The Benefits of a Cochlear Implant

Cochlear implants can offer a wide range of benefits, including hearing speech, environmental sounds and music. Variables influencing the benefits each person will derive include factors such as age, degree and duration of hearing loss, status of the cochlea, and other medical conditions. For more information on the benefits and risks of a cochlear implant, consult your ENT specialist. See also Candidacy Information.

Everyday sounds
Nearly all cochlear implant users hear environmental sounds, helping them keep in touch with their surroundings, for example traffic sounds, doorbells, alarms, etc. Most recipients also report hearing a wide variety of everyday sounds, such as birds chirping, leaves rustling, water trickling, and many more.

Speech understanding
The majority of cochlear implant users hear speech sounds with their cochlear implant. With an effective follow-up program, speech understanding is learned and gradually becomes easier with time and experience. Many cochlear implant recipients go on to understand speech very well, without relying on lip-reading.

Improved speaking
By hearing other people speak as well as their own voice, cochlear implant users can make great improvements in their speaking abilities.

Telephone use
Many cochlear implant users successfully use standard and mobile phones.

Listening to music
Today’s technology has made it possible for many cochlear implant users to enjoy listening to music. As with speech understanding, music listening skills can be developed and improved through practice.