Hearing implants can help individuals who can’t benefit from hearing aids. Your journey starts with a visit to an audiologist. They will check your hearing to see if you may benefit from a cochlear implant.

Your surgeon and ENT specialists will walk you through what to expect. They are there to answer any questions you may have and address your concerns about possible risks. You should inform the clinicians about any medications you are taking. You may be given specific eating, drinking, and medication instructions that must be followed before surgery.

To help guide you on your hearing journey, you may want to connect with a Hearpeers Mentor. They can share their personal experiences with a cochlear implant and answer your non-medical questions.

You should ask someone to support you and drive you to and from the hospital on surgery day.

The surgery, which you are given medication to sleep through, is routine and usually lasts one to two hours.

A small area of hair may be shaven, and a tiny incision is made behind the ear. A small “seat” is created in the bone to hold and protect the implant. An opening is created to access the cochlea. The implant’s electrode array is inserted into the cochlea, and the implant is secured in place behind the ear. Last, the skin is closed with stitches.

After surgery, you are monitored in the recovery area, and usually stay in hospital for one night, based on your individual needs and the clinic.

You will be given instructions on how to care for the incision. Your surgeon may schedule a check-up to monitor your incision. Recipients are often back on their feet the next day. Most return to work one to two weeks after surgery.

Four weeks after surgery, your audiologist or clinical specialist performs an initial fitting of the external device, or processor, known as “activation” or “switch on”. You will listen to different beeps via the processor. Based on how they sound, the audiologist will program the processor to meet your specific hearing needs.

Then your processor will be switched on. This is very exciting and is the first time you will hear with your implant! With time and practice, you will get used to this new way of hearing.

Rehabilitation helps both children and adults using cochlear implants to reach their listening potential.

Cochlear implants provide the opportunity for children and adults with hearing loss to hear all of the sounds of speech. Rehabilitation is the process of developing the brain to use that hearing to facilitate improvements in listening and communication skills.

Consistent rehabilitation with an experienced therapist, home practise, and follow-up mapping and monitoring appointments with an audiologist will all play a part in achieve the best hearing outcome.