Snail Tales:
Cochlear Implants
By Sharaine J. Rawlinson, MSW
Materials Development Specialist
WROCC
California State University Northridge
Overview
Cochlear Implants are referred to as
auditory prosthesis.
They are:
for people who cannot benefit from
hearing aids
controversial
available in different models
a personal choice
© Sharaine J. Rawlinson 10-2002
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Expectations
CIs will not restore hearing to “normal”
Benefits vary among individuals
Some CI users only gain knowledge of
environmental sound
Others gain ability to use telephone and
hear music
CIs do not make a deaf person hearing!
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How Cochlear Implants Work
Cochlear implants are designed to bypass cochlear hair cells which are nonfunctioning and provide direct
stimulation to the auditory nerve.
Cilia (hair cells) in a
cross-section of a
cochlea      
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Specifically …
The microphone picks up sounds and sends
them to the processor
The processor then selects and codes sounds
which produce useful speech, music, etc.
From the processor, sounds are transmitted
through the skin to the receiver/stimulator via
the magnetic headset
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From here …
The codes are then converted to
electrical signals which activate the
electrode arrays
The electrodes then stimulate the
auditory nerve where the brain
recognizes the electrical signals as
sounds.
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Internal Component
A – Magnet
B – Receiver/Stimulator
C – Electrode Array
B
C
A
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The Electrode Array
During Implantation
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Implanted Receiver/Stimulator
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Enlargement of
Implanted Cochlea
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Processors
Clarion
MED-EL
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External Components
Microphone (A)
Signal Processor (B)
Signal Coupler
[Transmitter] (C)
B
A
C
B
C
B
MED-EL
A
A
B
Clarion
C
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Aural Rehabilitation
Following hook-up, many people
participate in aural rehabilitation
Aural rehabilitation consists of learning
to listen, training the brain to decipher
individual sounds, followed by more and
more complex sounds as one’s listening
skills improve
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The Controversy Surrounding
CIs
NAD’s former position on implanting
children
AG Bell’s position on sign language vs.
oral
Are children who receive implants
stolen from the Deaf World?
Are children who have implants being
“scarred for life”?
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The Controversy Continued …
Do adults who receive cochlear implants
risk alienation by their deaf friends and
colleagues?
Interpreters as critics.
Is the corporate world creating implants
simply for the money?
Are doctors ignoring cultural aspects of
deafness?
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Accommodating the Student
Who Uses a Cochlear Implant
Provision of Interpreters
Real-time Captioning
Assistive Listening Devices
Seating in Classroom
Classroom Lighting
Notetaking Services
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What Can You Do For These
Students?
Remember, they are NOT hearing
people!
If the student signs, always sign with
them even if they appear to
comprehend your spoken voice
Use Assistive Listening Devices
Make sure the student is looking at you
when you talk to them
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What Can You Do For These
Students?
Acknowledge that cochlear implants are
here to stay and that these students
should be included in activities, not
shunned
Assist the student with a CI in learning
communication skills that will enable
them to communicate with other
students who do not have a CI
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Cochlear Implant Resources
Cochlear Implant Association
International – www.cici.org
Cochlear Corporation –
www.cochlear.com
Advanced Bionics (Clarion) –
www.advancedbionics.com
Med-El – www.med-el.com
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More CI Resources (cont’d)
“Sound and Fury”, video by Josh
Aronson, 2000
Cochlear Implant Forum Listserv –
Email: TO:listser@yorku.ca
From: (Your e-mail address)
Subject: (Leave it blank)
Message: Subscribe ci (your name)
Email: sharaine.rawlinson@csun.edu
© Sharaine J. Rawlinson 10-2002
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More CI Resources (Cont’d)
Self-Help for Hard of Hearing People
(SHHH) – www.shhh.org
Association of Late-Deafened Adults
(ALDA) – www.alda.org
National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
– www.nad.org
Wired For Sound, by Beverly Biderman
Hear Again, by Arlene Romoff
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