Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
If you have a question about cochlear implants which is not covered in the information below please contact the clinic.
Cochlear Implant Assessment
What happens when an adult or child is referred for a cochlear implant?
- Once a referral is received by the cochlear implant department it is triaged by our clinical team. If more information is needed we may request this from local audiology/ENT/support services before we accept the referral.
- Babies and Children: Once we have accepted the referral a Rehabilitation Advisor will phone to let you know that the referral has been received and to discuss the assessment process. You can watch a video about the assessment process for babies and children here.
- Adults: Once we have accepted the referral a welcome pack will be posted alongside the first appointment letter and some questionnaires that we would like you to complete before your appointment.
- For information and videos about the assessment process see our assessment page. If you have any questions about your assessment please contact us.
How long will the assessment process take?
- The length of the assessment process will vary depending on which tests are needed and if any tests need to be completed under general anaesthetic. Generally adults will attend the cochlear implant clinic three times and each appointment may be 1-3 months apart. In urgent cases (e.g hearing loss after meningitis) timeframes will be quicker than this.
- Babies and children may also need to attend Crosshouse 2-3 times to complete the assessment. The timing of these appointments will depend on the age and stage of the child and whether or not any scans or tests under general anaesthetic are needed to complete the assessment.
- Once the assessment journey has started and we have reviewed the medical and audiology history we will be able to give more specific information on how long we think the process may take for you or your child.
How long will my first appointment take?
What happens if I am not offered a cochlear implant?
- If the multidisciplinary team (MDT) do not recommend an implant they will write to you to explain why. If it is because you or your child does not yet meet the NICE criteria then we will let you know how to get in touch again if things change. If you have any questions about the recommendation that the MDT made regarding you or your child please feel free to contact us.
For adults receiving one cochlear implant how do you choose which ear will receive the implant?
- We will ask you which ear you would prefer to have implanted. Once the assessment process is complete there will be a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting held by the clinicians at the cochlear implant clinic. Medical and audiological information is reviewed and a recommendation is made regarding which ear would likely give the best outcome. This recommendation may be based on information from the scans (which may show that the anatomy of one ear more suited to an implant) or it may be based on your history of hearing loss and hearing aid use.
- If you have a ‘better’ hearing ear and a ‘poorer’ hearing ear it may be recommended that your ‘better’ hearing ear is implanted. You will have the opportunity to discuss this before giving consent for surgery. We will take your preference into account and explain the reasons if the MDT recommendation differs to your preference.
How do I reach the cochlear implant clinic?
- You can either drive or travel by public transport. Crosshouse Hospital is part of Ayrshire & Arran health board and you can find out information about travelling to Crosshouse hospital on their website here. This leaflet contains specific information about the cochlear implant clinic at Crosshouse Hospital and the facilities available when you attend an appointment here.
- You may be entitled to receive help with travel costs for your appointments. Please contact us before your appointment if you would like more information. Please keep your appointment letter and any travel tickets/receipts if you plan to apply for reimbursement of travel costs
What facilities are available at Crosshouse Hospital?
- Please read this leaflet to find out more about coming to Crosshouse Hospital. If there are any services or facilities that are not listed that you would like information about please contact us.
Cochlear Implant Surgery
How long does the surgery take?
- Surgery will last two to three hours if one ear is being implanted and four to five hours if both sides are implanted. You can find out more about having cochlear implant surgery here. This leaflet also contains information about having cochlear implant surgery.
Will the surgery be under local or general anaesthetic?
- Surgery can take place under either local or general anaesthetic. After you have attended pre-op for a medical review a recommendation may be made regarding whether a local or general anaesthetic will be safer for you. If you have a preference you can discuss this when you meet your cochlear implant surgeon. You can find out more about cochlear implant surgery here. This leaflet also contains information about having cochlear implant surgery. You can also watch a video of a cochlear implant user describing their surgery under local anaesthetic.
What are the risks of cochlear implant surgery?
- Cochlear implant surgery is very reliable and has an excellent safety record. However, all surgery has risks, and complications do sometimes happen. The main risks are described in this surgery leaflet and you will have an opportunity to discuss these with a surgeon in advance of surgery if a cochlear implant is recommended for you.
How long will I stay in the hospital?
