Cochlear implants allow the brain to access sound. The NHS explain that they work by turning sound into electrical signals and sending them to part of the inner ear called the cochlea. From here, the signals travel to the brain and are heard as sound.

The implant has 2 main parts:

  • a microphone behind the ear that picks up sound and changes it into electrical signals, which are sent along a wire to a device on the skin
  • a device placed inside the skull that picks up the electrical signals from the device on the skin and sends them along wires to the cochlea

Before having a cochlear implant, you'll have an assessment to find out if it will help. The implant will only work if the nerve that sends sound to the brain (auditory nerve) is working properly.

Auditory Verbal therapy supports deaf children process the sound they get from their hearing technology, like cochlear implants, to develop language so they can learn to talk like their hearing friends. When deaf babies receive hearing technology, the brain needs to learn how to make sense of this sound as they don’t magically work on their own.

If you'd like to find out more about our programme, sign up to one of our free online webinars, where you can meet one of our Auditory Verbal therapists, complete our enquiry form or call 01869 325000.