“My husband no longer sounds like Minnie Mouse and music sounds like I remember. My only regret about my cochlear implants is that I did not do this sooner.”
Table of Contents
- Are You A Candidate For A Cochlear Implant?
- What Is A Cochlear Implant?
- How Do I Get A Cochlear Implant?
- Your First CI Evaluation Appointment
- Choosing Advanced Bionics As My Cochlear Implant Brand
- The Surgery and Recovery
- Activation and Rehabilitation
- Follow-Up Appointments and Adjustment Period
- A Lifetime of Better Hearing
Understanding the Cochlear Implant Process: From Evaluation to Candidacy
Monday, May 19, 2025
The process of getting a cochlear implant can feel like learning a new language—it’s a journey that many start without fully understanding what’s involved. Gretchen Flynn, a Senior Cochlear Implant Consumer Specialist at AB, knows this experience first-hand. In this blog post, she will walk you through the process of getting a cochlear implant, including the evaluation and candidacy process.
Are You A Candidate For A Cochlear Implant?
When someone first suggested I look into getting cochlear implants nearly 12 years ago, my immediate thought was, “I still have some hearing left; I probably wouldn’t qualify for one.” This is a common misconception among people with hearing loss, but fortunately, it’s not true, or I wouldn’t be here sharing my story.
You may have been told by your current audiologist, ENT, hearing aid provider or other healthcare professional that you should consider a cochlear implant. Like most people, hearing this for the first time can be overwhelming, but that’s why I’m here to help.
So, just what is a cochlear implant and why would this be the next step in your hearing journey?
What Is A Cochlear Implant?
A cochlear implant is a small device that is placed in your ear to help you hear. It works by sending electrical signals to the part of your ear (the cochlea) that isn’t working properly, helping your brain understand sounds.
The procedure involves a small incision behind the ear, where the implant is placed under the skin. The electrode array, which delivers electrical signals to the cochlea, is threaded through the natural opening in the cochlea called the round window. The external sound processor, which resembles a hearing aid, collects sound, processes it, and delivers high-quality sound to the cochlea, ultimately allowing the brain to interpret those sounds into understandable speech.
How Do I Get A Cochlear Implant?
When I started looking at getting a cochlear implant, I did not really know what to expect and I really did not know anything about cochlear implants. Having someone to talk to that knew what it was like was very helpful. I found that support through my AB Cochlear Implant Consumer Specialist (CICS) and people who were already living with CIs.
When you meet with a CICS at Advanced Bionics you’re taking the first step in your journey to hearing better with a CI. A meeting with a CICS typically takes place in your home or somewhere convenient and quiet. The CICS will explain how a cochlear implant works, let you see and touch the equipment, show you accessory options and answer any questions you may have.
With AB, family is always welcome to join these meetings, so you have extra “ears” to help learn about cochlear implants. The CICS will guide you through the entire process of getting a cochlear implant and help you find a suitable cochlear implant center based on your individual needs.
Your CICS can also help introduce you to others who have cochlear implants. I found help on Advanced Bionics’ Hearing Journey website and was able to ask questions to real AB CI users.
Your First CI Evaluation Appointment
At your CI evaluation appointment, the audiologist will test your hearing and speech to see if you are a cochlear implant candidate. If your speech scores are low enough, you will have an appointment for a CT Scan and/or a MRI, which will show the surgeon if your cochlea is physically able to accept a cochlear implant.
The audiologist will also ask you about how well you understand phone calls, conversations in background noise, if you avoid social situations, and see if you are getting limited benefit from hearing aids. When these tests are done, you will meet with the surgeon who will tell you if you could benefit from a CI.
Once you are confirmed as a candidate, the logistics concerning costs will be determined. In the U.S., the cochlear implant center will submit a pre-authorization request to your insurance company. Medicare and most commercial insurance plans cover cochlear implants, though you may have some out-of-pocket expenses, usually less than the cost of hearing aids. After years of paying for hearing aids, that was welcome news for me!
