Your team will explain what you can reasonably expect. Before deciding whether your implant is working well, you need to understand clearly how much time you must commit. A few patients do not benefit from implants. Be sure to ask your otolaryngologist for written information, including brochures provided by the implant manufacturers. You need to be filly informed about the benefits and risks of cochlear implants, including how much is known about how safe, reliable, and effective a device is, how often you must come back to the clinic for checkups, and whether your insurance company pays for the procedure.
Most insurance companies provide benefits that cover the cost.
An otolaryngologist is a physician concerned with the medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. represents more than 7,500 ear, nose, and throat specialists. For more information or a list of otolaryngologists practicing in your area, please contact the Academy. Supported in part by an educational grant from the American Otological Society, Inc. 1997.