there’s a likelihood of balance issues after implantation.
• You could be evaluated to determine how your hearing loss affects your current listening and speaking skills and whether you may need speech or hearing therapy after activation of the implant.
• You might be evaluated for cognitive and emotional factors that could affect successful adjustment and compliance in the long term.

The Procedure

Most patients go home the same day. Under general anesthesia, you receive an incision in the crease behind your ear. This location minimizes the visibility of the scar. Then the receiver, which is very slim so as to be almost unnoticeable, is placed in a pocket created under the skin.

In the next step, to avoid disturbing the ear canal or eardrum, an opening is made in your mastoid, a bone through which the cochlea can be reached. Through a tiny incision in the cochlea, a bundle of electrodes is implanted, and the incision is closed with absorbable stitches that do not need to be removed in a follow-up appointment. A dressing is placed over the ear.

Most people are able to leave the same day of surgery and can manage any pain with over-the-counter pain medication. Your first follow-up visit will be one week after surgery. The purpose of this visit is to check the incision and generally check on things such as balance. At this time, you’ll most likely be able to go back to school or work.

Device Activation

Follow Ups

That first session is just the first of several. One week later, your audiologist will do similar testing, but it will be informed by your reporting on how it went — perhaps the volume was too loud in this situation but not in that one; maybe you were able to distinguish different pitches better by day 3. The implant is technology, but you are not, so your audiologist needs to take into account the changes that are taking place in your cochlea and elsewhere as you go about your life and adjust to the new hearing situation.

Each follow-up will be similar, with the audiologist gathering your feedback, testing the technology, and making adjustments. The follow-up process requires patience and motivation to ensure successful integration of the implant into your life, but your audiologist will work with you for as long as it takes for you to optimize your hearing.