Cochlear Implant: How it Work, Cost & Risks

Cochlear Implant: Understand how it works, the procedure, cost in India, and possible risks for patients with severe hearing loss or deafness.

Cochlear Implant: How it Work, Cost & Risks

  • Category

    Dermatology

  • Published By

    GetWellGo Team

  • Updated on

    20-May-2025

Cochlear Implant

A cochlear implant is a surgically placed electronic device that gives a person with severe to profound hearing loss who receives inadequate benefit from the use of a hearing aid a sense of sound. It is particularly useful for those with sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve.

Factors Affecting Cochlear Implant Cost in India

The price of cochlear implant surgery in India can differ considerably depending on various factors. Here's a description of the main elements that influence the overall cost:

  • Type and Brand of Cochlear Implant
  • Hospital and City
  • Surgeon’s Experience and Team
  • Pre-Implant Evaluations
  • Surgery and Hospitalization
  • Post-Implant Therapy and Mapping
  • Unilateral vs Bilateral Implants
  • International Patient Services

How does a cochlear implant work?

A cochlear implant skips over damaged areas of the ear and stimulates the auditory nerve directly. It consists of two primary components:

External component (carried behind the ear):

  • Microphone: Picks up sound.
  • Speech processor: Determines and organizes sounds.
  • Transmitter: Transmits signals to the internal implant.

Internal component (implanted beneath the skin):

  • Receiver/stimulator: Translates signals into electric impulses.
  • Electrode array: Transmits impulses directly to the auditory nerve in the cochlea.

Cochlear Implant Surgery

Cochlear implant surgery is the procedure of placing a small electronic device within the inner ear (cochlea) to assist in giving a sense of sound to people with severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss that is not helped by hearing aids.

Cochlear implant procedure: Step-by-Step

Pre-Surgical Evaluation

Prior to surgery, the patient receives a number of tests:

  • Audiological tests (pure tone audiometry, speech discrimination)
  • Imaging (CT or MRI) to assess cochlear structure
  • ENT and Neurological assessments
  • Counselling to set expectations, rehabilitation, and follow-up

Surgical Procedure

  • Length: 1.5 to 3 hours
  • Anaesthesia: General anaesthesia

Steps:

  • A small incision behind the ear.
  • A pocket under the skin is made to put the internal receiver/stimulator in place.
  • A small hole is drilled into the mastoid bone to reach the cochlea.
  • The electrode array is inserted into the cochlea.
  • The receiver is anchored, and the incision is closed with sutures.

Post-Surgery Care

  • Typically a one-day stay in the hospital.
  • Patient might experience mild pain, dizziness, or swelling around the ear.
  • Antibiotics and analgesics are administered.
  • Sutures are taken out in 7–10 days.

Cochlear Implant Risks

Cochlear implant surgery is usually safe and successful, but as with any surgical or electronic intervention, certain risks and complications are associated with it. Here is the detailed picture of cochlear implant side effects:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Facial Nerve Damage
  • Dizziness or Balance Problems
  • Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ear)
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak
  • Meningitis
  • Device Failure or Malfunction 
  • Rejection or Extrusion
  • Magnet Complications
  • Electrostatic Discharge Damage

Cochlear Implant Success Rate

The overall success rate of cochlear implants is mostly high, particularly if the patient is well selected and gets appropriate post-operative rehabilitation. Success is commonly gauged by improved hearing, speech understanding, and quality of life.

Cochlear Implant Success Rate: 

General Success Rate

Post-lingual deaf adult (loss of hearing subsequent to learning to speak):

  • 80% to 90% have significant improvement in understanding speech.

Children implanted at under 3 years of age

  • As high as 90% acquire functional spoken language, particularly with early and persistent therapy.

Children implanted at or above age 5 (with no speech development previously):

  • Success declines considerably; may assist with sound awareness, but minimal speech development.

Best Hospital for Cochlear Implant in India

Cochlear Implant Benefits and Risks

Advantages of Cochlear Implants

Cochlear implants can greatly enhance hearing and communication, particularly in individuals who fail to derive benefits from conventional hearing aids.

Advantages in Hearing & Speech

  • Better speech perception even in noisy settings
  • Identify common sounds (e.g., ringing of the phone, doorbell, alarm)
  • Improved sound perception compared to hearing aids for extreme cases of hearing loss
  • Identify soft sounds and high-frequency sounds with greater ease

Cognitive & Developmental Advantages (Particularly in Children)

  • Facilitates language development if implanted at an early age (below age 3)
  • Aids learning and academic performance
  • Aids social and emotional development

Communication & Quality of Life

  • Allows conversation without lip reading for most users
  • Aids social interaction and independence
  • Aids emotional health and reduces social isolation
  • Aids the ability of most users to use the phone, view television, and work

Risks of Cochlear Implants

Although generally safe, cochlear implants carry surgical and device risks.

Surgical Risks

  • Implant site infection
  • Bleeding or swelling
  • Facial nerve damage (may result in temporary or permanent facial weakness; uncommon)
  • Dizziness or balance problems following surgery (temporary)
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
  • Meningitis (extremely rare; avoided by vaccination)

Device-Related Complications

  • Device failure or malfunction (may need re-implantation surgery)
  • Skin irritation or magnet migration
  • Loss of existing natural hearing in the implanted ear
  • MRI limitations (special precautions necessary)
  • Electrostatic device damage from static electricity if precautions are not followed

Challenges in Adaptation

  • Sound unnatural at first (metallic or robotic)
  • Needs constant mapping and speech therapy
  • Disappointment or frustration when expectations are unrealistic


 

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