Cochlear Implant Program
The Cochlear Implant Program at Phoenix Children’s offers multidisciplinary care from a team of experts specially trained in cochlear implantation and pediatric hearing loss. They’ll be by your side at every stage of the cochlear implant process.
Most importantly, your family is at the heart of everything we do. Cochlear implants are the beginning of a lifelong care journey, and we look forward to building a relationship with you and your child along the way. Our team is here to provide personalized guidance, resources and support when you need it most.
Your Care Team
Phoenix Children’s Cochlear Implant Program is supported by a multidisciplinary team including:
The care coordinator helps manage your child’s journey by organizing appointments, scheduling tests and facilitating team communication. They support your family as you navigate the cochlear implant process and stay on track with the treatment plan.
An otolaryngologist – or ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor – is a surgeon who completes the medical evaluation. They work closely with the rest of the team to review medical history, imaging and test results to confirm that a cochlear implant is the right option for your child. They will also explain the operation and answer any questions your family may have. Their goal is to make your child’s procedure as safe and successful as possible.
Audiologists play a key role in diagnosing the type and severity of hearing loss. They help evaluate if your child is a good candidate for an implant and set expectations about their outcomes. Audiologists also support your child as they learn to listen with the device and adjust to the new technology. They provide long-term follow-up care to regularly monitor progress. You can count on them to answer questions, offer support and help your child get the most out of their implant.
A speech therapist will help your child with communication skills before and long after their implant surgery. They teach patients how to use their new hearing technology and ensure they feel confident in their ability to communicate.
Psychologists can help your family prepare emotionally and mentally for your child’s cochlear implant. They’ll set expectations and offer information regarding long-term care. Our psychology team continues to support children long after implantation to help them reach their fullest potential.
We may refer your child to the genetics & metabolism team for evaluation to determine if there is a genetic cause of their hearing loss.
Our child life specialists offer age-appropriate support, education and activities to help your child feel comfortable and confident throughout the implantation process.
A social worker can help your family navigate cochlear implant costs and other care concerns. They provide your family with resources to help your child succeed. These services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and at no charge to all children and families at Phoenix Children’s hospital campuses.
Comprehensive Evaluation
Every child starts with a comprehensive cochlear implant evaluation. This may involve:
- Consultation with each member of the cochlear implant team
- Hearing aid trial period
- Hearing tests, including a brain-stem auditory evoked response (BAER) study
- Imaging, such as MRI or CT scans, to evaluate the cranial nerves and inner ear structures for surgery
- Referrals to other Phoenix Children’s experts, including a genetics specialist or ophthalmologist (eye specialist)
After your child completes all necessary evaluations and examinations, the team meets to share information and discuss their findings. They may reach out to your child’s pediatrician and school for more insight.
The team will decide whether your child is a good candidate for cochlear implantation and discuss their recommendations with you. Some families may decide not to pursue cochlear implantation. Instead, they may continue with hearing aids, sign language or other communication methods. We’ll support your family in whatever therapies and strategies you choose.
Cochlear Implant Surgery
Pediatric cochlear implant surgery can last from 90 minutes to four hours, depending on whether it is a unilateral (one implant) or bilateral (two implant) procedure. Your child will receive general anesthesia medication to help them fall asleep and feel comfortable during surgery.
The surgeon will make a small incision behind your child’s ear to insert the implant electrodes in the cochlea (inner ear). The electrodes connect to an electronic device that the surgeon will place under the skin behind the ear. This device receives information from an external speech processor worn outside the skin. Once the implant is in place, the surgeon will carefully close the incisions.
Most children emerge from the anesthesia medication within an hour or two after surgery and go home the same day.
After the Cochlear Implant
Your child will have a follow-up appointment with their surgeon about two weeks after surgery.
After this appointment, the Audiology team will activate and program your child's cochlear implant. Often, children don’t respond to speech with their new implant right away. This is normal. To get the most benefit, they’ll need to wear the implant processors for at least 10 hours a day.
Children who are successful with cochlear implantation participate in specialized speech therapy after surgery. Over the next year, they will see an audiologist and speech-language pathologist on a consistent schedule. Phoenix Children’s offers sessions at locations across the Valley with members of our care team, who will teach your child listening and speech skills. Your child can also receive speech pathology from other providers in the community.
What Factors Affect My Child’s Success
with a Cochlear Implant?
Every child’s experience with a cochlear implant is unique. Their success may depend upon:
- How long they used hearing aids (if at all)
- Cause of hearing loss
- Degree of hearing loss
- Duration of hearing loss
- Language and communication skills before implantation
- Level of family support
Our team works closely with your child and tailors care to their unique needs as they grow. You can count on us to provide ongoing support and expert care.