Who can benefit from a cochlear implant? Is there an age limit?
Generally, anyone with hearing loss severe enough that conventional hearing aids provide little or no benefit is a candidate for cochlear implants. Candidates are typically classified into two groups:
- Prelingual hearing loss: Individuals born with hearing loss or who lost their hearing in early infancy, before developing speech.
- Postlingual hearing loss: Individuals who developed speech and language skills but experienced progressive hearing loss later in life.
In Türkiye, the minimum age for cochlear implantation is 12 months, though some international centers perform the procedure as early as 9 months. There is no upper age limit as long as the patient's overall health allows for surgery.
How is the surgery performed?
Before surgery, all patients undergo thorough audiological assessments and radiological imaging to confirm their candidacy. Once confirmed, anesthesia planning and surgical preparation are undertaken.
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia with an incision made behind the ear. The electrode array of the implant's internal component is carefully inserted into the cochlea (inner ear), while the receiver-stimulator is placed under the skin, behind and slightly above the ear. The implant's functionality is verified during the procedure using various assessment methods.
After surgery, patients typically remain in the hospital for 1“2 days for observation. The external sound processor is fitted and activated about 3“4 weeks after the operation, once the surgical site has healed and swelling has reduced.
Will the patient hear immediately after the external processor is activated?
Yes, once the external processor is connected, the implant begins to stimulate the auditory nerve and the brain receives sound signals. However, the sounds perceived through a cochlear implant are initially quite different from natural hearing.
Over time, the brain gradually learns to interpret these signals as meaningful sounds. This adaptation period varies for each individual and depends on several factors, including whether the hearing loss is prelingual or postlingual, the duration of deafness, and the amount of auditory rehabilitation received.
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