Cochlear Implant candidacy is a procedure which involves many factors and many
individuals, any Individual who is considered at first as a Cochlear Implant
Candidate needs to undergo the following procedure:
The Need of CI – Cochlear Implant is usually suggested for children and
adults who either have Severe to Profound Hearing loss or have an Unaidable Moderate to
Severe sloping Sensory hearing loss. The key word here being Unaidable,
wherein the person must be inadequately aided with the conventional hearing aids.
Audiological Evaluation – Audiological Evaluation is carried out to rule
out any factors which may contraindicate Cochlear Implantation or may bolster the need
of Cochlear Implantation.
Medical Evaluation – Medical Evaluation is the next step wherein an ENT
surgeon evaluates the candidate and needs to get Imaging tests such as MRI scan/CT scan
to best establish the surgical candidacy of the patient.
Pre-CI counselling – After establishing the candidacy for Cochlear
Implantation, the Audiologists have the responsibility to counsel the patient and/or the
caregivers of the patient everything there is to know regarding the Cochlear
Implantation. An extensive Pre-CI session aims at educating the patient and the
caregivers regarding the following:
The Receiving Antenna picks up the electromagnetic signals from the external
transmitting coil and transfers it to the receiver which make sense of the electrical
signal received and thereafter stimulate the electrode array accordingly. The electrode
array stimulates different areas of the Auditory nerve for different types of sounds.
The function of the internal magnet is to create a magnetic coupling between the
internal and the external components.
Implantation Surgery – Cochlear Implant surgery is procedure of implanting
the Internal part of the Cochlear Implant into the skull and the electrodes into the
Cochlea, for a more details click here
Switch On – The Cochlear Implant is not usable the day of surgery, the body
needs time to heal the wounds and accept the Implant and not treat it as a foreign body.
This usually takes around 21 days. After this, the external part of the Cochlear Implant is
connected and switched on for the first time and mapping is carried out to best suit the day
1 hearing levels, which usually can’t be too loud as it may cause discomfort.
Mapping and Therapy – Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation requires extensive
mapping and therapy sessions to really provide the best results.
The Internal components of the Cochlear Implant include the following:
Mapping – Mapping
is the programming of a Cochlear Implant, wherein the sound processor is programmed
digitally to provide a certain amount of gain to certain frequencies depending on the
need and comfort of the client.
Therapy – Therapy
refers to the extensive Auditory training and Speech and Language therapy that needs to
be carried out post implantation to yield the best results. As any individual needs time
and practice with cochlear implant and the sounds it generates. Therapy may be required
for years in the case of young children. Whereas, adults may not require Auditory
Training for years.