Cochlear Implant Pre-Process & Speech Therapy at VR Speech and Hearing Clinic, Wakad – Complete Guide

For individuals with severe to profound hearing loss, a cochlear implant can be a life-changing solution. However, the success of a cochlear implant depends not only on the surgery but also on the pre-implant assessments and post-implant speech therapy that help the brain adapt to new sound signals.
At VR Speech and Hearing Clinic, Wakad (Pune), we provide a complete, patient-friendly cochlear implant pathway — from evaluations to long-term rehabilitation.

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What Is a Cochlear Implant?

A cochlear implant is an advanced electronic device that bypasses damaged inner-ear hair cells and directly stimulates the auditory nerve. Unlike a hearing aid that amplifies sound, a cochlear implant sends sound signals to the brain through electrical stimulation.
It is recommended for individuals who get limited benefit from hearing aids but still wish to develop or improve spoken communication.

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1. Cochlear Implant Pre-Process at VR Speech & Hearing Clinic, Wakad

The pre-process ensures that the implant is medically suitable and that the patient will benefit from the procedure. Our centre follows a thorough, step-by-step evaluation system.

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A. Initial Consultation & Counselling

Our audiologist and speech-language pathologist explain:

• How a cochlear implant works

• What outcomes to expect

• How long rehabilitation will take

• The role of parents/caregivers in the process

This session helps families set realistic goals before moving forward.

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B. Audiological Assessments

A complete hearing evaluation is conducted, including:

• Pure-tone audiometry

• Speech perception tests

• Hearing aid benefit analysis

• Tympanometry and OAE/BERA (as required)

These tests determine if the individual is an ideal candidate for implantation.

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C. Medical & Radiological Evaluation

An ENT surgeon examines the ear and reviews CT/MRI scans to confirm:

• Inner-ear anatomy

• Condition of the auditory nerve

• Suitability for surgery

This stage ensures medical safety and surgical clarity.

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D. Speech & Language Assessment

Our speech-language pathologist evaluates:

• Current listening skills

• Speech clarity

• Vocabulary and language development

• Communication mode (spoken language, gestures, lip-reading)

This assessment helps create a personalised therapy plan after implantation.

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E. Family Orientation & Planning

We discuss:

• Device options

• Surgery timeline

• Expected progress

• Need for consistent follow-up

• Therapy schedule after activation

Families receive complete guidance, ensuring confidence before the surgery.

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2. Post-Implant Speech Therapy at VR Speech & Hearing Clinic

After activation, the cochlear implant delivers sound to the brain — but interpreting that sound requires intensive auditory and speech therapy.

Our Wakad centre provides structured rehabilitation designed for infants, children, adults, and seniors.

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A. Auditory Training

Patients learn to:

• Detect sounds

• Discriminate between different sounds

• Recognise speech in quiet and noisy environments

• Understand words and sentences

This gradually teaches the brain to make sense of new auditory signals.

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B. Speech Development

Therapy targets:

• Pronunciation

• Speech clarity

• Voice quality

• Intonation and rhythm

• Expanding vocabulary

Children receive play-based, age-appropriate therapy. Adults train using real-life communication tasks.

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C. Listening & Language Therapy

For children, early listening training supports:

• Language building

• Grammar development

• Academic readiness

• Social communication

Parents are trained to carry out daily listening activities at home.

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D. Mapping & Regular Follow-Ups

Our audiologists coordinate closely with ENT surgeons for:

• Device mapping

• Comfort level adjustments

• Volume and frequency fine-tuning

• Progress monitoring every few weeks

Consistent follow-up ensures maximum performance from the device.

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3. Why Choose VR Speech and Hearing Clinic, Wakad, Pune?

• Experienced audiologists & speech-language therapists

• Child-friendly and adult-friendly therapy setup

• Complete cochlear implant assessment and rehabilitation under one roof

• Personalised treatment plans

• Long-term follow-up and support

• Parent/caregiver training for faster progress

• Dedicated counselling throughout the journey

Our clinic provides a warm, supportive environment that makes the cochlear implant journey smooth and stress-free.

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4. Ideal Candidates for Cochlear Implants

• Children with severe-to-profound hearing loss

• Adults who receive limited benefit from hearing aids

• Individuals who want to develop or regain spoken communication

• Patients with sensorineural hearing loss not correctable by other methods

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5. Final Thoughts

A cochlear implant can open the world of sound — but its true success depends on timely evaluations, proper guidance, and dedicated therapy.
At VR Speech and Hearing Clinic, Wakad, we walk with you through every phase:
Assessment → Surgery Planning → Activation → Speech Therapy → Long-term Progress.