Once the insurance is approved, the clinic will schedule your surgery, and this entire process typically takes a few months.
Read more: How to Determine the Cost of a Cochlear Implant for You
Choosing Advanced Bionics As My Cochlear Implant Brand
I picked Advanced Bionics largely because of the interactions with my CICS and the people I met who also have AB CIs. Over time, I also learned about how advanced AB technology is.
AB cochlear implants process sound in a unique way – they allow the user to hear five times more specific sounds than any other CI.1 This allows the user to hear all the colorful details of sound: birds chirping, rain falling, the various layers of music.
My AB cochlear implants give me an amazing listening experience, which is important for me because I want to hear music well. AB also has a T-mic, a microphone that hangs over your ear to gather sound, just as the natural ear is supposed to work.
The Surgery and Recovery
Cochlear implant surgery is a same day procedure. You will be asleep for the entire surgery, which typically lasts between 1-2 hours. Most patients are able to go home the same day.
Recovery varies from person to person, but most people return to their normal routine after a few days of rest.
In my case, my surgery went very well, and I was home that same day. I was tired at first, but recovery for me was fast and easy. Because I only had one ear implanted to start, I was able to use my hearing aid in my other ear and still be able to talk with my family and friends during this time.
Activation and Rehabilitation
Once your incision has healed, typically within 2-4 weeks, you’ll return to the clinic for your activation appointment. This is an exciting and often emotional moment! During the appointment, you’ll learn how to use your cochlear implant equipment, and you’ll probably hear with your cochlear implant for the first time.
At this point, you’ll begin listening to a series of tones to determine what sounds are soft, comfortable, or loud. The audiologist will help you find a comfortable listening level and explain what to expect as you adjust to your new hearing.
The next phase involves rehabilitation or listening exercises to help your brain adapt to the new sounds it has been missing. These exercises may include activities as simple as reading aloud to yourself or using specialized rehabilitation programs on your phone, tablet, or computer. Many adults also enjoy listening to audiobooks or streaming music to further enhance the experience.
Learn more: Free Aural Rehabilitation & Practice Exercises to Hear Better
My activation day was exciting, but I was also a little nervous because I did not know what to expect. My audiologist did a great job talking to me about what to expect, how to use the equipment and what to do after I got home for rehab. When she turned on my sound processor (the part you wear on your ear) it sounded very funny and my husband sounded like Minnie Mouse, but I could understand him!
After my audiologist made the initial adjustments, she sent me home with “homework” to do. My rehab included listening to music, which sounded awful at first. But I kept with my therapy, and it really helped. I also did some apps on my tablet and computer and listened to audiobooks while reading along with the book.
Follow-Up Appointments and Adjustment Period
After activation, you will have 4-6 follow-up appointments in the first year, similar to the adjustments you would make with new hearing aids. These appointments allow your audiologist to fine-tune your device and ensure optimal hearing. Some of these appointments can take place at home with AB’s Remote Programming option.
The entire adjustment period can take a few months, though the exact length depends on your individual hearing history and how well you adapt to the cochlear implant.
Because I practiced and continued with therapy, I was able to understand most people pretty quickly. Sounds like music and speech-in-noise took longer, but now I enjoy music fully and do very well in noisy environments. My husband no longer sounds like Minnie Mouse and music sounds like I remember. My only regret about my cochlear implants is that I did not do this sooner.
A Lifetime of Better Hearing
Going through the process of getting a cochlear implant can lead to a lifetime of improved hearing. The journey may take a few months, but the long-term benefits are well worth the effort. It’s a step toward rediscovering sounds, conversations, and experiences that were once lost.
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Firszt JB, Koch DB, Downing M, Litvak L. (2007) Current steering creates additional pitch percepts in adult cochlear implant recipients. Otology and Neurotology, 28(5):629-636.
Note: The views expressed in this post are those of the author. Each person's situation is unique so your experience may not be the same. Talk to your hearing care provider about whether a cochlear implant is right for you.
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