Introduction to cochlear implants

Cochlear implants have been very successful in restoring partial hearing to profoundly deaf people many individuals with implants are now able to communicate and understand speech without lip-reading, and some are able to talk over the phone. Children with implants can develop spoken-language skills and attend normal schools (i.e., schools with normal-hearing children). The greatest benefits with cochlear implantation have occurred in patients who (1) acquired speech and language before their hearing loss, and (2) have shorter duration of deafness. Gradual, but steady, improvements in speech production and speech perception have also occurred in prelingually deafened adults or children.Cochlear implants have been very successful in restoring partial hearing to profoundly deaf people. Cochlear implants provide many individuals with a means to communicate and understand speech without lip-reading, and to develop spoken-language skills. Individuals who have benefitted much from these implants include patients who acquired speech and language before their hearing loss, and those who have shorter duration of deafness. Gradual but steady improvements in speech production and speech perception have also occurred in perlingually deafened adults or children.