How soon after surgery does the patient hear with a cochlear implant?
At least a week is allowed after surgery for healing so that wearing the external equipment is comfortable. The initial activation of the device is often called the “hookup”. What happens at a “hookup?” First, the audiologist figures out what strength magnet is necessary to secure the headpiece to the patient’s head and make connection with the internal device. Next, s/he will connect the speech processor to the programming computer and place the speech processor on the patient’s head. S/he will then test the internal device to make sure all of the electrodes are functioning. Next s/he will create a listening “map”. Usually the patient will listen to some beeping sounds which are generated by the computer. The patient is asked to give the audiologist information about when the sounds become audible and how the loudness of the sounds changes as the amount of electrical current is increased. At some point the audiologist will activate the microphone of the speech processor and external s
