Training may include listening-only activities and telephone training. Patients should return to the clinic at least every year for program adjustments of the speech processor. In addition,, the audiologist may administer tests to determine how well the patient can understand speech with the cochlear implant. If the patient is involved in a FDA Clinical Investigation, evaluations are required at regular intervals until the end of the study. A cochlear implant converts speech and other sounds in the environment into electrical signals and sends these signals to the hearing nerve.
Sound waves enter the microphone located on the headpiece.
The sound is sent to the speech processor via the cable which connects the headpiece to the speech processor. The speech processor converts the sound into a signal which can be interpreted by the brain. This conversion is accomplished through sophisticated computer software called speech processing strategies. The special signal is sent back up the same cable to the headpiece and transmitted across the skin via radio waves to the implanted device. T he signal travels down the electrode array within the inner ear and stimulates the hearing nerve.