The Science Of Cochlear Implants

When Kathy Croussore's hearing aids were no longer enough, she turned to cochlear implants, with life-changing results.

"I don't remember a time when I didn't wear hearing aids," the La Porte, Indiana, woman said. "As I got older, my hearing got worse and the hearing aids weren't doing much for me anymore."

It's pretty common for someone to experience hearing loss. More than 30 million people in the United States who are ages 12 or older have some form of hearing loss, and it often gets worse as people age. Hearing loss can be caused by several factors, including aging, genetics and general damage to the inner ear.

How A Cochlear Implant Can Help Hearing

After talking with her primary care doctor about her concerns, Kathy was referred to Matthew Provenzano, MD, a Franciscan Physician Network otolaryngologist in Michigan City, Indiana. Dr. Provenzano suggested cochlear implant surgery and performed Kathy's procedure in June 2020.

"Dr. Provenzano was very easy to talk to and reassuring," Kathy said. "He was pretty sure that cochlear implants would be a big improvement for me, and he was right."

A cochlear implant is a small, complex medical device that can help provide a sense of sound to a person who is deaf or severely hard of hearing.

While hearing aids are designed to amplify sound, a cochlear implant directly stimulates the auditory nerve for the brain to recognize its signals and bypass parts of the ear that do not work correctly.

"Cochlear implants have traditionally been used for patients who have such severe hearing loss that they are not getting good use out of their hearing aids," Dr. Provenzano said.

Even though the devices are small and complex, they are usually implanted during outpatient procedures with minimal complications. The procedure should take just a few hours under anesthesia.

"The vast majority of people go from significant lifestyle limitations, like being unable to communicate with family or watch a movie, to being able to accomplish all those things," Dr. Provenzano said.

Recovery And Rehab After Cochlear Implant Surgery

Kathy found herself nearly painless after her cochlear implant surgery. She emphasized her comfort in interacting with Dr. Provenzano and the nursing staff at the hospital.

"This is a procedure where you can really see a profound change in people's lives," Dr. Provenzano said. "It's incredibly rewarding."

While an online therapy course helped Kathy learn how to use her implants after surgery, there are several options a patient may use to train their brain to work with their newly implanted devices.

For patients, especially those who have never had the ability to hear until after their surgery, a team of professionals covering audiology and speech is recommended for a more personalized rehabilitation. Even in combination with professional rehabilitation, self-guided training, such as audiobooks, speech-related apps, and more, can be helpful and even necessary.

While a cochlear implant cannot make a person's hearing perfect, Kathy said her improved hearing has changed her life in significant ways.

"I can hear and understand conversations so much better," Kathy said. "My friends and family really notice the difference."