Cochlear Implant
A cochlear implant is a small electronic device, surgically implanted, that restores a useful sense of sound for people with severe to profound hearing loss who gain little benefit from hearing aids. Unlike a hearing aid, which amplifies sound, it bypasses the damaged part of the inner ear and stimulates the hearing nerve directly, helping the brain perceive speech and sound.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Normal hearing relies on tiny hair cells in the cochlea (inner ear) converting sound into nerve signals. When these are badly damaged, hearing aids — which only make sound louder — may not help. A cochlear implant has two parts: an internal portion placed during surgery, with an electrode threaded into the cochlea, and an external sound processor worn behind the ear. The processor captures sound and sends it to the implant, which stimulates the hearing nerve directly, allowing the brain to interpret sound.
Candidacy is assessed carefully with hearing tests, imaging of the inner ear and an evaluation of how much benefit hearing aids provide. Implants help adults who have lost hearing and children born with profound hearing loss, where early implantation supports speech and language development. After surgery, the device is switched on a few weeks later once healing has progressed, and then programmed and fine-tuned.
Learning to hear with an implant takes time and structured rehabilitation — the brain adapts to a new way of perceiving sound, and speech understanding improves with practice and follow-up. International patients receive a coordinator who arranges assessment, surgery, activation and a rehabilitation plan, and the team explains how follow-up programming can be supported after returning home.
Who is a candidate?
- Adults with severe to profound hearing loss who gain little benefit from hearing aids
- Children born with profound hearing loss, where early implantation aids speech development
- People whose hearing tests and inner-ear imaging confirm an implant is suitable
- Those committed to the rehabilitation and follow-up that successful use requires
- Patients seeking an expert opinion on whether a cochlear implant could help them
What happens
- 1
Assessment
Detailed hearing tests, imaging of the inner ear and a trial of optimized hearing aids confirm whether a cochlear implant is suitable and likely to help.
- 2
Preparation
You are prepared for general anesthesia, and the team explains the two-part device, the surgery, and the activation and rehabilitation that follow.
- 3
The operation
Under general anesthesia, the surgeon places the internal implant under the skin behind the ear and threads a fine electrode into the cochlea. The incision is closed and allowed to heal.
- 4
Activation
A few weeks after surgery, once healing has progressed, the external sound processor is fitted and the implant is switched on and programmed to your hearing.
- 5
Rehabilitation and follow-up
Structured listening rehabilitation helps your brain learn to interpret sound, with the processor fine-tuned over follow-up visits. International patients receive a plan for continuing support at home.
Benefits
- Restores a useful sense of sound when hearing aids no longer help
- Bypasses the damaged inner ear to stimulate the hearing nerve directly
- Helps many users understand speech and reconnect with conversation and sound
- In children, early implantation supports the development of speech and language
- The processor can be programmed and fine-tuned to each person over time
Risks & considerations
- The general risks of surgery and anesthesia — bleeding, infection and wound problems
- Loss of any remaining natural hearing in the implanted ear
- Temporary dizziness, altered taste or numbness near the ear after surgery
- Results vary, and meaningful benefit depends on rehabilitation and practice
- Rarely, device problems that may need further surgery over time
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is performed by our Ear, Nose & Throat Department.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Cochlear Implant — frequently asked questions
A hearing aid makes sounds louder, which helps when some hearing remains. A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged inner ear and stimulates the hearing nerve directly, which can restore a useful sense of sound when hearing aids no longer help.
Adults with severe to profound hearing loss who gain little from hearing aids, and children born with profound hearing loss, may be candidates. Hearing tests and inner-ear imaging confirm suitability, and our specialists can advise after reviewing your assessment.
No. The device is switched on a few weeks after surgery once healing has progressed, and learning to hear with it takes time and structured rehabilitation. Speech understanding improves with practice and follow-up programming.
Yes. The team explains how programming and rehabilitation can be supported with audiology services at home between visits, and provides a clear follow-up plan.
Surgery is often a day case or one night, but you also need to stay for, or return for, activation a few weeks later and initial rehabilitation — your coordinator plans this around your travel. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate that includes the device rather than a fixed online price.
Related treatments
Considering cochlear implant?
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