Article: Current Cochlear Implant Issues

Question: My son, age 21, has bilateral cochlear implants. About six months ago, he began to notice "popping" and intermittent, mild "shock" feelings in one ear. His cochlear implant program is functioning well, and a CAT scan showed the internal device to be in excellent position. The implant is in compliance with the manufacturer's specifications. What could be the problem?

Answer: It sounds like your son's cochlear implant may be in a type of "soft failure." During soft failure, the cochlear implant recipient may experience unusual symptoms, such as popping and/or shock feelings in the affected ear, although no functional abnormalities are found. A soft failure often can be managed with ...

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