Rehabilitation matters as much as surgery
Children typically need 12–24 months of structured auditory verbal therapy after switch-on. Adults benefit from aural rehabilitation too.
Mapping (programming)
Several sessions in the first year to fine-tune the processor to the user.
Auditory Verbal Therapy
Structured therapy with the child + parent + therapist; listening as the primary route to language.
Long-term follow-up
Annual reviews, processor upgrades, school readiness reviews and lifelong support.
Therapy milestones after CI (children)
- Sound awareness — first weeks
- Detection of speech sounds — 1–3 months
- Discrimination of words — 3–6 months
- First spoken words — 6–12 months (varies)
- Short phrases — 12–18 months
- Conversational speech — 18–36 months
- School-ready language — varies, with consistent therapy