Cochlear Implants
Basics
Learn More
See, Play and Learn
Research
Resources
For You
Summary
A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound. People who are profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing can get help from them. The implant consists of two parts. One part sits on the outside of the body, behind the ear. A second part is surgically placed under the skin.
An implant does not restore normal hearing. It can help a person understand speech. Children and adults can benefit from them.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- Cochlear Implants (Food and Drug Administration)
-
Cochlear Implants
(National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
Also in Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
- Cochlear Implants: Who Are They For? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- Benefits and Risks of Cochlear Implants (Food and Drug Administration)
- Use of Vaccines to Prevent Meningitis in Persons with Cochlear Implants (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Videos and Tutorials
-
Hearing and the cochlea
(Medical Encyclopedia)
Also in Spanish
Statistics and Research
-
Quick Statistics
(National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
-
Directory of Organizations (Deafness and Communication Disorders)
(National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
- Find an Audiologist (American Academy of Audiology)
-
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Children
- Cochlear Implants (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Cochlear implant (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish