Update on cochlear implantation

Cochlear implants are computerized devices that partially replace the transduction and encoding functions of the cochlea. Over the past 20 years studies have demonstrated that cochlear implants are safe and effective, with modern computer-based multichannel devices providing open-set word understanding for the majority of implanted postlingually deafened adults as well as pre- and postlingually deafened children. Advances in word processing strategy have led to everimproving word recognition skills and recent studies have demonstrated that oral language develops in congenitally deaf children who use cochlear implants.