Cochlear implants have been performed for over 20 years and have become the standard treatment for people with profound hearing loss, who desire to use spoken language. Today, over 20,000 adults and children worldwide have received a cochlear implant. The most widely used device is the Nucleus 22 Channel Cochlear Implant. The new Nucleus N24 has just been FDA approved, as has been the Clarion device manufactured by Advanced Bionics. A device by Med-EL is also in review by the Food and Drug Administration.
Cochlear implants are very sophisticated devices.
The multichannel implant stimulates the hearing nerve in a variety of places to give information about pitch, which is essential for understanding speech. The externally worn processor is designed to incorporate advances in technology, so there is no need to wait for next year's upgrade. Ear-level processors are now available for the N24 and will be available for the N22 in 1999. Often several weeks are required for authorization and scheduling. The surgical risks are the same as for any other ear surgery and are considered minimal.