Hesperian Health Guides
Is a cochlear implant a good choice for your family?
HealthWiki > Helping Children Who Are Deaf > Appendix B: Cochlear implants and hearing > Is a cochlear implant a good choice for your family?
If you are trying to decide whether a cochlear implant is a reasonable choice for your child, here are some things to consider.
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Are cochlear implants and professional support available in your area?
Many communities do not have doctors or professionals who are trained to work with children who have cochlear implants. Most countries have some doctors who can perform the operation, but they are usually in big city hospitals where there may also be a cochlear implant center.
Having a cochlear implant center near you is important. You and your child will visit the center many times for several years after your child is implanted. Your Ministry of Health or a school for the deaf might be able to tell you if there is a cochlear implant center close to you.
Cost of the operation and cochlear implant
The operation, equipment, and years of training with professionals are very expensive. In India, cochlear implants can cost about $10,000. (Hearing aids cost about $75.) As with hearing aids, children can lose or break parts that are worn outside the head. These parts can be very expensive to replace.
| In many countries, the cost of a cochlear implant operation, equipment, and training costs many years of a person’s salary. |
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Older and cheaper cochlear implants do not work as well as the
newer, more expensive equipment. In a few countries, programs offer
the cochlear implant for free or at low cost.
Care and support after the operation
Young children with a cochlear implant need extra care and help from their families and professionals. After children heal from the operation, they must spend years training with professionals to learn to hear and to understand the sounds they hear. The family will also need training in how to communicate with the child.
Cochlear implants and sign language
Children with cochlear implants can benefit from using sign language. Sign language can be an important language foundation for young children who are waiting to get a cochlear implant and a supportive communication tool for older children who already have an implant. There is no reason why children with cochlear implants cannot use sign language while they are learning to listen and speak.