What is cochlear implant surgery like?
- It is considered a minor surgery.
- It takes between 1 ½ to 5 hours.
- The patient will have general anesthesia.
- A small amount of hair will have to be shaved.
- A small incision is made behind the ear and a flap of tissue is lifted out of the way.
- The Doctor drills into the skull and places the electrode array into the cochlea.
- After the surgery the patient may be sent home in a few hours or may stay the night in the hospital depending on the patients condition.
- The side effects from the procedure are usually minor and temporary and may include swelling, pain, change of taste, dizziness, inflammation, and bleeding.
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Team of Professionals Involved With Cochlear Implant Surgery
ENT Specialist- Medical Evaluation
Audiologists- Evaluation of hearing abilities, processor fitting, programming and follow-up
Surgeons- Medical Evaluation, surgery, post-op care
Speech and Language Therapists- Evaluation of speech and language status, rehabilitation and support
Educators and Teachers- Evaluation of educational environment, learning style, and rehabilitation options
Educational Psychologist- Evaluation of psychological status, family expectations and support system
Social Worker- Family and patient expectations
Implant Team Coordinator- Coordinates evaluations and other activities of the team
Administrative Staff- Oversees insurance billing and provides insurance reimbursement assistance( MED-EL Medical Electronics MKT1003US rev2.0)
Audiologists- Evaluation of hearing abilities, processor fitting, programming and follow-up
Surgeons- Medical Evaluation, surgery, post-op care
Speech and Language Therapists- Evaluation of speech and language status, rehabilitation and support
Educators and Teachers- Evaluation of educational environment, learning style, and rehabilitation options
Educational Psychologist- Evaluation of psychological status, family expectations and support system
Social Worker- Family and patient expectations
Implant Team Coordinator- Coordinates evaluations and other activities of the team
Administrative Staff- Oversees insurance billing and provides insurance reimbursement assistance( MED-EL Medical Electronics MKT1003US rev2.0)
Reasons Why a Patient May Not Receive a Cochlear Implant
- Hearing is sufficient with hearing aids.
- Profound hearing loss for an extended amount of time in which the auditory nerve has not been stimulated. After a long period of time it may not be able to transmit sound or information to the brain.
- If the cochlea is not the main reason for the hearing loss, an implant will not help.
- If cochlea can not receive the electrodes , the auditory nerve is damaged or missing, a cochlear implant surgery will not be successful.
- A patient has to be healthy enough to undergo the surgery.
- The expectations for the outcome of the surgery needs to be realistic.
- The patient has to have a support system of family or other care-givers.
The Cost of a Cochlear Implant
Cochlear implant surgery in the US costs between $50,000 and $100,000 according to the
University of Miami School of Medicine. (2009)
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University of Miami School of Medicine. (2009)
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