Cochlear Implant Options

A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged part of the ear and directly stimulates the hearing nerve fiber so that sound is better understood in quiet and noisy settings.

There are two main parts to an implant system: an external sound processor and an internal implant. The microphones on the external processor pick up the sounds and convert the sound into a digital signal that is transferred to the implant just under the skin. An internal implant is surgically implanted under the skin and a small set of electrodes inserted within the cochlea. The hearing nerve fibers in the cochlea pick up the signals and send them to the brain.

There are two styles of external processors, and we can assist you to select the style that meets your hearing needs.

The Baha bone-conduction system can be a pathway to better hearing if you are living with single-sided deafness, conductive, or mixed hearing loss.

While most hearing comes from sound waves traveling through the aid, you also hear from vibrations that pass through the bones in your head. The sound processor picks up sound from the environment and converts it into vibrations which are transferred through either an abutment or a magnetic attachment to a small titanium implant inserted in the bone behind the ear. The sound vibrations are then sent directly through the bone to the inner ear where they are converted into electrical impulses that travel directly to the brain, allowing you to perceive sound naturally.

There are three head-worn processors designed to meet a different level of hearing loss and we can help you identify the appropriate system for you.