Cochlear implant

A cochlear implant is an electronic medical device designed to restore understanding to people suffering from severe profound hearing loss who have difficulty hearing speech with hearing aids.

The device contains two main parts, the electronic unit which is implanted in the tetras bone and the external voice processor. The processor is now commonly a miniaturised instrument carried discretely behind the ear and like a watch face.

Who is the cochlear implant for?

Most people with complete, profound or severe deafness, regardless of cause or duration, can now have their hearing at least partially restored by surgical implantation of an electronic system (implanted surgically beneath the hair in the ear) powered from an external emitter hidden behind the ear (a cochlear implant is only indicated for bilateral deafness).