How do listening skills develop with an implant?
Following the operation all adults and children will attend the Clinic for fitting and programming of the externally worn speech processor, (re)habilitation and medical reviews. The functioning of each person’s auditory (hearing) pathway is different, and as such each person’s speech processor needs to be individually programmed. This process is called “Mapping” or “programming”. This process determines the amount of electrical current delivered to the cochlea by the implant, and ensures the patient receives comfortable and useful hearing. The sound from a cochlear implant is not like “normal” hearing. The period of time required for the sound quality to reach its full potential and will vary between individuals. Case managers support and guide individual recipients through this period of adjusting to new sounds. The purpose of the (re)habilitation programme is to help patients and their families incorporate the cochlear implant into their daily lifestyle. To achieve this, the clinic o
