Cochlear implants can be a great choice for both children and adults with severe hearing loss; children can particularly benefit from early treatment. However, this treatment might not be right for everyone. Specifically, you may not be eligible for this treatment if any of the following statements apply to you:

• You have auditory nerve damage
• You have an underdeveloped cochlea
• Your hearing issues aren’t related to the cochlea
• You don’t have cochlear nerves
• You can hear well enough using hearing aids

Cochlear implants are put in place using a surgical procedure, with one part of the device being implanted beneath the skin and another part sitting outside the skin.

Yes and no. Hearing with a cochlear implant is not the same as natural hearing. Rather than amplifying sounds like a regular hearing aid, cochlear implants directly stimulate the auditory nerve, and these signals can then be interpreted as sounds. With cochlear implants, you may be able to process speech and music and receive warning signals from your environment.

The implanted portion of the cochlear implant device is made to last a lifetime, but the external portion may need to be replaced in about ten years. It’s also possible that technological advancements could prompt you to replace your implant at a later date.