What can I do for my child right now?

An important first step in your child’s hearing journey is to start the learning and listening process before they get their cochlear implant.
• It is important to begin your child’s path towards spoken language development as early as possible. Hearing aids may provide some access to sounds-and the earlier you start, the better.
• You can also begin a program of family-centered auditory therapy as soon as the first hearing aid has been fitted. This will help your child begin the process of learning to listen.
• Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. An auditory therapist can show you how to help your child achieve spoken language skills and learn about the hearing world. Cochlear provides a range of habilitation and support materials that you can use to help begin your journey – so the whole family will already be on the spoken language development path by the time your child receives their cochlear implant.

Will my child be able to take advantage of future advances?

It’s natural to worry about your child being left behind as technology improves. However, you can rest assured to give your child a lifetime of access to new technological innovations without further surgery.
Because getting a cochlear implant early in life is more important than waiting for future improvements, this is a crucial point. Your child can enjoy the lifetime advantages of having their speech and language pathways stimulated early and access improvements in implant technology as they grow up.

Did You Know?

Studies have shown that children who receive a cochlear implant and appropriate rehabilitation at a young age (before the age of 18 months) have a greater potential to develop language skills equal to or those of their same-aged peers with normal hearing.

Things to consider in a cochlear implant

Although all cochlear implants work on the same principals, the way they’re designed and manufactured can vary. It’s important to understand the distinctions and ask the right questions, so you can choose the best implant solution for you or your child.

Can you or your child rely on the implant for life?

Audiologists and cochlear implant surgeons agree that reliability is essential in a cochlear implant – it should be designed to last a lifetime. So it’s worth asking about the manufacturer’s record and whether there is any known history of technical complications or problem. Reliability data is reported as a Cumulative Survival Rate (CSR) and the most telling record is what happens beyond the first year of implantation. Independent research and a comparison of the various manufacturers’ CSR data has shown that the Nucleus Cochlear Implant is the most reliable implant available.

How good is the implant for speech understanding?

The cochlear implant you choose must be able to improve your hearing and understanding of speech in everyday settings. Of course, activities like enjoying music are also important, but most experts agree that developing speech and spoken language skills should be considered the first priority.

Is the system flexible, for an active lifestyle?

The durability and veracity of the system’s external sound processor have to let you or your child enjoy everyday life-listening to music, talking on the phone, bathing, playing sports, even getting caught in the rain-all with minimal disruption. Not all sound processor offers the same high level of water resistance, for example, so you should consider your need carefully.
Manufacturers may also offer different battery options for their external sound processor-rechargeable, disposable or the flexibility of both. Rechargeable batteries are often preferred, however, their life on one charge can vary greatly between manufacturers so ask what you can expect. Disposable batteries are convenient if you don’t have easy access to a power source if you’re out traveling, camping or caught by a power outage for example.

What is CSR?

Cumulative Survival Rate (CSR) is a reliability standard established by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). It indicates the like hood of a device continuing to function properly after a given period of time.
Will you have easy access to future technology upgrades?
Today’s implant system is designed to let you benefit from future development without needing any additional surgery. This is an important consideration because you or your child will want to live with the implant you choose for a lifetime. At the same time, it’s important to know that the manufacture you choose is committed to investing in new, improved technologies and making them available to their recipients. There are many examples of recipients who had a Cochlear system implanted 25 years ago and can still access the most advanced processors available today. Read Holly’s story on page 22.

Will you have the support of rehabilitation and education services?

Rehabilitation is essential for getting the best hearing and speech outcomes from a new cochlear implant and sound processor. Regardless of the technology. It’s well documented that successful results depend on the recipient and their audiologist, speech and language therapist, and healthcare team working together. You’ll need to put time into ongoing habilitation, so you need to consider how well each manufacturer’s support services can meet your needs.