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Let's get technical

OK, so I've been getting quite a lot of questions about the technical details of a Cochlear Implant, and why I've had a 6 week wait between surgery and everything being switched on.

I've been trying to find an online article that explains the components of a CI clearly and concisely. And then Stuart's Mum passed me an article from The Times newspaper about twins who had Cochlear Implants. And it had a great diagram that I thought might be helpful for those of you wanting more technical detail. (Click on the image for a larger view.)


Everything described on the right side of the diagram (the electrodes in the cochlear, and the receiver (complete with magnet)), were implanted during my operation on the 25th March. Everything on the left (the earpiece with microphone, processor and transmitter coil (also with a magnet, which attaches to my head adjacent to the internal magnet)) are the external hardware that will be given to me, "switched on", and programmed, tomorrow.

Another website that I thought had a useful diagram and explanation is here (first two sections).

The reason for the 5-6 week wait (as I understand it) is to give time for everything to heal up.  I'm sure there's a need for the inner ear to settle down after the invasion of the electrodes into my cochlea, but from my point of view, I need everything on the outside to fully heal. The scar from surgery runs immediately behind my left ear, the full height of the ear, so putting the earpiece (much like a hearing aid in shape and size) there would have been painful immediately after surgery. And the transmitter has a magnet that holds it in place on the side of my head, attracted to the internally implanted magnet/receiver under the skin, and plunking that on would have been very uncomfortable as well.  In fact, last week, 5 weeks post-surgery when I was due to have my big switch on, I was still experiencing quite a lot of tenderness and sensitivity in both areas.  It's surprised me how much better things have got in the last week (I'm almost at the point where my head is comfortable enough for me to sleep on my left side, after 6 long weeks on my right!), so I really do feel ready to start wearing all this new gear tomorrow... :)

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