10/20/2026
The cochlear implant journey can come with a lot of new terms. This Health Literacy Month, we're making a few of them easier to understand.
Cochlear implant: An implantable device placed under the skin with an external processor. This device enables individuals with hearing loss to perceive speech and sound. A cochlear implant bypasses damaged parts of the ear and sends an electrical signal to stimulate the auditory nerve directly from inside the cochlea.
Residual hearing: The natural hearing a person still has.
Activation: When a cochlear implant is turned on by an audiologist and programmed for the first time.
Mapping: The process of adjusting a cochlear implant's settings to meet an individual's needs.
Rehabilitation: The ongoing process of learning to interpret and make sense of sound with a cochlear implant.
During the surgical step of that journey, you may also hear about robotic-assisted insertion. The iotaSOFT Robotic-Assisted Insertion System is designed to provide a controlled and consistent approach to cochlear implant electrode insertion because the cochlea is a delicate structure, and how the electrode is inserted matters.
Understanding the language is one step toward feeling more informed and confident about the journey ahead.
Learn more about the cochlear implant journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEKEAVOiM2w