Evaluation process

Once the Cochlear Implant Team has received a referral for your child, the team coordinator will contact you and send you an information package. If you are interested, a family meeting with the team coordinator will be arranged.

At the meeting with the team coordinator you will be provided with information about cochlear implants. The coordinator will also explain the assessment process and answer any questions you may have.

Following this, if you wish to proceed, several appointments will be booked with different members of the interdisciplinary team to help determine if a cochlear implant is an option for your child.

The Candidacy Assessment includes:

• Audiology review to measure the child’s hearing levels, and evaluate hearing aid benefit
  
• A review of the early intervention services that the child has received, and how the child has progressed
  
• Medical review to ensure that the child does not have any medical conditions that might prevent the use of an implant.
  
• Vaccination evaluation
  
• Social work appointment
  
• A CT and MRI scan of the inner ear (similar to x-rays) to ensure the inner ear is suitable for insertion of the electrode array
  

Families can expect a minimum of 6 appointments for the evaluation process.

For out of town families we try to coordinate appointments so that there is less travel.

Once these assessments are complete, the Cochlear Implant team will discuss the results, and determine whether a cochlear implant is recommended. If your child is a candidate for implantation, your family can then decide whether to go ahead.

Surgery

The surgery is done in the operating room at BC Children’s Hospital under general anesthetic. Dr. Kozak is the pediatric cochlear implant surgeon of B.C.

The surgery usually takes about 4 hours and the children usually stay one night after the surgery for monitoring. 

One week after surgery there is a follow-up appointment with Dr. Kozak. 

It generally takes 3 to 5 weeks for the surgical incision to heal, but most children resume normal daily activities within days after the surgery. However, no active sports or climbing is recommended for 6 weeks after surgery. 

Patient handouts

• Vaccine evaluation chart
  
• Patient questionnaire
  

After surgery

Approximately 1 month after the surgery, the child will return to BC Children’s Hospital to have the implant activated. 

At the time of activation, your Cochlear Implant audiologist will set up one or more listening programs for your child. This process is called “mapping”. For the first year after surgery, the child will need to be closely followed every 3 months. These appointments will occur at BC Children’s Hospital. 

Follow-up appointments

Generally, families can expect 6-8 follow-up appointments for the first year after the child receives the cochlear implant. After the first year, it is 2-3 appointments per year and then later once a year. 

In addition to these appointments, participation in early intervention services is an essential part of the process of learning to hear with a cochlear implant. Early interventionists are qualified professionals with experience working with babies newly identified with hearing loss. They provide families with the information they need to help their child develop early communication (including listening, language, and speech).

We encourage you to work with your early interventionists and cochlear implant audiologist to discover what communication approaches work best for your own baby and family however, it is important to have an emphasis on auditory training.