Cochlear Implant

A cochlear implant is an option for those people with severe to profound hearing loss related to loss of function of their inner ear. This surgery requires that a person get a special hearing test and a CT scan to determine if the canals of the inner ear are open.

The surgery itself is done in the outpatient setting requiring an incision behind the ear and up the temple behind the hairline. The inner ear itself is exposed and opened allowing the insertion of the cochlear implant.

This device acts to electrically stimulate the hearing nerve essentially bypassing the inner ear. Tremendous strides have been made in these devices such that excellent performers can hear at a level close to normal whereas they were previously deaf or almost deaf.

The Wilson Ear Clinic offers surgery and programming for the Advanced Bionics Clarion device, Cochlear Nucleus device, and the Med El Combi device.