Cochlear Implants
Cochlear implants are an implantable hearing technology option for those children and adults with significant hearing loss who are not receiving benefits from traditional hearing aids.
Cochlear implants work differently than hearing aids, taking sounds from the environment, processing them, and delivering them to the inner ear hearing organ (cochlea) via electrical pulses. This allows patients to have access to speech sounds and allows their brain to begin processing these electrical pulses into what we know as words.
While gaining speech understanding is a long process, typically taking up to 6 months, patients will perform aural rehabilitation listening exercises at home to build up their speech understanding using their cochlear implant.
Throughout this process, patients will work with the doctors from Indiana Ear to ensure they are receiving benefits from their cochlear implant system.
We work with two primary cochlear implant manufacturers, Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Americas to provide patients with the best possible hearing technology.
During surgery, Dr. Disher will also attempt to preserve any residual hearing a patient may have by utilizing new state-of-the-art technology, known as the AIM system created by Advanced Bionics. This system provides Dr. Disher with real-time feedback regarding the integrity of anatomical structures within the cochlea during insertion.
If you think you or a loved one may be a cochlear implant candidate, contact our office and schedule an evaluation.