Cochlear implants

• The ‘cochlea’ is the name of the inner part if your ear.
• If the cochlea is damaged, a cochlear implant may be recommended.
• A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device.
• It does the work of the damaged parts of the cochlea.
• It provides sound signals to the brain.
• Adults and children can have cochlear implants.

How a cochlear implant works

• A cochlear implant has two parts.
• The first part processes sound. You wear it behind your ear. It has a battery to power the implant.
• It sends special signals to a device called a ‘transmitting coil’.
• This is put on the side of your head and sends the signals through your skin to the receiver.
• You have surgery to implant the receiver.
• The receiver sends information to your inner ear and brain that becomes sound.
• Visit the Cochlear website to learn more about cochlear implants.

What you can expect from a cochlear implant

• It is important to know a cochlear implant does not restore your ‘normal’ hearing.
• The sound you hear will be different for each person.
• For some people, it becomes easy to understand and hear people speak.
• Other people hear sound but may also need to lip-read.
• It will be hard for you to hear if you are in a busy and noisy place.

How much you will hear with a cochlear implant

This will depend upon:

• how long you have had a hearing loss
• the level and type of your hearing loss
• how your brain understands the signal from the cochlear implant.

How to get a cochlear implant for your child

• Your child will get a test from a ‘specialist implant audiologist’.
• This is a doctor who specialises in hearing and cochlear implants.
• They will give you information about how the cochlear implant may help your child.
• Our audiologist can arrange for you to meet with someone who already has a cochlear implant.
• Your child will then have tests with a ‘specialist implant speech pathologist’.
• This is a doctor who will review their speech and language.
• It is important to get support through this process.
• We can help you get the right practical and emotional support.

Where to get support if your child has a cochlear implant

We provide long-term support. This helps your child get the most out of a cochlear implant. This support includes:

• helping your child get used to the new sounds
• speech and language therapy programs
• regular programming of the speech processor
• information for teachers and other people your child spends time with
• information an about additional services that may help your child
• helping you understand how to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).