Cochlear Implant and Associated Technologies
for Hearing
Mada Assistive Technology Center
Tel: 00 974 44594050
Fax: 00 974 44594051
Email: [email protected]
What is a cochlear implant?
Cochlear implants are tiny, intricate electronic devices that help provide a sense of sound to severely deaf
individuals. Surgically implanted under the skin behind the ear, this device is made of four basic parts:
The microphone picks up sound from the environment. The speech processor translates the sounds picked up by
the microphone into signals. The transmitter and receiver/stimulator receive these signals and
convert them into electric impulses. The electrodes send these impulses to the brain.
Cochlear implants (CI’s) do not restore hearing to normal. They provide electronic sound. They do
not amplify sound like hearing aids do: instead a cochlear implant compensates for damaged or non-working
parts of the inner ear. They can help in understanding speech and understanding environmental sounds.
How successful is a cochlear implant?
How successful the cochlear implant is depends on many factors
The age of the patient when he or she receives the implant
Whether the hearing loss was present before or after the patient developed language skills
The motivation of the patient and his or her family.
It is now appropriate for children to receive implants at a very young age. Providing young children with access
to sound during early critical periods has a profound impact on acquisition of spoken language. Current research
further substantiates that children who receive implant(s) at an early age can demonstrate impressive growth in
spoken language and literacy achievement comparable to the levels of their peers with typical hearing.
Adults who have lost all or most of their hearing later in life often can benefit from cochlear implants. They learn
to associate the signal provided by an implant with sounds they remember. However both adults and children
will need to make a commitment to training and practice in order to gain the most from their cochlear implants.
They will work together with audiologists, speech-language pathologists, teachers, and counselors as they learn
to listen, improve speech, use speech reading, and handle communication. They are taught how to use the
implant and how to respond to the sounds they are receiving. For those who have heard before, sounds through
the cochlear implant may seem unnatural at first and those who have not heard before must be taught what the
sounds are.
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Using Cochlear Implants with Assistive Listening Systems (devices) ALS’s ALD’s
Assistive Listening Systems (ALSs) are sometimes called Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs). Essentially they are
amplifiers that bring sound directly into the ear. They separate the sounds, particularly speech, that a person
wants to hear from background noise. They improve what is known as the “speech to noise ratio.” ALDs are
sometimes described as “binoculars for the ears” because they “stretch” hearing aids and cochlear implants,
thus extending their reach and increasing their effectiveness.
ALSs utilize FM, infrared or inductive loop technologies. All three technologies are considered good. Each one
has advantages and disadvantages. (Please see factsheet on Hearing Impairment for more details regarding
these technologies)
Using the Cochlear Implant with Assistive Listening Systems
Cochlear implant users may use a patch cord to connect an ALS receiver directly to their speech processor.
Some speech processors are “body pack” sized. Others are “ear level” and miniaturized to the size of a behind-
the-ear hearing aid. Consumers with ear level speech processors can utilize neck loops for listening in the same
way as hearing aid users.
It is advisable that people wearing cochlear implants should familiarize themselves with Patch cords. Patch
cords are short wires with a plug at each end, enabling a connection between a cochlear implant speech
processor and the jack of the equipment the cochlear implant user is listening to. One patch cord manufacturer
advises connecting the short end to the speech processor. Some cords have a mini plug (2.5 mm instead of 3.5
mm) for connecting to devices requiring the smaller plug. Consumers report varied experience with the quality
and effectiveness of patch cords. When using the patch cord, the microphone is automatically blocked, and
sound is entering the cochlear implant only via the patch cord connected to the ALD. Different styles of
microphones that work with the ALDs, such as conference microphones, can also be used with CIs
Electrical requirements of devices vary, as do patch cord
features. Therefore, consumers need to be aware that one
cord may not work with everything. It is frustrating, for
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example, to want to patch into a cell phone without knowing whether the cord will work and to be unable to
receive advice on this specialized issue from the local retail sales person. However, some vendors sell patch
cords that work with the phones they sell. Patch cord manufacturers should be able to provide information on
compatibility, as can ALS manufacturers and cochlear implant manufacturers. It is a good idea to talk to the
audiologist that installed the cochlear processor before purchasing a patch cord as there is a risk of damage to
the processor if you do not have the right patch cord.
Phone and mobile phone use
People with cochlear implants can and do use mobile phones successfully. Those who can understand speech
without visual cues tend to have greater success. Cell phones rated M3 or M4 (M stands for microphone) are
likely to generate less interference for someone using a cochlear implant. M4 is the better of the two ratings.
Some use a telecoil (see definition below) feature to hear a clearer sound. If it is planned to use the telephone
with telecoil make sure the phone is Telecoil compatible. Most telephones and cell phones come with telecoil
compatibility. Phones that present ratings of T3 or T4 mean that they meet or surpass the compatibility
standard. Each brand of cochlear implants sets the telecoil differently, instructions on setting the telecoil with
different sound processors can be found on the following website:
http://cochlearimplantonline.com/site/?p=3612 the best advice for a cochlear implant user is to test a new
phone out before purchasing as all phones vary on how well they work with the implant.
Further Information:
For those requiring further, more specialist advice on using a Cochlear Implant, first consult with a suitabl
qualified Speech and Language Pathologist or Audiologist. More detailed assessment of using phones or mobil
phones with Cochlear Implants or other Assistive Listening Devices can be obtained from the MADA Qata
Assistive Technology Center
Further information is also available from the following sources:
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/coch.aspx
http://www.cochlear.com/
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/eyes/cochlear.html
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For further information contact the MADA Qatar Assistive Technology Center, 7th Floor, Al Nasr Tower B, Al
Corniche Road, West Bay, Doha, Qatar. P.O. Box 24230. Ph: +974 44594050
“This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
We request attribution to Mada and all other authors of original materials is retained”
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Cochlear Implants and Associated Technologies for Hearing
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“This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
We request attribution to Mada and all other authors of original materials is retained”
July 2013
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