Cochlear implants are designed to help children and adults with severe to profound hearing loss who receive little to no benefit with hearing aids. Cochlear implants work very differently than a hearing aid. A cochlear implant receives and processes sounds from the environment and sends an electrical signal to the healthy auditory nerve fibers in the inner ear, bypassing the damaged portions of the inner ear. The electrical signals travel along the auditory nerve to the brain where the signals are recognized as sound.
A cochlear implant does not restore normal hearing, but it does allow for the perception of sound. The success or benefit received with an implant varies based on each person’s language skills before implantation, age at the time of surgery and the motivation of the patient and the family.
Your audiologist and physician can work with you to determine if you or your child is a cochlear implant candidate. Our audiologists who specialize in cochlear implants will review your communication options and guide you through the implant evaluation, implant activation and post-operative speech and auditory rehabilitation therapy.
Call Columbus Speech and Hearing at (614) 263-5151 for more information or to schedule an appointment.