Cochlear Implant Programming System

What is a cochlear implant programming system?

Cochlear implants are revolutionary artificial organs that can help patients with severe hearing loss due to inner ear disorders regain their hearing.

First, surgery is performed to insert multiple electrodes into the cochlea to replace the inner ear hair cells.
After surgery, you will be fitted with an external device that is similar to a behind-the-ear hearing aid.
Then, programming is performed to determine how much current to send to which electrodes depending on the type of sound received.
This is where you first hear the sound.

The external device is connected to a computer equipped with special software, and a program tailored to each individual is created while checking the patient's reactions, such as ease of hearing and noise level.
Multiple programs can be stored in the external device and used depending on the situation, such as in noisy or quiet places.
The introduction of a new programming system allows for more detailed settings to be made to suit a variety of situations.

Kitano Hospital is equipped to handle cochlear implant surgery and programming for all three of the world's leading cochlear implant manufacturers (MED-EL, Cochlear, and Advanced Bionics).