Choosing the Right Cochlear Implant Means Choosing Your Child’s Future

February 12, 2025 – (Innsbruck, Austria): For parents of children with hearing loss, the moment they learn about the diagnosis is life-changing. Dreams of first words, laughter, and school days suddenly feel uncertain. In that moment, parents face one of the most important decisions they will ever make: whether to choose a cochlear implant – and which manufacturer to trust. This decision is permanent. It cannot be undone. And it will shape the foundation for a child’s ability to hear, learn, and thrive for the rest of their life.

• A Life-Changing Choice: Parents face a permanent decision that shapes their child’s future.
• Unlocking Potential: MED-EL cochlear implants help children hear, learn, and thrive from day one.
• Real Impact: Emilia’s story shows what is possible – and how parents can find support.

“Parents are under enormous pressure,” says Dr. Patrick D’Haese, Corporate Director of Awareness & Public Affairs at MED-EL. “They need clear, reliable information to make a choice that will impact their child’s future. Our mission is to raise awareness and provide families with the knowledge and support they need to feel confident in this decision.”

Why This Choice Shapes a Lifetime

Cochlear implants are more than medical devices – they are the foundation for speech, language, and learning. They open doors to education, friendships, and confidence. “At MED-EL, we believe every child deserves the chance to discover the world through hearing,” adds Dr. Patrick D’Haese. “Our implants are designed to provide access to the full spectrum of sound, helping children reach developmental milestones and enjoy life’s everyday moments – from classroom discussions to music and play. Choosing MED-EL means choosing a future without limits.”

MED-EL technology gives children access to the full range of sounds from the very beginning –supporting natural speech and language development, better hearing in noisy environments, and even enjoying music. When parents choose MED-EL, they are choosing the right foundation for their child’s future.

A Parent’s Journey: Tina and Emilia

This decision is deeply personal, as Tina from Germany knows all too well. For her, the diagnosis of profound hearing loss in her daughter Emilia was devastating. “The world around us fell apart,” she recalls. After months of uncertainty and conflicting advice, Tina and her family realized they needed to act quickly and make the best possible decision for Emilia’s future. “After many conversations and research, it was clear to us – our child should be able to hear,” Tina says. 
Her advice for parents in a similar situation: Tina says that connecting with another family whose child already had a cochlear implant was invaluable. Seeing firsthand how well the child could hear gave them hope, and learning about the reliability of the service reassured them. They also appreciated MED-EL’s strong commitment to research, which reinforced their confidence in the decision. “In the end, it was a gut feeling,” Tina admits, “and we were also won over by the interchangeable, colorful audio processors designed for children.” Emilia underwent bilateral cochlear implant surgery, and the results were life-changing. Today, Emilia loves music and dancing, plays tennis and swims, and attends a mainstream school with confidence. “It was the best decision we could have made,” Tina emphasizes. “Our daughter can hear, speak, and live life to the fullest. Every child should have the chance to discover the world through hearing.”
Having experienced the challenges and fears firsthand, Tina now volunteers as a Hearpeers Mentor, sharing her story with other parents and offering reassurance during this critical decision-making process.

Unlocking Future Potential

MED-EL’s technology is designed to help children hit speech and language milestones faster, hear better in classrooms, and enjoy music naturally. These benefits go beyond hearing – they build confidence, independence, and opportunities for the future.
The “Choose Future” initiative from MED-EL emphasizes this message: Choose the cochlear implant that unlocks your child’s future potential. Choose MED-EL. Parents can also connect directly with specially trained hearing experts for personal, obligation-free advice on everything from surgery to costs. It is discreet, supportive, and designed to help families make the right choice.
For more information on cochlear implants and inspiring stories from MED-EL users like Emilia –and others who are now living life to the fullest – visit the MED-EL website.

About MED-EL

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has more than 3,100 employees from around 90 nations and 30 locations worldwide.
The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 140 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined electric acoustic stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com 

CEO

Doz. DI Dr DDr med. h.c. Ingeborg Hochmair

Press Contact

PR & Corporate Communications
MED-EL Medical Electronics
Fürstenweg 77a
6020 Innsbruck
Austria
T: +43 5 7788
E: [email protected]