Is cochlear implant surgery only done in children?

No, cochlear implant surgery isn't only done in children, though it's true that in India, the majority of patients who undergo this procedure are children. Worldwide, however, a significant number of adults also undergo cochlear implantation, and adult-onset and age-related hearing loss are just as valid a reason for candidacy as childhood deafness.

Adults who once had normal hearing but lost it later in life form a distinct candidate group, often referred to as cases of post-lingual deafness, meaning the hearing loss developed after speech and language were already learned. This can happen due to infections like meningitis, certain medications that affect hearing, or injury to the ear. Some systemic diseases, such as chronic kidney problems, can also lead to profound hearing loss over time, and these patients too are considered good candidates for the surgery.

Age-related hearing loss, which tends to develop gradually as people grow older, is another common reason adults seek cochlear implants when hearing aids no longer provide enough benefit. Since these adults already have established speech and language skills, they often adapt to the implant with focused auditory rehabilitation, unlike young children who are learning language for the first time. So while children make up the larger share of patients in India, cochlear implant surgery is very much an option for adults of nearly any age, provided they meet the audiological and medical criteria.