Activating your cochlear implant

Activation is when your hearing care professional will connect your sound processor, switching it on. The experience is unique to each person and it is the beginning of your hearing journey.

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What you'll find on this page

  • Setting expectations for your hearing journey and how to prepare for activation.
  • Learn what to expect during the activation appointment.
  • Find additional resources for your journey after activation and connect with other Cochlear implant recipients for support.

Like any journey into new territory, there are both expected and unknown experiences ahead. Some of the advice you’ve been given may work well leading up to and following activation of your implant, and some of what you experience on activation day and beyond may surprise you. Remember, your new hearing technology does not amplify sound like a hearing aid, it delivers sound in a new way. Improvements require hard work and deliver new connections to the world of sound.

Preparing for activation

phone.pngNucleus Smart AppBefore you arrive at the clinic for activation of your sound processor, download the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Smart App* if you have a Nucleus®7 Sound Processor** or the Baha® 5 Smart App* if you have a Baha® 5 series Sound Processor. The smart apps allow you to control features of your sound processor from your compatible smartphone. You can create a log in and password to explore the app in demo mode until your activation.

What to expect during activation

Come to your appointment prepared

check-list.pngYour Smart App may be paired to your processor during your appointment so you will need the app log in and password. If you experienced issues downloading the app and setting it up, bring your Apple® App Store or Google Play™ Store account log in and password information to your appointment.

You may also want to spend some time writing down a list of questions that you would like to ask your hearing care professional to get the most out of your activation appointment.

It’s time for activation

activate.pngYour hearing professional will provide you with a sound processor, connect it to your implant, and start programming. Programming is when your hearing care professional will fine tune the settings on your sound processor. Your brain may need time to adjust so that you begin to recognize the sounds you may have been missing.

Optimize your hearing

gears.pngYour hearing care professional will work with you to adjust pitch and volume to help you hear your best. Please keep in mind that your hearing needs may change over time and your hearing care professional can adjust in the future to help you to continue to hear your best.

Additional resources for after activation

The Cochlear Recipient Services & Support Directory will provide an overview of the tools and resources that may be needed along your hearing journey.

Learn more

Recipients share their activation stories

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Connect with a recipient

Learn about their first-hand experience choosing a Cochlear hearing solution

Connect with a mentor

More information

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Make the most of your new hearing

Learning to hear with an implant and sound processor takes patience and practice, but it's worth it.

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Join the Cochlear Family

Access everything you need to know about your specific device including warranty, troubleshooting tips and special promotions and discounts.

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Recovery from cochlear implant surgery

After surgery, you will spend time recovering before your sound processor can be switched on. Learn what to expect.

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Disclaimer

Please seek advice from your medical practitioner or health professional about treatments for hearing loss. They will be able to advise on a suitable solution for the hearing loss condition. All products should be used only as directed by your medical practitioner or health professional. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative.

Views expressed by Cochlear recipients and hearing health providers are those of the individual. Consult your hearing health provider to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology. Outcomes and results may vary.

ACE, Advance Off-Stylet, AOS, AutoNRT, Autosensitivity, Beam, Button, CareYourWay, Carina, Cochlear, 科利耳, コクレア, Cochlear SoftWear, Codacs, ConnectYourWay, Contour, Contour Advance, Custom Sound, ESPrit, Freedom, Hear now. And always, HearYourWay, Hugfit, Hybrid, Invisible Hearing, Kanso, MET, MicroDrive, MP3000, myCochlear, mySmartSound, NRT, Nucleus, Off-Stylet, Slimline, SmartSound, Softip, SPrint, True Wireless, the elliptical logo, WearYourWay and Whisper are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Cochlear Limited. Ardium, Baha, Baha SoftWear, BCDrive, DermaLock, EveryWear, Vistafix, and WindShield are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB.

*The Cochlear Nucleus Smart App and Cochlear Baha Smart App is available on App Store and Google Play. For compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility

**The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is compatible with the Nucleus Profile Plus, Nucleus Profile Series, CI500 Series, CI24RE (Freedom) Series, CI24R and CI24M implants. The timeframe for Nucleus 7 Sound Processor compatibility for other implants depends on research and development timelines, manufacturing processes and regulatory approvals. Google Play and the Google Play Logo are trademarks for Google LLC.

©Cochlear Limited 2019. All rights reserved. Hear now. And always and other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of Cochlear Limited or Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.