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  4. Cochlear Implantation
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Why should you receive
cochlear implantation in AMC?

Cochlear implantation is an effective means of hearing rehabilitation for patients who have severe to profound hearing loss and a hearing aid is no good. The early detection and intervention of hearing problem and the advancement of hearing aids and language processing techniques will bring about a significant improvement in speech perception and language learning ability after cochlear implantation.

AMC has performed around 1,500 cochlear implantations since the first operation in 1999 and this is the largest in a single medical institution both at home and abroad. AMC has a cochlear rehabilitation team comprised of audiology and speech therapy specialists and Korea’s best medical professionals equipped with world-class experience and skills in hearing impairment treatment, cochlear implantation, and middle ear implantation. They effectively control an external part of cochlear implant and provide auditory rehabilitation and evaluation.

An intensive and long-term auditory rehabilitation program is needed to maximize the pre- and post-operative effects of cochlear implants. Therefore, a speech processor mapping and effective auditory and language trainings are essential to help patients hear properly. Postoperative rehabilitation programs are largely divided into a cochlear implant mapping, a hearing-language rehabilitation course, a regular evaluation, and a medical follow-up.

Treatment options

Cochlear implant mapping

Cochlear implant mapping is a process of optimal program adjustment to help patients feel comfortable and effectively hear after cochlear implantation. The mapping process involves deciding a way of delivering electric stimulus to the auditory nerves through each internal electrode inserted to the cochleae, setting the thresholds of the weakest input level of stimulus for detecting sound and the strongest input level of stimulus for perceiving sound loud yet comfortably, and entering the program to an external speech processor. A cochlear program called the ‘MAP’ differs in features between patients and the program’s quality may have a tremendous influence on the performance of patients with a cochlear implant.

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Schedule of cochlear implant mapping Details
Initial mapping - activation of the external equipment;
  • Approx. 3- 4 weeks after surgery
  • Initial programming
Once a week for the first 4 weeks (1month)
  • Reprogramming
  • Speech Perception Testing, Counseling
1 month
  • Reprogramming and Audiogram
  • Speech Perception Testing
  • Counseling
3, 6, 9 months
  • Reprogramming and Audiogram
  • Speech Perception Testing
  • Counseling
1 year
  • Reprogramming and Audiogram
  • Speech Perception Testing
  • Counseling
Every 6-12 months
  • Reprogramming and Audiogram
  • Speech Perception Testing
  • Counseling

Auditory and language rehabilitation

Normal neurologic and linguistic development is possible if hearing loss is detected early enough to prevent neurologic and linguistic damage and compensated with hearing instruments such as a cochlear implant or a hearing aid to be trained to respond to auditory stimuli. Even though hearing loss is discovered after the critical period for auditory sense development, auditory stimulus or training using a cochlear implant or hearing instruments help the recovery of neurologic defects caused by the deprivation of an auditory pathway. To facilitate the effects, it is very important to offer training through systematic and efficient auditory rehabilitation programs. Also, the effects of various tools for children and adults with hearing loss on the speech-language-communication abilities are identified and interventional and rehabilitation programs suitable for each patient are developed.

AMC’s treatment performance

  • First cochlear implantation performed in 1999
  • 80-100 cochlear implants aperformed per year since 2005
  • 1,000 cochlear implants performed by 2012
  • An objective test method of the performance of the auditory cortex after cochlear implantation introduced for the first time in Korea in 2016
  • Pre-operative patient convenience and systematic care improved following the opening of Cochlear Implant Clinic in 2017

Medical staff

AMC Cochlear Implant Clinic provides systematic and professional medical and counseling services including surgery, cochlear implant mapping, auditory evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation, and cochlear implant management to ensure successful rehabilitation after cochlear implantation.