Cochlear implants for hearing loss

Cochlear implants can greatly improve quality of life for children and adults with severe hearing loss. While hearing aids help many people hear better, some individuals continue to struggle understanding conversations, especially in noisy environments. Cochlear implants may be an option when hearing aids no longer provide enough benefit.

Prevea was the first in Northeast Wisconsin to bring cochlear implants to our community and we haven't slowed down. Since 2018, our team has performed more than 250 life-changing surgeries, helping hundreds of adults and children hear the voices, music and moments they thought they'd lost.

The program is built around a collaborative, patient-centered approach to hearing healthcare. Our cochlear implant program brings together an experienced surgeon and three audiologists who work as one team to support you at every stage. From your first evaluation through activation, programming, and ongoing follow-up, your care is shaped around your hearing needs and goals.

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about cochlear implants, including who may be a candidate, how they work, and what to expect during cochlear implant evaluation, surgery and treatment. 
 

Am I a candidate for a cochlear implant?

If hearing aids no longer provide enough benefit, you may be a candidate for a cochlear implant. Cochlear implants are designed for children and adults with severe hearing loss who continue to have difficulty understanding speech, even when using properly fitted hearing aids. 

You may benefit from a cochlear implant evaluation if the following apply to you:

• Moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss in one or both ears.
• Speech does not sound clear even while wearing hearing aids.
• Rely on lipreading to help with communication.
• Ask people to repeat themselves often.
• Have a hard time using the phone.
• Are dependent on closed captioning when watching TV.
• Feel your hearing aids are no longer helping.
• Feel your hearing loss is keeping you from doing the things you want to do or you are withdrawing socially.
• For children, the child
  • was diagnosed with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss at birth.
  • has been using hearing aids but is struggling in school or asking people to repeat themselves even with hearing aids on.

What is a cochlear implant?

A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. An implant does not restore normal hearing. Instead, it can give a deaf person a useful representation of sounds and help him/her to understand speech. 

Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound, cochlear implants bypass damaged parts of the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. 

How does a cochlear implant work?

A cochlear implant is very different from a hearing aid. Hearing aids amplify sounds so they can be detected by the remaining functioning parts of a damaged ear. Cochlear implants work differently by converting sounds into electrical signals that are sent directly to the auditory nerve. The auditory nerve carries these signals to the brain, where they are recognized as sound. Hearing through a cochlear implant is different from normal hearing and takes time to learn. 

An implant has two main parts:

• External sound processor: The processor sits behind the ear and uses a microphone to pick up sounds around you. It processes sounds and sends the information across the skin to the internal implant via a magnet. 
• Internal implant: The internal portion is placed under the skin during surgery. It receives information from the sound processor and sends electrical signals to an electrode array inside the cochlea (inner ear). The electrical signals stimulate the hearing nerve, which carriers information to the brain. The brain then intreprets these signals as sound.  

How do I know if hearing aids are no longer enough? 

Hearing aids are often the first treatment for hearing loss, but they may not provide enough benefit for everyone. If you continue to struggle hearing conversations, especially in noisy environments, or have difficulty understanding speech despite wearing hearing aids, it may be time to ask about a cochlear implant evaluation.  

A Prevea audiologist can perform specialized hearing tests and work with an ENT specialist to determine whether hearing aids remain the best option or if a cochlear implant may provide greater benefit.
 

Who gets cochlear implants?

Children and adults who are deaf or severely hard-of-hearing can be fitted for cochlear implants. 

Cochlear implants are FDA-approved for use in children beginning at 12 months of age. For young children who are deaf or severely hard-of-hearing, using a cochlear implant while they are young exposes them to sounds during an optimal period to develop speech and language skills. 
 
Some adults who have lost all or most of their hearing later in life can also benefit from cochlear implants. They learn to associate the signals from the implant with sounds they remember, including speech, without requiring any visual cues such as those provided by lip reading or sign language. 
 

What happens during a cochlear implant evaluation?

A cochlear implant evaluation begins with a comprehensive hearing evaluation by an audiologist. Your hearing history, hearing aid benefits, and communication needs will be reviewed. You will also meet with an ENT specialist to determine whether cochlear implant surgery is appropriate.  

Additional testing may be recommended to evaluate your hearing loss and overall health before surgery.
 

How does someone receive a cochlear implant?

Use of a cochlear implant requires both a surgical procedure and significant therapy to learn or relearn the sense of hearing. Not everyone performs at the same level with this device. The decision to receive an implant should involve discussions with medical specialists, including an experienced cochlear implant surgeon.

With help from a cochlear implant, the world can open up for those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. If you think that cochlear implants could be right for you, schedule an appointment to talk to a Prevea audiologist.