Cochlear Implant Program (CIP)

What is the process for obtaining a cochlear implant?

Therapy following the cochlear implant offers a structured approach by which you learn to identify and associate meaning to the new sounds that are heard. Some adults feel that they are receiving enough stimulation in their everyday life that therapy is not needed. If therapy is recommended, or requested, it may be provided through the Nova Scotia Hearing & Speech Centres, Atlantic Province Special Education Authority (APSEA, for children), private practice speech-language pathologists, private auditory verbal therapists. Most important is the support and involvement of parents and other family members.

During the first year post surgery, the follow-up for programming and ‘mapping’ of the cochlear implant is more frequent than in later years. These appointments are necessary to adjust or fine-tune the device to obtain the best possible sound quality for the listener. Typically, once a stable map is established, the map is checked and speech perception testing is repeated as a measure of benefit. The usual schedule for follow-up appointments in the first year is 4-6 weeks post surgery for the activation, 2-4 weeks post activation, 3 months post activation, 6 months post activation and 1 year post activation with annual reassessment. Children may require reassessment twice annually for proper monitoring of their device.

< back