Cochlear Implants
Multichannel cochlear implants have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use by children since 1990. Currently, three manufacturers make implants for sale in the US:
Photo: A typical Cochlear Implant system. Device can be seen above the right ear.
Who is eligible?
Under FDA regulations, children may be candidates for cochlear implantation if they are at least 12 months of age and have severe to profound hearing loss with inadequate benefit from hearing aids to support development of auditory oral skills.
How it works
Regardless of manufacturer or model, all cochlear implants have the same basic features: a microphone picks up sound and converts it to an electrical signal which is transmitted to a speech processor worn either behind the ear or on the body. The processor encodes the signal in a manner that is specific to the particular implant, and the encoded signal is relayed to a transmitting coil held in place on the side of the head, usually by means of a magnet. The signal is sent across the skin via a radio frequency to the receiver which has been surgically implanted under the skin above and behind the ear. The receiver decodes the signal and relays the information to electrodes that have been placed in the cochlea. The electrodes stimulate structures connecting to the auditory nerve and thus the system provides improved access to sound;
In our program, surgery is performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis; children go into the hospital early in the morning and go home the same day. Several weeks later, the child comes back to the CARE Center for programming of the speech processor, and these programming or “mapping” sessions are repeated at frequent intervals until optimal levels are achieved, and then annually along with other progress assessments to monitor auditory development language skill levels
Videos
How a Cochlear Implant works
(Cochlear Corporation). HRI supports the use of Cochlear Implant systems but does not endorse this particular product as the only available option.
In His Own Words
Casey describles how his cochlear implant works. HRI supports the use of Cochlear Implant systems but does not endorse this particular product as the only available option.
Three siblings get gift of hearing on same day
NBC's The Today Show followed Grace, Evelyn and Mark Root as they had bilateral cochlear implant surgery on the same day. The cameras were rolling when the family returned to have their implants programmed for the first time. The family shared their story live on the set.
