Cochlear Implant
Programme
Expert candidacy evaluation, pre-surgical counselling, and comprehensive post-surgical mapping and rehabilitation — restoring sound for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. Coordinated with your surgical team at every stage.
Candidacy Evaluation
Comprehensive audiological assessment & speech testing
Post-Surgical Mapping
Precise speech processor programming & fine-tuning
Auditory Rehabilitation
Teaching the brain to hear again — AVT & SLP therapy
What is a Cochlear Implant?
A cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically implanted medical device that bypasses the damaged hair cells of the cochlea and directly stimulates the auditory nerve with electrical signals — restoring the sensation of sound to individuals for whom conventional hearing aids provide insufficient benefit.
Unlike hearing aids which amplify sound, cochlear implants replace the function of the damaged inner ear entirely. They are the only medical device that can functionally restore a human sense.
Cochlear implantation is a multi-step process involving audiological evaluation, surgical implantation by an ENT surgeon, post-surgical device programming (mapping), and intensive auditory rehabilitation — all of which Unikol supports and coordinates.
✅ Unikol provides the full pre- and post-surgical audiological programme — from candidacy evaluation through to long-term rehabilitation — in close coordination with your chosen surgical team.
How a Cochlear Implant Works
Microphone
Picks up environmental sound — worn behind the ear on the external speech processor.
Speech Processor
Converts sound into digital signals. The most critical component — programmed precisely by your audiologist during mapping sessions.
Transmitter & Receiver
Transmits the coded signal across the skin to the internal receiver implanted under the scalp.
Electrode Array
Surgically inserted into the cochlea. Electrodes deliver precisely coded electrical pulses directly to the auditory nerve fibres.
Auditory Nerve
Stimulated directly by the electrode array — sending sound signals to the brain, which learns to interpret them as speech and sound.
Cochlear Implant vs Hearing Aid — Key Difference
Hearing aids amplify sound for a cochlea that still has functional hair cells. A cochlear implant replaces the function of the inner ear — indicated when hearing aids are no longer providing sufficient speech understanding benefit. A candidacy evaluation determines which is appropriate for you.
Who Can Benefit from a Cochlear Implant?
✓ Likely CI Candidates
- Severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears
- Adults: limited benefit from well-fitted hearing aids (<50% sentence recognition in quiet)
- Children: <6 months old with confirmed profound hearing loss (earlier is better)
- No contraindications to cochlear surgery (assessed by ENT)
- Strong motivation for rehabilitation and realistic expectations
- Family support for children undergoing implantation
- Post-lingual adults (hearing loss after speech acquisition) — excellent outcomes
- Pre-lingual children implanted early — best speech outcomes
Assessment Required — Not Automatic Candidates
- Conductive or mixed hearing loss (CI may not be appropriate — medical review needed)
- Absence or malformation of the cochlea or auditory nerve (radiological assessment required)
- Active ear infections or chronic otitis media (must be resolved pre-surgery)
- Cognitive or psychological conditions affecting rehabilitation compliance
- Individuals benefiting well from conventional hearing aids
- Unrealistic expectations about sound quality post-implant
These cases require thorough evaluation — not automatic exclusion. Our team will assess each individual comprehensively before any recommendation is made.
Four Phases of the Cochlear Implant Journey
Phase 1 — Candidacy Evaluation
Comprehensive audiological assessment, speech perception testing, hearing aid trial, imaging referral and multi-disciplinary team review to confirm CI candidacy.
Phase 2 — Pre-Surgical Counselling
Setting realistic expectations, explaining the surgery, discussing device brands, bilateral vs unilateral options, and preparing family and patient for the journey ahead.
Phase 3 — Surgery
Performed by a specialist ENT / cochlear implant surgeon at an empanelled hospital. Unikol coordinates with the surgical team and is present at device activation (switch-on).
Phase 4 — Mapping & Rehabilitation
The critical post-surgical phase. Regular mapping sessions to programme the speech processor, plus intensive auditory rehabilitation — hearing therapy, speech therapy and long-term follow-up.
