Cochlear Implant

A cochlear implant is a surgically placed device where electrodes are placed within the cochlea to take over the function of the damaged cochlear hair cells. The patient wears a device like a hearing aid on the outside and the sound is then changed to electronic impulses that travel through the auditory nerve that normally conducts the sound.

A cochlear implant is usually used in profound hearing loss patients or if they perceive less than 50% of language with a normal hearing aid. If you wonder if you are a candidate the best would be to start with a hearing test – the audiologist can guide you or you can visit your ENT with the hearing test.

Babies get a screening hearing test 2-3 days after birth. This OAE is basically an echo from the cochlea. The aim of this is to pick of hearing loss as soon as possible.