Why is it called a cochlear implant

An audiologist and ear, nose, and throat ENT surgeon can determine whether the device is right for you. A hearing aid is also a medical device for hearing loss. Instead, hearing aids use a microphone, amplifier, and speaker to make sounds louder.

This can help you hear things better. Hearing aids are typically ideal if you have mild to moderate hearing loss. In this case, a cochlear implant might be the better choice. Most insurance providers cover cochlear implants or a portion of them. The device is also covered by Medicare , Medicaid , and Veterans Affairs. You may also need repairs.

Some insurance plans cover these costs. The benefits depend on your procedure and rehabilitation process. With a cochlear implant, you might be able to:. Cochlear implant surgery is a generally safe procedure.

However, it presents potential risks, such as:. For some individuals, it might not help at all. Before you leave the hospital, a healthcare professional will show you how to care for the incision. The incision needs to heal before the implant is activated. About 1 month after surgery, your doctor will add the external parts. The internal components will then be activated.

This will help you improve your hearing and speech skills. It usually involves working with an audiologist or speech-language pathologist. This device, which is surgically implanted in your cochlea, converts sounds into electrical impulses, which are interpreted by your brain. This is essential for improving your outlook and using the cochlear implant successfully.

If you've lost your hearing, you have options to reverse your hearing loss. Although people have different reactions to hearing loss, for many it can…. But is it really? It is possible to get back to normal activities a few days after the surgery, but you will need to take extra care of the implant area. Your doctor will let you know when the implant can be activated and paired with a sound processor, typically three to four weeks after surgery. It wasn't as scary as we thought.

Download this guide to get information on preparing for surgery, what to expect the day of surgery and the days leading up to activation. Here's what you need to know to talk through the procedure with your surgeon. Learn how to prepare your child for their first programming and why speech rehabilitation is so important to their hearing.

Learn about the recovery period, what to expect at activation or your first fitting, and get ready for your new hearing and the best ways to make the most of it. Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

Views expressed are those of the individual. Consult your health professional to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology. Please enable JavaScript in order to get the best experience when using this site. Researchers, following the place theory, devised implants that separated the sound into groups. For example, they sent the lower pitches to the area of the cochlea where it seemed more responsive to lower pitches. And they sent higher pitches to the area more responsive to high pitches.

Thus, they used several channels and electrodes spaced out inside the cochlea. Since there were also timing theories, researchers devised implants that made the sound signals into pulses to see if the cochlea would respond better to various kinds of pulses.

Most modern cochlear implants are versatile, in that they are somewhat capable of being adjusted to respond to sound in various ways. Audiologists try a variety of adjustments to see what works best with a particular patient. The first commercial devices were approved by the FDA in the mid's. However, research with this device began in the 's. What is a Cochlear Implant? What is a cochlear implant?