Cochlear implant activation
Know more about the cochlear implant activation and questions to ask a health professional about this step.
Page contents
- Questions to ask a hearing health professional.
- Activation day and beyond.
A few weeks after the surgery, an appointment with the audiologist is planned for the activation of the sound processor.
What follows is a list of questions to ask the hearing health professionals team about how activation works and what hearing may be like at this moment.
- What happens during the appointment?
- What does activation of the cochlear implant feel like?
- Is is possible to hear right away?
- How will it sound?
- How long will it take to adjust to the new sound?
- How is the sound processor positioned?
- How does the device work?
- Are there any special recommendations for using the new sound processor?
- How often do the batteries need changing?
- Is it possible to swim or shower straight away?
- How should the sound processor be stored and maintained?
- What resources and activities may be recommended for rehabilitation?
- What happens if the hearing changes over time?
- How often do the sound processor's programmes need to be fine tuned and adjusted?
- Is there a network of hearing implant users locally and how can these people be contacted?
Activation day
The hearing health professional will explain how the sound processor works and how to care for it. He/She may programme the sound processor and set the appropriate volume and pitch levels.
This process is called mapping.
The aim of the appointment is for the recipient to try and be able to tell the difference between a loud or soft sound.
It may take days or weeks of practice to train the brain to understand the signals it receives. A hearing health specialist can provide further help and details about this process.
After the sound processor is activated
After the initial activation of the sound processor, several appointments with a hearing health professional may be necessary over the next several months for fine-tuning and might form part of the rehabilitation process.
It's advisable to follow the sound processor's guidelines for care and maintenance.
Rehabilitation plays an important role in hearing results with a device. That's why it may be useful to practice listening and speaking as much as possible.
Practice and time
Everyone's hearing can be considered unique and so some individuals may need one or two mappings, and others need more. Over time, practice can help the brain to learn how to interpret the sounds.
Consultation with a hearing specialist is recommended and rehabilitation programmes may be suggested.
More information
Disclaimer
Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always follow the directions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.
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