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 - Maximizing Outcomes

Cochlear implant recipients can be expected to make early and continued progress with their device. How rapidly progress occurs is dependent upon a number of factors that exist prior to the time of implantation. These factors include:

• Age of implantation
• Duration of deafness (before or after acquisition of speech)
• Previous exposure to amplification (e.g., hearing aid use)
• Established speech and language abilities
• Presence of other learning difficulties
• Cognitive skills
• Etiology of hearing loss

It can be helpful to think of the cochlear implant as a “sound messenger”, with the purpose of delivering auditory signals to the brain. The recipient’s ability to incorporate this signal into a meaningful message varies on an individual basis. Some factors that can impact an individual’s performance or benefit become more influential post-implantation. Such factors include:

• Consistent device use
• Regular processor programming and device maintenance
• Availability and quality of support services and/or aural rehabilitation program
• Expectations of the individual and those who interact with them