Cochlear Implants

Cochlear Implants: Her Hearing Journey

As someone who has lived with a hearing loss for years, Dr. Anderson deeply understands the challenges of communication. When her hearing aids were no longer sufficient, she made the decision to get cochlear implants. It was a transformative experience. Cochlear implants provide a solution for individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss when hearing aids no longer offer sufficient amplification.

At Ekho Audiology + Hearing Center, we guide you every step of the way. Let's explore how cochlear implants can help you, your loved ones, or your child hear the world more clearly.

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What is a cochlear implant?

A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device designed to restore the ability to perceive sounds and understand speech. Cochlear implants are often a solution when hearing aids are no longer beneficial.

Will a cochlear implant restore your hearing to normal?

A cochlear implant provides access to many sounds including speech but does not "fix" hearing loss or restore normal hearing. With consistent aural habilitation (a form of “listening” therapy) and practice, a cochlear implant user can often learn to understand spoken language.

Who can benefit from a cochlear implant?

Adults and children who learned to talk before they became deaf and/or used to have normal hearing or partial hearing often benefit from a cochlear implant.

If your child was born deaf or became deaf before she learned to talk, cochlear implants can provide access to spoken language, maximizing your child’s language potential. In either case, the shorter the duration of deafness, the greater the potential benefit.

Cochlear Implant

The Main Parts Of A Cochlear Implant Include

External Piece

This includes the microphone, speech processor, and transmitter coil. This is worn externally, usually behind the ear or on the body.

Speech Processor

Sound in the environment is picked up through the microphone and processed into digital signals. Information is sent through the cable to the transmitter (or headpiece coil).

Transmitter

The transmitter is a small, lightweight coil which sends signals across the skin via radio frequency (RF) signals to the internal receiver.

Internal Components

The signal from the transmitter travels to the inner ear, to a thin wire known as the electrode array.

Functionality

The cochlear implant bypasses damaged parts of the inner ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve, allowing individuals to perceive sound.

How Cochlear Implants Work

To schedule an appointment with us or to learn more or if you qualify for a cochlear implant, please contact us.