Every potential cochlear implant candidate receives an individualized evaluation from Boys Town National Research Hospital's team of specialists. The evaluation assists the candidate and his or her family in making an informed decision.

Adult Cochlear Implant Program - Follow-up Visits

Following initial stimulation, it is common for programming levels to change significantly during the first year. Typically, the adult cochlear implant user is scheduled to visit the audiologist for programming, audiological evaluation and speech perception testing at the following intervals: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, one year post-activation and then annually for the life of the implant. Consistent follow-up is critical to ensure adequate programming levels and device maintenance. Cochlear implant recipients are encouraged to report any changes in the quality of the implant signal that may result in a decrease in speech perception abilities. The chart below shows an approximation of the number of visits to the Boys Town National Research Hospital Cochlear Implant Center and what types of appointments are generally scheduled at each visit:

Visit	Appointments
Pre-implant (Appointments are typically scheduled over two days.)	Audiological evaluation (may or may not include Auditory Brainstem Response testing and/or Otoacoustic Emissions testing) Hearing aid trial (if recommended and not already completed) Vestibular evaluation Baseline speech perception testing and cochlear implant orientation Expectations discussion Physician office visit CT scan
Surgery (usually outpatient)
Initial Stimulation (IS), day 1	Cochlear implant programming Baseline X-ray Physician office visit
Initial Stimulation (IS), day 2	Cochlear implant programming
1 month post-IS	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Physician follow-up
3 months post-IS	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Baseline electrophysiologic testing Physician follow-up
6 months post-IS	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Physician follow-up
9 months post-IS	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing
1 year post-IS	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Physician follow-up
Annual visits	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Physician follow-up as needed