Candidacy Criteria

Is a Nucleus Cochlear Implant Right for You?

People who can use cochlear implants have deafness in both ears, and no longer benefit from the use of hearing aids. Answer the questions below to see if a Nucleus Cochlear Implant might be right for you.

For Adults: Ask yourself the following questions

• Even with powerful hearing aids, do you hear but not understand?
• Do you have to ask people to repeat themselves during one-on-one conversations, even in a quiet room?
• Do you need captions on to understand television programs?
• Do you depend on lip reading to understand a conversation?
• Do you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day because communication requires such a high degree of concentration?
• Do you have a hard time keeping up at work? Do you find communication at work to be difficult and to interfere with carrying out responsibilities of your job?
• Do you have trouble hearing on the phone?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be a good candidate for a cochlear implant.

For Parents: Is a cochlear implant right for your child?

• Does your child fail to respond to your voice or loud sounds, even when wearing hearing aids?
• Does your child avoid socializing or playing with other children?
• Is your child falling behind with key speech and language developmental milestones?
• Is your child exhausted at the end of the school day because he/she has to concentrate so hard all day just to understand speech?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, and your child is at least 12 months old, your child may be a candidate for a cochlear implant.

The next steps...

Most of our cochlear implant recipients start their journey by reaching out to someone who has a similar experience with hearing loss. It’s often a great benefit to learn about cochlear implants from someone who understands your point of view. Sharing stories with others will help you understand what to expect with a new life with cochlear implants.

There are several ways to get in contact with us, and with someone like you:

1. Request an information pack

While you are completing the form, you will be asked if you would like to connect with someone from our network. Choose yes and someone will email you. You will also get a package of information in the mail.

Email someone in our Awareness Network . You may review our directory of Cochlear Awareness Managers and contact the person who lives nearest to you. They can help answer questions you may have, and put you in touch with others.

2. Join the online cochlear community

Browse through the stories to learn more about other people’s experiences. You can communicate with others in the Community by becoming a member. It’s easy to join, and it’s free.

3. Make an appointment for an evaluation

Find a clinic near you and have your hearing evaluated by a hearing health professional. They can help you decide what the best options are for you.

4. Let us help guide you through the insurance process

Cochlear Americas offers individual insurance support. Call Cochlear’s OMS insurance support at 1-800-633-4667 or visit www.omsinsurancesupport.org for help getting started.

Once it has been determined you are a candidate, and you have scheduled a date for your surgery, you can talk to those in our community to find out what to expect. The recovery time from the surgery is usually quite fast, and you can return to normal activities in a day or two.