Hearing Implants

Hearing implants in the UK, especially cochlear implants, provide a life-changing solution for people with severe to profound hearing loss.

These advanced devices are essential when hearing aids are not enough, helping individuals hear sounds clearly and understand speech better.

What is a cochlear implant?

Cochlear implants are recommended for individuals with a severe to profound hearing loss who experience limited or no benefit from well fitted and programmed hearing aids. The reason for this is that the damage to the inner ear (cochlea) is too severe, therefore surpassing the capabilities of a traditional hearing aid. A cochlear implant overcomes this by directly stimulating the hearing nerve.

A cochlear implant has two main parts:

One part is outside of the ear and looks much like a behind-the-ear hearing aid. It has a microphone to detect sound, a battery to power the system, a processor to process sound and a transmitter to send the electric signals to the internal part.
The cochlear implant’s internal part is implanted under the skin, with a magnet that connects to the external processor through the skin and electrodes that extend into the cochlea. The electrodes respond to sound information captured by the outer processor and stimulate the neurons in the cochlea to create a signal that is picked up by the brain.

How is a cochlear implant different from a hearing aid?

A cochlear implant is very different from a hearing aid and is appropriate for individuals for whom hearing aids fail to provide adequate benefit.

A hearing aid makes sounds louder to effectively stimulate the hair cells in ears that may be damaged. This process requires sound to travel through all the portions of the ear (outer ear, middle ear, inner ear) to the hearing nerve.
A cochlear implant bypasses these structures and directly stimulates the hearing nerve with electrical energy. Because hearing aids amplify sounds and rely on the hearing system to convey the message, individuals with severe to profound hearing loss may be able to hear, but not understand speech well. The main objective of a cochlear implant is to improve speech understanding in quiet. Clarity with a cochlear implant is usually better than a hearing aid because the implant does not make sounds louder but rather delivers them directly to the hearing nerve.

Types of cochlear implants

A variety of cochlear implant brands are available that differ in size, weight, number of electrodes and features. Although all cochlear implants have parts internally (under the skin) and outside of the ear, in some models, the sound processors are combined into one disc-like piece on the side of the head, with the microphone and transmitter included – nothing hangs on the ear.

An appointment with an audiologist and Ear, Nose & Throat specialist will be scheduled before surgery to help you learn about the options and to choose the processor and implant that meets your needs.

What can I expect with a cochlear implant?

Nearly all individuals who are fitted with cochlear implants can detect sound, including speech, at comfortable levels. The majority of those with implants develop the ability to recognize and understand speech in quiet environments without visual cues. Some can use the telephone and appreciate music well. The best results are seen in patients who have had some language skills or who receive a cochlear implant shortly after losing their hearing. Some listening environments, such as those involving background noise or those without visual cues, are particularly challenging. Auditory therapy and cochlear implant reprogramming may help improve performance.

Meet our cochlear implant team

Our expert team of clinical audiologists and leading ENT consultants are highly experienced in cochlear implants and working with patients to improve their hearing.

Romy Cohen

Clinical Lead

Lerissa Pillay

Senior Clinical Audiologist

Mr. Harry Powell

MB BS BSc DOHNS FRCS (ORL-HNS)

Mr. Harry Powell is a leading Consultant ENT surgeon with a wealth of experience in treating both children and adults. He completed his medical education at the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London, followed by foundational surgical training in Bristol. His specialist ENT training took place at several prestigious London teaching hospitals.

Mr. Powell was awarded the Graham Fraser Memorial Fellowship and two Royal College of Surgeons grants for advanced surgical training in ear surgery and auditory implantation in Sydney, Australia. There he learned endoscopic ear surgery techniques and has subsequently developed this part of his practice in conjunction with the traditional microscopic techniques.

Since September 2016, Mr. Powell has served as a Consultant Otologist and Auditory Implant Surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. His extensive areas of expertise include general ENT surgery, ear infections, hearing loss, mastoid and middle ear surgery, hearing implants, tinnitus, vertigo, balance issues, microtia and atresia, sinonasal congestion, voice and swallowing disorders, and taste or smell problems.

Mr. Powell has published widely in the scientific literature and has authored three book chapters. His passion for patient care and commitment to innovation make him a leading figure in the field of otology.

Professor Dan Jiang

MBBS PHD FRCSI FRCSI(ORL-HNS)

Professor Dan Jiang is a respected ear surgeon in the UK and Europe, specializing in otology and skull base surgery. He is a Consultant Otologist and Skull Base Surgeon and is one of the UK’s most experienced cochlear implant surgeons. Professor Jiang has been at the forefront of developing techniques for preserving hearing and cochlear structures during cochlear implant procedures.

He has performed cochlear implants on very young patients, including the youngest child in the UK, and has expertise in treating patients with malformed cochleas. He also leads a skilled paediatric Auditory Brainstem Implant team.

Based at St. Thomas Hearing Implant Centre, Professor Jiang has been an active contributor to professional groups, served as a trustee for the British Cochlear Implant Group (BCIG) and on the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) Otology Council, each for six years.

He is currently an executive council member of the European Academy of Otology and Neurotology (EAONO). In addition to his clinical work, he is a Professor of Otology and Hearing Implant Surgery at King’s College London, where he focuses on educating and training future specialists, as well as researching ways to optimize hearing implant outcomes and regenerate damaged cochleas.

Mr. Ananth Vijendren

BM, MRCS, MRCS (ENT), FRCS (ORL-HNS), PhD

Mr. Ananth Vijendren is a highly accomplished Consultant ENT surgeon with a distinguished career in both clinical practice and academic research. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Southampton and completed his foundation training in Basingstoke, where his passion for ENT disorders was ignited.

Following this, he ranked among the top nationally and was recruited into postgraduate surgical and ENT training in the East of England. Mr. Vijendren further specialized through an Otology and Hearing Implant fellowship at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge.

During this fellowship, he honed his skills in complex ear surgeries, hearing reconstruction, and cochlear implantation. His dedication and expertise led him to complete his training six months ahead of schedule, a rare achievement in the field. Since 2019, Mr. Vijendren has been serving at the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, where he leads the hearing and balance service at Lister Hospital.

His clinical practice encompasses a wide range of ENT conditions, with a particular focus on ear-related diseases, balance disorders, and hearing reconstruction. He frequently performs surgeries for tympanic membrane perforations, cholesteatoma, and hearing implantations.

In addition to his clinical work, Mr. Vijendren is deeply involved in research, having completed a PhD that investigates occupational hazards affecting ENT surgeons and their impact on clinical performance. He has published numerous articles in prestigious journals and presented his work internationally, earning accolades for his contributions to the field. His passion for education led him to co-author and develop ENTsho.com, a freely accessible online ENT textbook for health professionals.

Mr. Vijendren is known for his organized, efficient, and compassionate approach to patient care. He strongly advocates for evidence-based medicine, tailoring treatments to meet the unique needs of each patient to ensure the highest quality of care and patient satisfaction.

Why choose Harley Street Hearing?

We are the home of independent audiology in London, dedicated to providing exceptional services and after care to every patient, ensuring the highest standards of care.

We pride ourselves on our high level of expertise, with a team of some of the most highly regarded audiologists in the industry. We put our patients first and always offer a personalised approach that addresses their individual needs.

Schedule your cochlear implant consultation

If you or someone you know is facing severe hearing loss and could benefit from a cochlear implant, it’s time to book a consultation. Our specialists will guide you through the process of hearing tests and help determine if private hearing implants in the UK are the right choice for your needs.