For every 1000 babies born in the United States, at least one is born deaf. Infant hearing screening programs help to identify hearing loss at birth and initiate early intervention, which may involve medical management, the fitting of hearing aids, teaching of sign-based languages and/or intensive auditory training and speech/language therapy. In addition to those children who are congenitally deaf, many more children and adults acquire deafness each year due to diseases of the ear, medications which are toxic to the ear, trauma, genetics and other reasons

Some deaf individuals benefit from hearing aids. Those who do not use hearing aids may choose to use sign language and lipreading as their primary mode of communication and may assimilate with the deaf community. Deaf individuals who use hearing aids but do not receive much benefit from them may seek options such as a cochlear implant. An ever-increasing number of deaf and hard-of-hearing adults and children are now enhancing their primary mode of communication with the auditory information provided by a cochlear implant. 

How a Cochlear Implant Works:

The cochlear implant consists of internal and external components, both necessary for the perception of sound. The external components include a microphone, a speech processor and a transmitter coil. The internal components consist of a magnet, a receiver and an electrode array, which are surgically implanted, in the cochlea (inner ear).

The microphone picks up the sound and converts it to an electrical signal, which is then sent to the speech processor.

The speech processor translates the signal into an electrical code that is sent to a transmitter coil worn on the scalp above the ear.

The transmitter sends the encoded information to the internal receiver, which decodes the information and sends appropriate electrical currents to each of the electrodes in the cochlea. The electrical currents stimulate the auditory nerve fibers in patterns that allow speech and other sounds to be recognized by the brain.
   
History of Cochlear Implants

Cochlear implants have evolved from the single channel devices of the early 1980s, which provided only gross cues, to today's extremely sophisticated devices that provide a rich sound quality. Whereas single channel devices allowed patients to appreciate changes in loudness and rate of speech, multi-channel implants provide patients with information that allows identification of individual speech sounds.

Since 1985, improvements in the physical design of the device have included the addition of magnets that eliminate the need for a headband, smaller speech processors with multiple memories (allowing for the speech processor to be programmed in more than one way) and improvements in the design of the electrode array. The body-worn speech processors are now about the size of a pager. Behind-the-ear (BTE) speech processors are available as well.

Today’s cochlear implants have made significant strides in signal processing so more information can be delivered at faster rates than with older version cochlear implants.

Insurance Coverage

Most insurance companies cover the cost of cochlear implantation to varying degrees. Some, especially self-insured plans, may or may not cover cochlear implants. Check your policy’s benefits booklet under the list of “exclusions.” If cochlear implants are not covered by your policy, it may be possible to obtain coverage by filing an appeal.

Cochlear Implant Center
University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview
420 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN  55455
612-626-5775