Children as young as 12 months old, with profound hearing loss, are benefiting from cochlear implant surgery.

Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program - Follow-up Visits

Multiple visits are necessary as part of the cochlear implant process. The chart below shows an approximation of the number of visits to the 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 not already completed) Vestibular evaluation Baseline speech perception testing and cochlear implant orientation Expectations discussion Speech and language evaluation 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 Auditory learning session
1-2 weeks post-IS*	Cochlear implant programming
1 month post-IS	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Auditory learning session Physician follow-up
3 months post-IS	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Baseline electrophysiologic testing Auditory learning session Physician follow-up
6 months post-IS	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Speech/language evaluation** Auditory learning session Physician follow-up
9 months post-IS	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Auditory learning session
1 year post-IS	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Speech/language evaluation Auditory learning session Physician follow-up
Semi-annual visits (6-month intervals)*	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Speech/language evaluation** Physician follow-up as needed
Annual visits	Cochlear implant programming Speech perception testing Physician follow-up as needed

*For children implanted before age 5 years.
**If the child is under 3 years of age.