Is your hearing holding you back? Are your hearing aids no longer enough? A better quality of life is possible.
We’re here for you – before, during, and after – making your cochlear implant experience positive, effective and supported.
Make the most of world-class standards and procedures, with Neurosensory’s ENT partner network.
Changing lives and getting better hearing results for over 45 years.
Clinics across NSW, VIC, QLD and TAS.
As one of the largest and most respected providers of cochlear implant services in Australia, you’re in the best of hands.
Our specialists will cut through the noise and give you an expert recommendation on a hearing solution that is most suitable for you, your lifestyle and your needs.
Over time, we find that some hearing aid wearers report ongoing difficulties following conversations clearly. This occurs, despite trialling the latest advancements in hearing aid technology. In these instances, an implantable hearing solution such as a Cochlear Implant may be considered.
If your answer to one or more of these questions is YES, you may be eligible and benefit from a cochlear implant and new technologies.
When wearing your hearing aid/s do you:
‘For a time, my specialist kept referring me to get stronger hearing aids. Until I finally said to him, look these aren’t working for me.’ Read Odette’s story…
‘Finally it was determined that I was eligible for the operation and [I received the] magic Cochlear Ear. I had a few days in hospital and then had to wait to turn it on.’ Read David’s story…
When you struggle to hear even when wearing hearing aids or if you have a severe hearing loss in at least one ear.
Consider a cochlear implant if you: struggle to follow conversations even with hearing aids, rely on lip-reading or captions, have trouble on the phone, avoid social situations because of hearing loss, or have a severe hearing loss in at least one ear.
A Cochlear implant is a medical device that can help people with severe to profound hearing loss when hearing aids are no longer enough. It includes two parts: a small internal implant placed under the skin and an external sound processor worn on the ear. Together, they work by bypassing the damaged part of the inner ear and sending sound signals directly to the hearing nerve. These signals travel to the brain, allowing you to hear sound in a different way that bypasses the parts of the ear that aren’t working well.
You will attend an appointment with an implant audiologist for a full hearing assessment. During this visit, we check how well you understand speech while wearing your hearing aids. This involves listening to and repeating words and sentences. These tests help us understand how much speech your hearing aids are currently allowing you to access.
If the results show that your hearing aids are no longer giving you enough benefit, a cochlear implant may offer clearer access to speech and improve your everyday communication.
A. The sound processor picks up sound (for example, speech) and converts it into a digital signal.
B. Sound sent through the coil to the implant under the skin
C. The implant sends the signal to the inner ear, where tiny electrodes stimulate the hearing nerve. The hearing nerve then carries these signals to the brain, allowing you to hear.
Step 1 – Audiology Assessment
Step 2 – Appointment with Implant Surgeon
Step 3 – Surgery
Step 4 – Implant ‘Switch On’
The cost of the cochlear implant is covered by private health insurance. Silver level or higher hospital cover is needed. Audiology fees include a switch-on fee in the first year.
Other expenses may include gap payments for the anaesthetist and implant surgeon. After the first year, there is an annual programming appointment, and a Medicare rebate is available to cover part of this cost.
If cost is a concern, we encourage you to discuss available subsidies or financial assistance options with us. We are here to make better hearing more accessible.
A cochlear implant sounds unusual at first. It has been described as sounding electronic and a bit like a chipmunk. Over a period of 3 to 12 months the ability to understand speech improves substantially and almost all adults report that the clarity is far superior to a hearing aid.
There is no age limit. Many clients at Neurosensory were over 80 years of age when they first received a cochlear implant. All clients report an improved quality of life, less frustration and increased independence.
No. Initially cochlear implants were only for people who had profound hearing loss. However, technology and surgical procedures have improved over the intervening 30 years. Hence, cochlear implants now provide substantial benefit to people who still have some hearing but struggle to hear conversation clearly.
Yes! Hearing from two ears has many benefits. These include better understanding of speech in noise and improved ability to tell the direction of sound.
Over 70% of Neurosensory clients can use the phone. Phone calls can even be streamed directly to the implant from a mobile phone which improves clarity and ease of listening.
Cochlear implant surgery takes approximately 1 to 2 hours and involves an overnight stay in hospital.
Most people take a week off work. They are then able to resume normal activities.
Your whole life. Cochlear implants have less than a 2% failure rate. Hence, there is rarely a need to remove or replace them.
Initially, most clients will get an implant on one ear. Many clients who may benefit from a second implant do so from 6-12 months onwards.
The sound processor (external part) is removed for showers, swimming and sleeping. The implant is completely under the skin so is not effected. A waterproof case can be purchased if you would like to swim when wearing your sound processor.
Most clients experience immediate benefits at switch on with noticeable improvements continuing over the next three months. The results do vary greatly from person to person. To optimise progress, it is recommended to follow your home based listening program which will be provided to you by your audiologist.
During the first year, most clients attend between 3 to 6 appointments. In the following years, clients typically require 1 to 2 appointments per year.
All appointments in the first year are included in the initial clinical fee, with no additional charges.
A cochlear implant doesn’t restore hearing back to normal. You will always have some difficulty hearing in very noisy situations. You may continue to require subtitles for movies on TV and some people will only be able to understand conversation in quiet. However, almost everyone reports improved quality of life and are happy with the benefits provided by their cochlear implant.
Book a cochlear implant assessment appointment at Neurosensory. This will be a 1 to 2 hour appointment booked with an implant audiologist.
At this appointment you will be given information as to whether you will benefit from a cochlear implant.