Cochlear Implant — hearing where aids no longer reach.

Overview

The cochlear implant system consists of two components: an internal device surgically placed beneath the skin behind the ear — with a fine electrode array threaded into the cochlea — and an external speech processor worn behind the ear that captures sound and transmits it wirelessly to the implant.

Results depend significantly on the age at implantation, the duration of deafness prior to surgery, and dedication to post-operative rehabilitation. Children implanted early frequently go on to develop near-normal spoken language. Adults who experienced hearing later in life typically achieve clear conversational hearing with consistent use.

When This Surgery Is Recommended

• Severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss affecting both ears
• Minimal functional benefit from correctly fitted hearing aids
• Infants and children with congenital deafness — ideally before the age of 2
• Adults experiencing progressive hearing loss who have plateaued on hearing aids
• Sudden onset of profound hearing loss that has not responded to medical management

The Procedure

Cochlear implantation is a precise microsurgical procedure carried out under general anaesthesia. At Dr. Abdul's ENT, both adult and paediatric implantations are performed in-house with careful attention to cochlear anatomy and hearing nerve preservation.

• Pre-operative CT and MRI confirm cochlear anatomy and auditory nerve integrity
• A small incision is made behind the ear and the bone carefully shaped to house the implant
• A limited mastoidectomy provides access to the middle and inner ear
• The electrode array is gently and precisely advanced into the cochlea
• The internal receiver-stimulator is fixed securely beneath the skin
• The incision is closed — the device remains inactive until the activation appointment

Pre-Surgery Preparations

• Pneumococcal vaccination completed a minimum of two weeks before the procedure
• High-resolution CT and MRI of the inner ear and brain reviewed and discussed
• Comprehensive audiology and speech baseline assessment carried out in the same visit
• Fasting from food and liquids for 6–8 hours before surgery
• Hair clipped behind the ear; thorough skin preparation carried out on the day
• Detailed counselling on the post-activation rehabilitation programme before the date is confirmed

Post-Surgery Recovery

• One overnight hospital stay following the procedure
• Dressing kept in place for 5 days; stitches removed at 7–10 days
• External device activation scheduled at 3–4 weeks after surgery
• Weekly mapping and programming sessions over the first 2–3 months
• Ongoing audiological rehabilitation programme tailored to each patient's progress

Follow-up Schedule

• Day 1 — Dressing check, wound review, and discharge planning
• Week 1 — Suture removal and wound healing confirmation
• Weeks 3–4 — External processor activation and first mapping session
• Weekly for 8 weeks — Progressive mapping sessions with the audiology team
• 6 months — Full listening, language, and rehabilitation progress review

Potential Complications

• Device failure — rare and covered by the manufacturer's warranty
• Loss of any residual natural hearing in the implanted ear
• Temporary tinnitus or mild balance disturbance in the early post-operative weeks
• Delayed wound healing in a very small proportion of cases
• Initial sound quality will feel unfamiliar — the brain adapts progressively over weeks to months

Why Have It Here

Cochlear implantation is a team effort requiring surgical skill, experienced audiology, and structured long-term rehabilitation — along with honest counselling about what to expect and when. At Dr. Abdul's ENT, we coordinate all of this under one roof, working closely with families from the first candidacy conversation through to the months of mapping that transform the implant into real, functional hearing.

Dr. Abdul brings over two decades of ENT surgical experience and takes personal responsibility for each patient's journey — no referral chains, no handoffs to junior staff mid-course.