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| Getting a Cochlear Implant |
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| Extracted from www.helpkidshear.org |
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| Expectations |
| The rehabilitation process can vary
in length from one person to the next. No one can predict
exactly
how much benefit your child will receive from a cochlear implant
because there are many factors that contribute to how well
one
does with a cochlear implant. Some are in your control, such
as which cochlear implant you select and when your child receives
the device. Other factors are not in your control, such as
how long your child has been deaf, how many nerve fibers are
functioning,
the presence of scar tissue (ossification) in the cochlea,
or other physiological factors. Your expectations for how
well
your child will hear should be based on your discussions with
your audiologist, therapist and surgeon - ONLY. They will
assist
you in setting realistic expectations. |
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| Parents need to attend a pre-CI counselling
session where they are told about the Cochlear implant, risks,
expectations, cost and the rehabilitation program after the
implant. If the child is old enough they are also involved
in
the counselling process. Parents are given a questionnaire,
which addresses issues related to Cochlear Implant. If the
child
is older, he/she is asked to fill in the questionnaire as well,
so as to ensure that the child has realistic expectations
when
he/she starts using the implant. |
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| Surgery |
| Once a candidate has decided to get
a cochlear implant, he/she will be directed to the cochlear
implant surgeon. The surgeon may recommend a CT scan or MRI
scan to know the status of the child’s cochlea before
the implant .He or she will discuss the risks of surgery
and
what to expect. The surgery requires anesthesia, takes about
3 hours on average. Sometimes children are advised to stay
overnight
at the hospital before they feel well enough to return home.
During surgery, the implant is placed under the skin (above
and behind
the
ear),
and the electrode is inserted into the inner ear. |
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| On the Way to Hearing |
| Approximately one month after surgery,
your child will return to the implant center to receive the
external components of the system. The initial programming
of the cochlear implant sound processor, which is also called
the
'switch on' is a very exciting and emotional time for everyone
involved. |
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| While sounds are clearly audible
and distinct, in some ways it is still like learning a new
language.
Most adults take between one and three months before they can
really appreciate the full benefits they receive from a cochlear
implant. And, typically their hearing continues to improve
over
time as they continue to gain experience listening to sounds
and speech. For some people, the process may take longer. For
children, they really are learning a new language - the language
of hearing. It will take a long time and a lot of hard work
to reach different milestones. But it's certainly worth it.
In the weeks and months that follow the initial programming,
the implantee will return to his/her audiologist to further
optimize his/her hearing programs. The audiologist shall advise
you regarding the MAPping schedules. Visits to the audiologist
will continue over time until they are only necessary for annual
check-ups or to take advantage of new technology developments. |
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