Risks
Our Approach to Cochlear Implants
Hearing loss affects every aspect of your day-to-day life, including communication and social interaction. At Stanford Health Care, we offer personalized hearing loss treatments, such as middle ear surgery, hearing aids, bone conduction devices, and cochlear implants, to improve your quality of life and independence.
You have access to state-of-the-art audiology services through our Hearing Restoration Program at the Stanford Health Care Ear Institute.
What We Offer You for Cochlear Implants
- Specialized expertise for a wide array of hearing problems
- A multidisciplinary team that includes ear, nose, and throat surgeons, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists
- Innovative treatment options, including multiple types of cochlear implants
- Robot-assisted implantation, which offers optimal surgical outcomes and preserves the delicate structures in your cochlea
- Coordinated care for easy access to the services you need
Interested in an Online Second Opinion?
The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. It’s all done remotely, and you don’t have to visit our hospital or one of our clinics for this service. You don’t even need to leave home!
Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.
What Are Cochlear Implants?
What to Expect
Before
During
After
Before the Procedure
You meet with an audiologist to get a special hearing test before cochlear implant surgery. The audiologist discusses your test results and whether a cochlear implant may be right for you. You may also have imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, to look at your cochlea and inner ear.
An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon performs cochlear implant surgery. Before the procedure, you meet with the surgeon to discuss what to expect. They help you understand the expected outcome and rehabilitation after surgery.
During the Procedure
You receive general anesthesia to remain asleep during cochlear implant surgery. Then your surgeon:
- Makes an incision (small cut) behind your ear
- Creates a small opening in the bone behind your ear
- Places the internal device underneath your skin
- Creates a small opening in your cochlea
- Threads the electrodes through the opening in your cochlea
- Closes the incision with stitches
Most people return home the same day as cochlear implant surgery. Adults need to arrange transportation, because you’re not allowed to drive for the rest of the day after having general anesthesia.
After the Procedure
Your cochlear implant will remain inactive while you heal from surgery. You visit an audiologist within one to four weeks after surgery. The audiologist turns on the implant, adjusts the sound processor, and checks that the device is working.
You have follow-up visits with the audiologist or a speech-language pathologist to train your brain to understand the sounds you receive through the implant. Most people notice a difference within about a month after activating the implant. Reaching optimal hearing may take six to 12 months.
Cochlear implants are permanent. In the future, you’ll have regular appointments with the audiologist and ENT surgeon to ensure the device continues working properly.
Before the Procedure
You meet with an audiologist to get a special hearing test before cochlear implant surgery. The audiologist discusses your test results and whether a cochlear implant may be right for you. You may also have imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, to look at your cochlea and inner ear.
An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon performs cochlear implant surgery. Before the procedure, you meet with the surgeon to discuss what to expect. They help you understand the expected outcome and rehabilitation after surgery.
close Before
During the Procedure
You receive general anesthesia to remain asleep during cochlear implant surgery. Then your surgeon:
- Makes an incision (small cut) behind your ear
- Creates a small opening in the bone behind your ear
- Places the internal device underneath your skin
- Creates a small opening in your cochlea
- Threads the electrodes through the opening in your cochlea
- Closes the incision with stitches
Most people return home the same day as cochlear implant surgery. Adults need to arrange transportation, because you’re not allowed to drive for the rest of the day after having general anesthesia.
close During
After the Procedure
Your cochlear implant will remain inactive while you heal from surgery. You visit an audiologist within one to four weeks after surgery. The audiologist turns on the implant, adjusts the sound processor, and checks that the device is working.
You have follow-up visits with the audiologist or a speech-language pathologist to train your brain to understand the sounds you receive through the implant. Most people notice a difference within about a month after activating the implant. Reaching optimal hearing may take six to 12 months.
Cochlear implants are permanent. In the future, you’ll have regular appointments with the audiologist and ENT surgeon to ensure the device continues working properly.
close After
Our Clinics
The Hearing Restoration Program brings together specially trained ENT specialists and audiologists who offer the highest level of care. We provide a range of treatments personalized to your needs.
To make an appointment with a cochlear implant specialist, call 650-723-5281