Cochlear Implants

Cochlear Implants

Evaluation
Surgery
Follow-Up

Evaluation

The Implant

The cochlear implant, developed in the 1970s and approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, is a medical prosthesis that is placed in the inner ear. UCSF Medical Center was instrumental in the development of the first cochlear implants and today uses the most advanced cochlear implants. We offer two cochlear implant systems -- the Clarion made by Advanced Bionics Corp. and the Nucleus made by Cochlear Corp.

The implant system has three primary parts:

• Microphone and Transmitter -- The headpiece and transmitter is about the size of a quarter and is worn above the ear to pick up sounds. These sounds are sent to a speech processor.

• Speech Processor -- A speech processor is worn externally, either on a belt like a pager or behind the ear like a large hearing aid, to convert sound into a digital code that is transmitted to an implanted stimulator.

• Implanted Stimulator -- The implanted stimulator is a small component placed under the skin behind the ear. It receives a digital code from the speech processor and sends it to the auditory or hearing nerve. The brain interprets this signal and it is recognized as sound.

The small headpiece and transmitter is held in place by a magnet coupled the implanted stimulator, under the skin.

The Evaluation

An audiologist will determine if your child is a candidate for a cochlear implant. Children are selected based on medical and hearing histories and test results as well as findings and recommendations from a psychological interview. In addition, educational placement, family support and therapy services are considered. Evaluation generally takes two days.

Your child's audiologist will discuss in detail the components of the cochlear implant device, its functions, benefits and limitations as well as the surgical process. The evaluation, which differs slightly for children and adults, includes the following:

• Medical Evaluation -- Conducted by the implant surgeon who will take your child's medical history, examine his or her ears and explain the surgical process to you. Implant surgeons are part of the Otolaryngology department at UCSF Medical Center.

• CT Scan -- This computerized tomography (CT) scan produces a two-dimensional X-ray of your child's inner ear. It allows the surgeon to evaluate the ear's internal structure, recommend which ear to implant and may provide information as to the cause of deafness.

• Audiological Evaluation -- This evaluation involves a hearing test to confirm the type and degree of your child's hearing loss, hearing aid evaluation to assess the benefit provided by a hearing aid and aided speech recognition testing to determine if a hearing aid might provide greater benefit than an implant.

• Psychological Screening -- This screening is conducted by psychologists at the UCSF Center on Deafness to assess your feelings about hearing loss and the cochlear implant, such as your reasons for seeking the implant for your child and your expectations.

• Cochlear Implant Counseling -- At this time, you will find out if your child qualifies for an implant, based on the results of the entire evaluation. If your child qualifies, possible benefits and limitations will be explained and you will be provided with information to select your child's device.

• School Visit -- The purpose of the school visit is to establish an ongoing relationship with your child's school, teacher and therapists prior to implant surgery and to provide in-service training to the professionals working with your child to ensure mutual support and shared goals.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007