Will the child immediately start hearing after the cochlear implant surgery?

No. During surgery, only the internal part of the cochlear implant is placed inside the ear, so your child won't hear anything right away.

After the operation, the ear is covered with a bandage. This stays on for about 8 to 9 days, by which time the stitches have also healed and can be removed.

Around 4 to 5 days after the bandage comes off, once the surgeon confirms the ear has healed well, the external part of the implant is fitted. This appointment is called the "switch-on" or "activation" - it's when the outer device is connected to the internal one for the first time. Only after this switch-on can your child actually start hearing through the implant.

At first, sounds may feel strange - robotic, beepy, or simply unfamiliar. That's normal. The brain needs time to learn how to make sense of these new electrical signals.

Over the following weeks and months, the audiologist will fine-tune the device through regular mapping sessions, adjusting it based on how your child responds. Alongside this, Auditory Verbal Therapy or speech therapy begins, helping your child recognize sounds, understand speech, and gradually build spoken language.

Every child progresses at their own pace, but with consistent device use, mapping, and therapy, most children make steady, meaningful gains.