Hearing aids are designed to simply amplify sound, not necessarily to make it any clearer or
easier to understand. For many people with severe to profound hearing loss, hearing aids
are not enough to compensate for a damaged ear’s inability to adequately hear. Cochlear
implants actually bypass the damaged part of the ear, sending sound directly to the hearing
nerve, where it’s then relayed to the brain. Most cochlear implant recipients demonstrate
improvement in their ability to understand speech, even in noisy environments,
compared to hearing-aid wearers.
AB’s Harmony® HiResolution® Bionic Ear System (Harmony) first gathers the sound at a higher
resolution than other implants (making it clearer) and then amplifies it before sending it to
your hearing nerve. Harmony recipients hear a wider range of sounds and speech with
greater clarity in virtually any environment.1,3,4,5,6
The cost of the cochlear implant system and surgery are covered by many insurance
providers, including public health insurance providers like Medicare and Medicaid.
Replacement parts and/or repairs may also be covered; however, not all policies cover
repairs or replacement parts, even though they may have covered the initial surgery and
cochlear implant system. Please contact your insurance provider for the specifics of your
particular plan. If you have questions about insurance procedures, please contact the
Insurance & Reimbursement Specialists at insurance@AdvancedBionics.com or 877.779.0229.
If you are getting only one cochlear implant, there are many factors to consider in deciding
which ear to implant. Some prefer to implant their poorer-hearing ear so that they can use a
hearing aid in their other, better-hearing ear. Others decide to implant their better-hearing
ear, hoping for a better result. Other factors come into play, including surgical considerations
of each ear’s anatomy, length of deafness in each ear, or just general preference. Your
cochlear implant team will advise you regarding their recommendations based on your
specific case. If both ears have an equal chance of success, you may have the ultimate say in
choosing which ear to implant.
“I chose to have mine put in my left ear because that was my stronger ear in the days when
I could still hear with the help of hearing aids—implanting the left ear would let me hear
through the side I was accustomed to using,”
—Michael Chorost, 42, an educator, technology expert, and writer from San Francisco, California, USA; implanted at age 37
People with hearing loss in both ears sometimes get a cochlear implant in both of their ears
at the same time. This is called “simultaneous implantation,” and it’s done to achieve bilateral
hearing (hearing in both ears). Bilateral hearing is the way normal hearing works, and it
offers several advantages over unilateral hearing (hearing with one ear), including better
sound localization (the ability to better locate the direction from which sound is coming) and
improved hearing in noisy environments2. Many recipients need, or choose to get, only one
cochlear implant. Others choose to get a second implant at a later date (sequential
implantation), after first experiencing life with one implant for a while.
To find out if bilateral hearing is an option for you or your child, contact the Bionic Ear
Association at 866.844.HEAR (4327).
Yes. Many people choose to continue to wear a hearing aid in the non-implanted ear.
Continuing to use your hearing aid in the other ear may help you hear better in noisy
environments and assist you in localizing sound.
Cochlear implant surgery is relatively simple and minimally invasive. In most cases, surgery
can be done on an outpatient basis. The actual operation generally takes two to four hours,
with additional time in the preparation and recovery areas because the surgery is done
under general anesthesia.
During the surgery, the doctor first makes an incision in the skin behind the ear to access the
area where the implant will be placed and where the implant electrode will be inserted.
Typically, a small area of hair is shaved away from the incision site. The doctor makes a place
for the implant on the bone under the incision. Then, the electrode is inserted into the tiny
cochlea. The doctor finishes by closing the incision and applying a bandage. Most people
recover quickly from the surgery, and many are surprised by how little postoperative pain
there is.
Depending on your situation and your doctor’s preference, you may go home the same day
or spend the night in the hospital. You should be provided with post-surgery guidelines,
including bathing and bandage treatment instructions, medication procedures, and possible
activity restrictions. Adults often return to work or typical daily activities within a few days after
surgery. You will likely experience the post-surgery roller coaster of “hurry up and wait.”
Activation of the cochlear implant typically takes place three to five weeks after surgery,
depending on how you heal. Then, once it’s turned on, the steady, rich flow of sound to your
brain will begin.
Usually, initial stimulation of your cochlear implant will take place in your audiologist’s office.
First, your audiologist will test the implant with a computer to make sure it is working
correctly. Next, the audiologist will create a customized set of listening programs for your
implant’s external processor. This initial session—the process is known as programming—will
vary for different cochlear implant centers. Follow-up programming and training sessions are
typically scheduled in the weeks and months following the initial session. Long-term, adults
typically have annual check-ups; younger children generally require more frequent checkups.
Young children need immediate access to sound to develop strong speech and language
skills. So time is of the essence, and professionals typically recommend implantation as early
as possible. Many adults wish they had not waited so long after they became deaf to
experience the life-changing benefits of cochlear implants. In this age of rapidly advancing
technology, there’s usually something new coming down the pipeline. That is why it is
important, when choosing cochlear implants, to consider the technological capability for
upgrades without additional surgery. With an AB cochlear implant system, you can enjoy
tomorrow’s advanced technology in an implant you choose today.
The details of each person’s hearing loss are different, and so is every person’s unique
journey to better hearing. You or your child’s hearing experience with cochlear implants is
dependent upon a number of biological factors, including:
- Your or your child’s age when hearing loss began
- How long you or your child has been hearing impaired
- You or your child’s age when you get implanted
- The medical health of your or your child’s inner ear
- Other medical conditions that could affect you or your child’s hearing
It’s important to understand that better hearing through cochlear implants is a process, not
an instant fix. Just as those with normal hearing had to learn to hear as children, so too must
you or your child learn to hear again—or for the first time—with cochlear implants. Every
person who receives cochlear implants should expect to make continual progress. How much
progress, and how rapidly, you or your child progresses depends on three factors: (1) the
technology used, (2) individual biology, and (3) the education and rehabilitation effort after
implantation. Your results will be uniquely yours, so it is important to choose a cochlear
implant that best meets your needs.