Mapping — Programming Your Cochlear Implant
Initial Activation (Switch-On)
Performed 3–4 weeks post-surgery once the incision has healed. The speech processor is connected for the first time and initial electrical thresholds are measured.
Threshold Measurement
T-levels (threshold of perception) and C-levels (comfortable loudness) are measured for each electrode channel across the array — forming the foundation of the map.
Programme Creation
The audiologist creates a personalised map for the speech processor based on the measured thresholds — optimised for speech clarity and comfort.
Fine Tuning
As the brain adapts to electrical hearing, the map is refined at each follow-up session based on the patient's feedback and objective measurements.
Long-Term Optimisation
Annual mapping sessions throughout the patient's life. Processor upgrades and new sound coding strategies are applied as technology evolves.
Typical Mapping Schedule — Year 1
🔑 Mapping is not optional. The quality of the map directly determines the quality of hearing the implant user experiences. Consistent mapping appointments — especially in Year 1 — are essential for optimal outcomes.
Rehabilitation — Teaching the Brain to Hear Again
A cochlear implant provides the signal — the brain must learn to interpret it. Auditory rehabilitation is the critical, ongoing process of training the brain to make sense of the new electrical hearing signal. At Unikol, our audiologists and SLPs work together on this process.
Auditory Training
Structured listening exercises progressing from simple sound detection to complex speech understanding in noise. Begins at switch-on and continues throughout Year 1 and beyond.
Speech Therapy — AVT & LSL
For children: Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) and Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) approaches to develop spoken language using the cochlear implant. Coordinated with SLPs at Unikol.
Family Coaching & Parent Training
Parents and carers are central to the rehabilitation of implanted children. We provide training and home programmes to maximise listening time and language learning every day.
Device Management Training
Patients and families are trained in daily wear routines, battery/charging management, troubleshooting, and care of the external speech processor and accessories.
School & Workplace Integration
Guidance on classroom FM/Roger system use, communicating with teachers and employers about CI needs, and accessing audiological support services at school.
Outcome Monitoring
Regular speech perception testing to track progress against established benchmarks. Identifies areas needing additional rehabilitation focus and guides mapping adjustments.
Common Questions About Cochlear Implants
The recommended minimum age for cochlear implantation is 6 months for children with confirmed profound bilateral hearing loss. Earlier implantation leads to significantly better speech and language outcomes. There is no upper age limit for adults.
No — cochlear implant surgery is performed by a specialist ENT / cochlear implant surgeon at an empanelled hospital. Unikol provides the complete audiological component of the programme: candidacy evaluation, pre-surgical counselling, all post-surgical mapping sessions, and the full rehabilitation programme — in close coordination with the surgical team.
Progress varies. Most post-lingual adults (those who had normal hearing before) notice significant improvement within weeks to months. Children and those with longer duration of deafness require more extensive rehabilitation but can still achieve excellent outcomes with consistent therapy. Year 1 is the most intensive and important period.
Several government schemes (including ADIP scheme for children from BPL families) and some private insurance policies cover cochlear implantation. We can guide you on eligibility and documentation requirements. Contact our clinic for current information.
Missed mapping sessions — especially in Year 1 — significantly reduce cochlear implant outcomes. The map must be regularly refined as the brain adapts to electrical hearing. Patients who attend all scheduled mapping appointments consistently achieve the best speech perception results.
Yes. CI manufacturers regularly release upgraded external speech processors that are compatible with existing internal implants. Upgrades often bring significant improvements in sound quality and features. Unikol will guide you on processor upgrade options as they become available.
Ready to Explore the Cochlear Implant Option?
Book a comprehensive CI candidacy evaluation at Unikol Hearing & Speech Clinic, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. Our experienced audiologists will assess your suitability, explain the full programme, and coordinate every step of your journey.
📅 Book CI Candidacy Evaluation →