Cochlear Implant
Learn about cochlear implant and its benefits. Schedule a free consultation with our implant professionals to find out more.
There are two components to a cochlear implant:
1. The implant is placed into the user — an outpatient procedure performed by a certified Ear Nose Throat surgeon (ENT) that will take around two weeks for the patient to heal from this procedure.
2. The speech processor is then provided to the patient. Worn on the ear of the user like a hearing aid, the processor is responsible for capturing and processing sounds and sending this information to the implant to provide auditory information via direct electrical stimulation.
When should you consider a cochlear implant?
A cochlear implant is suited to people of all ages. They are very good solutions for people with hearing losses who do not benefit from hearing aids. If you are considering a cochlear implant for yourself or a loved one, please contact us so we can discuss the suitability of the device.
What are the benefits?
There are some very significant benefits for implantees.
Children and adults who are deaf or severely hard-of-hearing can be fitted for cochlear implants. For young children as young as 12 months old and who are deaf or severely hard-of-hearing, they are better able to hear, comprehend sound and music, and speak when using a cochlear implant. Studies have shown that exposing children to sounds during this optimal period to develop speech and language skills, they are able to develop language skills at a rate comparable to children with normal hearing, and many succeed in mainstream classrooms.
Adults who have lost all or most of their hearing later in life due to health or environmental reasons, can also benefit from cochlear implants. They learn to associate the signals from the implant with sounds they remember, including speech, without requiring any visual cues such as those provided by lipreading or sign language.
What to expect as part of the procedure?
Assessment
The candidate should be accessed by an ENT surgeon who is trained and certified in the cochlear implant procedure. Audiologists will also participate in the assessment to conduct a series of hearing tests and hearing aid trials.
Financial Subsidies
If you are a Singaporean citizen, you are eligible for a reasonable subsidy to cover the costs of the device and the procedure. Feel free to contact us and we can refer you to an implant centre who can provide the necessary means testing.
Procedure and “Switch-On”
Once a procedure date is scheduled and completed, the implantee will rest and recover for 2 weeks before the “switch-on” procedure. During the “switch-on”, the speech processor will be calibrated by a trained audiologist and worn by the user for the first time. At this point, the user will be able to hear using the cochlear implant.
On-going Habilitation
Being supported by a good habilitation therapist will be fundamental to having a child-user hear better using his/her cochlear implant. Habilitation will be very critical in helping a implant-user child to hear and listening using auditory and verbal cues, just like children with normal hearing.
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents enjoy generous state subsidies for cochlear implant, covering up to 90% of implant costs, surgery fees and rehabilitation.
Book a video consultation with our audiologsits to find out more.
What our customers say:
Person in charge nice and helpful with warm smiling face. Should you have hearing problem, can seek for her advise.
The Voice of two Generations in Singapore radio, Mr Brian Richmond, has chosen The Listening Lab to be his audiology and hearing services provider. We could not be prouder! Brian is the definitive household name in English Radio since the early years of Singapore's founding, starting with Rediffusion followed by Radio One and now with Gold 90.5FM as well as Vintage Radio Singapore. His honeyed voice and selection of music filling our ears as we lived the bustle of our daily lives. Soccer fans from the Malaysia Cup era of soccer will never forget his heart-pounding commentary from "live" matches, as we experienced the ups and downs of the Singapore Lions in the 1970s to 90s. Few people know sound as well as Brian so we are immensely proud that he has chosen The Listening Lab to be his choice and solution for better hearing. Our Executive Director Kelvin Lee is proudly beaming ear-to-ear in this photo with Brian. But you wont be able to see it through the masks!
I started experiencing loss of hearing sometimes in 2010 (41 years old) owing to some medical issue. I was having difficulties hearing conservation especially in meeting. Thus, giving me the fear in attending meeting. Initially I started with Phonak hearing aid. It helps amplified the sound and I could hear better then. Somehow, my hearing loss deteriorated further that in late 2012 (43 years old), there was profound loss of hearing on my right ear. Even digital hearing aid could not help. On my left ear there is still about 50% to 60% hearing with hearing aid. I was lost at this point of time. I was considering learning sign language. I went to see my ENT specialist and my audiologist Mr. Bala advised me to go for an CI as an alternative to my hearing loss. The Cochlear Implant I went to consult my ENT doctor (Dr Raymond Ngo) about CI and he described to me how it works. I was happy to learn that I could hear again with the CI. I was not concerned by the operation I needed to go through, it was the cost of that was my main obstacle. It cost about 15 to 20 times more than a normal digital hearing aid. My first CI (AB Q70) – 2013 (44 years old) In the beginning of 2013, I totally lost my hearing on my right ear. In December 2013, I went through the operation for my right ear. About one week after the operation, the processor (Advance Bionic Q70) was switched on. It was wonderful experience when I can hear again. At first, it sounded like “mickey mouse” voice when I hear people talking around me. But very quickly, I have adopted and though it is not perfectly the same as before my hearing loss, it is more enough to let me live normally again. It works very well in quiet environment but is still a challenge in noisy places, like hawker centre or site meeting etc. In 2015, my Q70 was upgraded to Q90 processor, which is what I am using today. The sound quality is much better and has more functions/program in its software. In 2016, my left ear also suffered complete hearing loss. Though hearing with just the right ear is sufficient for my daily routine, I still felt handicapped at times. I cannot hear properly if people stand on my left side while talking to me or call me from behind. Understand that our local government will not subside for the second ear implant and the cost of CI is also not cheap, I could only go with one hearing ear at the moment. I also thank God for Engineer and Scientist, giving them the knowledge to create such a complex and sophisticate device to help those with hearing loss like me. It will be all perfect if the cost is affordable too.
I took my mum to Listening Lab at Simei to get her hearing aid fixed, during our first visit, she patiently explained the whole procedure to my mum and also explain to my mum why she really in need to fix the hearing aid. She is very knowledgeable, and friendly, and we are encouraged to ask questions. she is also very patient with old people which is the most importance. Also her after service is superb so I highly recommend.
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Check out other hearing services offer by The Listening Lab.
Consult our hearing specialist and let us assist you.
Schedule a video consultation for this service and let our hearing specialist assist you with this service.
Check out other hearing services offer by The Listening Lab.
