Cochlear Implants in Orange, San Diego, & Riverside Counties, CA

What is a Cochlear Implant?

A cochlear implant is a small hearing device designed to help individuals with profound or severe hearing loss regain access to sound. It consists of two parts: a small piece that sits behind the ear, resembling a hearing aid, and a component that is surgically implanted under the skin.

While traditional hearing aids have made remarkable advances in recent years, they aren’t always the right solution for everyone. A small percentage of people with significant hearing loss may benefit more from a cochlear implant. Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants bypass damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve, sending sound signals straight to the brain. This creates a different hearing experience that takes some time to adjust to, but for many people with severe hearing loss or deafness, it can significantly improve communication and quality of life.

At Clear Choice Hearing Aid, Inc., with locations in Costa Mesa, Laguna Hills, Orange, Encinitas, La Jolla, San Diego, and Hemet, we’re here to guide you through every option — including whether a cochlear implant might be the right choice for you.

Who Benefits from Cochlear Implants?

Less than 6 percent of people in America who could benefit from a cochlear implant actually have one. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services more than 188,000 people worldwide have received implants. In the United States, roughly 41,000 adults and 26,000 children have them. Cochlear implants may benefit adults and children who have significant hearing loss or are deaf. 

People who lose their hearing as an adult often do well with cochlear implants because they can relate the signal provided by an implant to sounds they remember. With therapy, these adults are often able to understand speech again. Even very young children who experienced significant hearing loss before they acquired language skills are able to learn how to understand and respond to speech after receiving an implant and intensive therapy.

The FDA has a series of requirements to determine who is a good candidate.

To find out if cochlear implants are right for you, give us a call and set up your hearing test.

If we find you are a suitable candidate for Cochlear implants, we make the necessary referral to get the process started.

Friends with cochlear implants enjoying time together

How Do Cochlear Implants Work?

Cochlear implants require surgery and a period of intensive therapy after the procedure. The surgery itself is usually done on an outpatient basis in a few hours. You should review your personal medical history with your physician and go over the risks, but many clients find cochlear implants to be life-changing.