Cochlear Implants

Restoring and Rediscovering the Joy of Sound

Your ability to hear affects how you communicate with and experience the world. Our Wellstar otologists -- a subspecialty of Ear Nose and Throat, or ENT, physicians – as well as licensed professional audiologists, work together with you to assess the type and degree of hearing impairment and recommend the right treatment to help alleviate your condition. Our goal is to find the approach which will help you live your fullest life.

Both cochlear implants and bone-anchored devices work differently to provide support for hearing loss for our patients who are not assisted by conventional hearing aids.

Cochlear Implants

Cochlear implants are devices which are surgically implanted to help improve hearing. These implants amplify sounds differently than hearing aids by connecting directly to the auditory nerve and delivering sound via a behind-the-ear processor. Sounds are filtered through this processor to activate the auditory nerve, which communicates with the brain to interpret these sounds.

Cochlear implants are most appropriate for patients with hearing loss in the inner ear or who have difficulty understanding speech using hearing aids. Manufacturers of cochlear implants include Advanced Bionics®, Cochlear Corporation® and Med-El Corporation®.

Bone-anchored Hearing Devices

For patients with one ear which hears normally, bone-anchored hearing devices are a potential option which can help improve hearing loss. With a surgically implanted device that fits behind the ear, sound is processed and converted into vibrations. These vibrations stimulate the inner ear and auditory nerve, allowing the brain to convert the vibrations into recognizable sounds.

Bone-anchored hearing devices are generally recommended for patients with deafness in one ear or who have physical ear malformations. Oticon Medical® and Cochlear Americas® are manufacturers of bone-anchored hearing devices.

A Team of Experts to Trust with Your Hearing

To help determine the correct treatment, your Wellstar physician may order imaging tests, such as an MRI, which allows for deeper, critical insight into your individual auditory needs. When surgery is recommended, our team will work with you to explain the process and answer your questions, including how your recommended device works and what to expect from surgery and recovery. These procedures are generally considered to be minimally invasive.

Aural Rehabilitation

After your surgery, your physician may recommend working with an audiologist to get better acclimated with the device and interpret your newly improved sense of hearing. This aural rehab takes the form of exercises, activities and approaches designed to train your auditory perception and help you get the most from your hearing-assistive device.