Medical technology3 min read
Cochlear implants
A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that can provide a sense of sound to people who are deaf or severely hard of hearing, by bypassing damaged parts of the ear and stimulating the hearing nerve directly. The FDA first approved them in the mid-1980s; about 736,900 registered devices had been implanted worldwide by December 2019.
They can be fitted in children and adults with deafness or severe hearing loss, and since 2020 they have been FDA-approved for eligible children from 9 months of age. Adults who lost most of their hearing later in life may also benefit.
The implant does not restore natural hearing, and requires a surgical procedure and intensive rehabilitation to learn to hear or relearn hearing. According to MedlinePlus, most people with cochlear implants cannot have magnetic resonance imaging because the implant is metallic.
- In widespread clinical use
- Approved for specific uses
- In clinical trials
- Preclinical
- Concept
Approved since the mid-1980s, and about 736,900 registered devices had been implanted worldwide by December 2019.
- Children and adults with deafness or severe hearing lossIn widespread clinical use
Approved for eligible children from 9 months of age since 2020.1
Status last checked: · What the maturity levels mean
What is it?
A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that helps provide a sense of sound.
How does it work?
The implant bypasses the damaged parts of the ear and stimulates the auditory nerve directly.
Where is it used today?
They can be fitted in children and adults with deafness or severe hearing loss, and in adults who lost most of their hearing later in life; this is a field of ENT (ear, nose and throat) medicine.
Since 2020 approved for eligible children from 9 months of age.
Limits and risks
They do not restore natural hearing, and require surgery and intensive rehabilitation to learn to hear.
Most people with cochlear implants cannot have magnetic resonance imaging because the implant is metallic.
Common questions
Does a cochlear implant restore hearing as it was?
No. It provides a sense of sound, and requires intensive rehabilitation to learn to hear or relearn hearing.1
Questions for your doctor
- Am I or my child eligible for a cochlear implant?
- What is the rehabilitation programme after implantation, and how long is it expected to last?
References
- 1NIDCD (NIH). What Are Cochlear Implants for Hearing?. www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/cochlear-implantsHealth agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-08
- 2MedlinePlus (NLM). Cochlear implant. medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007203.htmHealth agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-08
Review status: Edited content · Last updated:
Change log
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Educational content only — no diagnosis, and no substitute for a clinician.