After a Cochlear Implant: How to Care for Your Child

Cochlear implants can help children with some types of severe hearing loss that aren't helped by hearing aids. A child may get an implant in one or both ears. During the surgery, the surgeon inserted electrodes into the cochlea in the inner ear. These electrodes were attached to a receiver that the surgeon put under your child's scalp. In a few weeks, your child will get a sound and speech processor to wear outside the body. The processor works with the receiver and electrodes to send information about sounds to the brain, allowing your child to hear.

There are stitches behind the ear that will dissolve on their own.

After surgery, your child might have some of these symptoms:

• Ear(s) that may stick out. This happens due to swelling from the surgery. When the swelling goes down after a week or two, the ear(s) will return to their usual position. 

• Swelling of the scalp behind the ear(s). This happens because this area of the scalp is over the implant. This will last for a couple of weeks. 

• Bruising above the eyes and below the corner of the mouth. This is from tiny needles that were used to check the facial nerve during surgery.

• Mild pain for a few days. During that time, your child may not feel comfortable lying on the side with the cochlear implant, so sleeping on their back might be better.

• Dizziness for up to a few weeks.

• A change in how things taste. This is less common and is almost always temporary.

• If your child has ear tubes, you may see bloody discharge from the ears for a few days. Cotton balls can be placed as needed to soak up the drainage.

• Follow the surgeon's instructions for: 

  • removing the surgical bandages

  • when it is OK to gently wet the incision with soap and water on a washcloth during bathing or showering 

  • your child's return to school, childcare, or other activities

  • giving any prescribed medicine

• If the surgeon did not prescribe pain medicine and your child has pain, you can give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol^® or a store brand) OR ibuprofen (such as Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand). Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old. Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often.

• Schedule a follow-up visit with the surgeon for about a week after surgery so they can make sure the area is healing well.

• Children with cochlear implants have a higher risk of getting serious infections from certain germs. So be sure that your child:

  • is up to date on their vaccines

  • gets the pneumococcal vaccine recommended by your health care provider

  • gets flu and Covid vaccines every year

Your child has:

• nausea more than 24 hours after the surgery

• a fever

• redness, discharge, swelling, or an opening in the skin around the incision

• ear or head pain that doesn't get better with medicine

Your child:

• seems confused or is hard to wake up

• has a stiff neck

How long will it take until my child can understand speech? Learning to understand speech with a cochlear implant takes time. Your child will need speech therapy once or twice a week for at least a year.

What happens if my child gets an ear infection? Ear infections in kids who have cochlear implants can spread and become serious. Talk to your health care provider about preventing ear infections and symptoms to watch for. If your child gets an ear infection, it should be treated right away with antibiotics. There should be no waiting to see if the infection gets better on its own.