Cochlear implants have been available in the UK since the 1980s. World-wide there are almost one million successful cochlear implant users. Cochlear implants are safe and reliable.
Implant users can have an active life, with minimal modifications to their lifestyle.
If you are being considered for a hearing implant, we will discuss these aspects with you. A cochlear implant has two parts: the internal implant and the sound processor.
The internal implant
An electrode is implanted in the organ of hearing called the cochlear.
The internal implant is under the skin and cannot be seen.
The implant electrode converts sounds into electrical pulses, which activate the nerve of hearing.
These signals then go to the hearing centres of the brain, which the implant user perceives as sound. The implant replaces the damaged parts of the inner ear that don’t work.
The sound processor
The sound processor is worn on the outside, usually behind the ear, or ‘off the ear’ in a single unit design.
The implant user can easily take the sound processor off, but the internal implant does not work without it.
The sound processor turns the sound in to ‘signals’ and sends these signals to the internal implant.
The inside and outside parts are held together by magnets.
More information about cochlear implants can be found on the British Cochlear Implant Group's (BCIG) website.
There is also a variety of information available from a number of cochlear implant manfacturers.
Last reviewed: 03 August 2023