- This may depend on your general health and fitness for surgery. Some adults spend one night in the hospital while some will go home on the same day as the surgery. You can find out more about having cochlear implant surgery here. You can find out more about cochlear implant surgery, and watch videos of cochlear implant users describing their surgery, here. This leaflet also contains information about having cochlear implant surgery.
How soon can I wash my hair after surgery?
- You may wash your hair normally after 48 hours
How long is recovery?
- You may need to take one to two weeks off work or school to recover. It is very important to get up and about the house during this time.
When will I start hearing after surgery?
- After the surgery you may have less hearing in your implanted ear than before the surgery. This is common and if it happens it will be permanent. This will be discussed with you during the cochlear implant assessment before you consent to surgery.
- After surgery you will not hear anything from the Cochlear Implant until your device is activated (‘switched-on’). This is usually 4 weeks after your surgery. You can read more about switch-on here.
Will a cochlear implant restore normal hearing?
- No. A cochlear implant will help you perceive sounds and understand speech but it does not give normal hearing. It is appropriate to expect to have some degree, however great or small, of adjustment to a cochlear implant. This adjustment period may last from a few months to a year or beyond. You can read more about what to expect after your Cochlear Implant has been switched on here.
Post-implant Advice
Can I have an MRI after a cochlear implant?
- This depends what type of implant you have. Certain implant models are described as “MRI conditional” which means an MRI is possible but only under certain conditions. Some implant models are described as “MRI Unsafe” and it is not possible to have an MRI. If you have a cochlear implant and an MRI is suggested it is important that you tell your Doctor you have a cochlear implant. It is important that your local hospital’s radiology team contact us in advance of any MRI so that we can advise them on what type of implant you have and whether an MRI is possible.
Can I play sport after a cochlear implant?
- Yes, the majority of day-to-day sports are safe for implant users. However, cochlear implant users are advised not to take part in sports where physical injuries to the head are inevitable or likely. Each cochlear implant manufacturer has issued specific advice regarding what is safe and the advice is published on the BCIG website: https://www.bcig.org.uk/safety_and_mri.aspx. If you have a question about safety while playing sports please contact us.
Can I swim after a cochlear implant?
- Yes. Each cochlear implant manufacturer has developed equipment which means a processor can be worn when swimming. This means a cochlear implant user can hear while swimming if they use the right equipment. The equipment differs between manufacturers and you may need to purchase it separately. If you would like more information please contact us before making any purchases as some equipment may be available free of charge. If you already have a swim-kit and need advice on how to use it take a look at our equipment page or contact us.
Can I fly in an aeroplane with a cochlear implant?
- Yes. At the airport you should inform the staff that you have an implant when you reach security. Walking through a security scanner will not harm your implant or processor. You may hear buzzing noises as you walk through so you may prefer to switch the processor off. You are likely to set off the alarm so a hand scan may be needed.
- Some processors have a ‘flight mode’ so please read your manual before you travel.
- For more information on travelling with a cochlear implant click here
Is there anything I can’t do when I have a cochlear implant?
- If you have a cochlear implant you can take part in many activities in just the same way as someone without a cochlear implant. However, there is specific safety advice regarding some specific medical procedures, some sports and activities, and some beauty treatments. The advice is specific to each implant manufacturer and sometimes differs by implant model too. Please refer to the safety advice on the BCIG website for your implant manufacturer.
- If an MRI is planned it is important that you tell your medical team you have a cochlear implant and that they contact us in advance. You can read more about MRI and CI here
- If you have a cochlear implant you should avoid touching obvious sources of static and never touch the Van Der Graaf Generator, which is used in science at secondary school.
- If you work with specialist equipment and would like to check that it is safe please contact us directly.
Cochlear Implant Equipment
How do I get spare parts for my cochlear implant?
- Please contact us and we will post them to you. You can learn about troubleshooting for your specific equipment here.
What should I do if I have a problem with my equipment?
- Please contact us immediately so that we can support you.
Will my equipment need replaced in the future?
- We would expect an implant to last 20 to 30 years although some will work for a shorter or longer time than this. It is therefore likely that a child implanted today will need to have their internal implant removed and replaced in the future.
- The expected lifespan of a processor is 5 to 6 years and at the end of this time frame it will be considered for replacement. If there is a fault then it will be replaced sooner.
General Questions
How can I meet other cochlear implant users?
- Each of the 3 cochlear implant companies in the UK has a mentoring system - if you want to connect with other CI users with the same implant type as you please follow these links: