ABSTRACT
Cochlear implantation represents one of the greatest medical advances of the 20th century and hearing remains the only one of the senses that can be medically restored to something approaching its original form. Cochlear implants (CI) use the tonotopic organisation of the auditory nerve fibres to provide frequency specific stimulation. They consist of an internal and an external component. The recommended bilateral placement of CIs significantly improves hearing in noisy environments and allows for the ability to localise sound. Usually, a CI is placed via a retro-auricular incision exposing the mastoid while creating sufficient access to the soft tissue to place the processor in a well drilled into the skull. Several factors influence the level of performance. These include the aetiology of the hearing loss, the level of residual hearing, cochlear anatomy and nerve status, the mode of communication and access to good rehabilitation.
