For most people with hearing loss, hearing aids make a significant difference. But for those with severe to profound hearing loss, even the most advanced hearing aids may not provide enough benefit. If you or someone you love has reached that point, a cochlear implant may be worth exploring.
We are one of the few private audiology practices in Sarasota that offers cochlear implant services — from candidacy evaluation to ongoing mapping and aftercare.
What Makes Someone a Cochlear Implant Candidate?
Hearing aids work by amplifying sound. They rely on the inner ear's hair cells to process that amplified sound and send signals to the brain. When those hair cells are too damaged to do their job, amplification alone stops being effective.
Cochlear implants take a different approach. Rather than amplifying sound, they bypass the damaged hair cells entirely and deliver electrical signals directly to the auditory nerve. This allows the brain to perceive sound even when the inner ear can no longer process it.
General candidacy guidelines include:
- Severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in one or both ears
- Limited benefit from hearing aids, even when properly fitted
- A strong desire to improve speech understanding
Adults and children can both be candidates. The evaluation process involves a full audiological assessment to determine whether a cochlear implant is likely to provide meaningful benefit.
How Is a Cochlear Implant Different From a Hearing Aid?
A hearing aid sits in or behind the ear and amplifies incoming sound. It is non-surgical, removable, and works best for mild to moderately severe hearing loss.
A cochlear implant system has two parts. The internal component is surgically placed by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon. The external sound processor sits behind the ear, picks up sounds, and wirelessly transmits signals to the internal device, which then stimulates the auditory nerve.
The surgery itself is performed by a surgeon, not an audiologist. Our role is the evaluation beforehand and the programming and follow-up care afterward — a process called cochlear implant mapping.
What Is Cochlear Implant Mapping?
Once the implant has healed and the external processor is fitted, programming begins. This is called mapping, and it is an ongoing process — not a one-time event.
During mapping appointments, we adjust the levels at which each electrode stimulates the auditory nerve, calibrating the softest sounds you can detect and the most comfortable volume levels. No two maps are the same, and adjustments are made over time as your brain adapts to interpreting sound through the implant.
Dr. Victoria Moore works with all three FDA-approved cochlear implant manufacturers — Advanced Bionics, Cochlear America, and MED-EL. Having experience across all three systems means we can support you regardless of which device your surgeon recommends.
You can learn more about the mapping process on our Cochlear Implant Mapping page.
What About Over-the-Counter or Standard Hearing Aids?
Over-the-counter hearing aids have made amplification more accessible for people with mild hearing loss. That has real value. But for anyone approaching severe or profound hearing loss, self-fitted amplification is not a suitable solution — and certainly not a substitute for a cochlear implant evaluation.
A proper assessment with a Doctor of Audiology is the only way to determine whether hearing aids are still providing meaningful benefit, or whether it's time to have a conversation about implant candidacy. Waiting longer than necessary can affect outcomes, as the auditory nerve benefits from stimulation.
Take the Next Step in Sarasota
If you've been struggling to understand speech even with hearing aids, or if you've been told your hearing loss is too severe for traditional amplification, we encourage you to come in for an evaluation.
Our team has decades of experience with both hearing aids and cochlear implant services, and we'll give you an honest assessment of where you stand and what your options are. Call us at (941) 366-4848 or contact us online to schedule an appointment at our Sarasota office.
