Cochlear Implants for Children

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that partially restores your child’s hearing abilities by stimulating any functioning auditory nerves inside the cochlea. The cochlear implant is made up of two parts - an external piece that fits behind the ear and an internal piece surgically implanted under the skin. Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants do not amplify sound, but directly stimulate auditory nerves inside the ear. Results vary, but in most cases, it improves your child’s ability to:

• Hear and understand speech without visual cues
• Recognize normal, everyday environmental sounds
• Lip read
• Hear softer sounds
• Detect where sounds are coming from

Deciding the Best Option for Your Child

Our cochlear implant team carefully evaluates your child to determine if an implant is the best option. A child with moderately/severe to profound hearing loss who receives limited improvement from hearing aids (especially with speech understanding) is often a candidate for a cochlear implant.

A cochlear implant can be utilized for single-sided deafness as well. If you decide to proceed with a cochlear implant, our team provides comprehensive services, including:

• Monitoring unaided hearing
• Programming of the cochlear implant
• Adjusting the cochlear implant programs as needed over time
• Monitoring the child’s progress and medical follow up
• Keeping you informed about advances in technology

Our goal is to improve your child’s hearing and to provide a nurturing and supportive environment. From the first time your child enters our facility, our audiologists will work closely with you and your family to ensure the best care.