Cochlear Implant Surgery and Activation: Tips for a Smooth Process

The day finally arrived—Cochlear Implant Surgery Day! We'd anticipated this trip for months, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. It was like Christmas morning, full of hope and promise…until we got to the hospital and reality set in. When they took my baby boy back for surgery, a wave of worry crept in. Rest assured, everything turned out as planned and there are no regrets. 

Living in Wyoming, without a local children's hospital, we traveled to Salt Lake City for Bode’s appointments. His surgery was scheduled for December 19th, so we arrived in Utah the day before. That morning at the hospital, we checked in at 7 a.m. They try to schedule the kids' surgeries from youngest to oldest because they can't eat or drink anything leading up to surgery, so from like 10pm on he had nothing in his stomach. He was supposed to have surgery at 8am, but his time slot was pushed to 11am. Between check-ups and weight measurements, we did our best to keep him entertained with toys. After a bit of play, I was able to help him fall asleep while we waited our turn. 

  

 When the anesthesiologist came to take him, we said our goodbyes, and suddenly, my excitement turned into anxious “what ifs.” But my husband and mom reminded me why we were there, and I found comfort knowing Bode was in experienced hands. Although cochlear implant surgery may sound intense, surprisingly, it is an outpatient procedure. Our surgeon had been doing this for 20 years, performing 5–10 surgeries a week! I held on to the thought that this was Bode’s chance to hear, he was being given the gift of sound.

After six hours, the call came: Bode was out of surgery and just waking up! My husband and I rushed to see him, with my mom holding down the fort in the cafeteria. I was nervous about holding him, worried I might accidentally hurt his head. He wore dome coverings over each ear, protecting his incision sites. Tucked behind his ear, they cut just a little inch and half incision to slide the implant in and then they glued his skin back together. He was his happy self, albeit a bit loopy, smiling and giggling. They said we would be cleared to leave as soon as they knew he could hold some milk down. I offered him a bottle and I let him drink to his heart’s content—which led to him projectile vomiting all over me! Once we slowed down and gave him a little at a time, he held everything in, and we were cleared to head back to our hotel. At discharge, they had two huge, very full Cochlear America backpacks ready for us--one backpack for each ear, (Bode has bilateral implants). They were loaded with a million accessories and kits. The backpacks were overwhelming with all the new equipment, but over time we've gotten familiar with each piece.

  

At the hotel, Bode was ready to explore, his spirit and energy bouncing back incredibly fast. The doctor and nurses reassured me about how quickly babies recover. We only needed a bit of liquid ibuprofen for any discomfort, mainly at bedtime, for about a week. Within 24 hours, we removed his head coverings, and for the next two weeks, he had sponge baths until he was cleared for full baths.

  

Then came the long-awaited activation day, two weeks later. This was the moment we had all been waiting for, but in truth it was a million small moments following activation. Activation is actually a gradual process, which is why we had to travel back to Salt Lake so often. The audiologist uses a computer program to "map" or tune the electrodes inside the cochlear implant. These electrodes stimulate different parts of the auditory nerve to create the sensation of hearing. Bode couldn't verbally communicate feedback, so the audiologist relied on objective measures (like his facial expressions and physical responses), also mine and Levi's observations to adjust the device. The audiologist begins by mapping each implant at a very quiet level to avoid startling him. In between visits, while at home, I turn the volume up gradually and when we go to the next appointment she tweaks the program and we begin again. 

This initial appointment was several hours long. My mom was there with us again, which made it all the more special.  It was an exciting moment—we were finally going to see all our efforts realized! Bode was such a champ. He handled all the testing and troubleshooting like a pro, staying in good spirits throughout. But, after a couple hours, he started to fatigue. We could all tell he was ready for a nap back at the hotel.

  

Since then, our schedules have been packed with follow-up appointments to fine-tune his processors. For months, we returned to Salt Lake regularly, moving from biweekly to monthly, then every three months. Now, we only need to go every six months, which has been a huge relief. It's on ongoing process, working to get Bode to the most optimal setting. He will continue to see an audiologist for the rest of his life. As he gets older it will only get easier because he will be able to tell the audiologist what he hears and what he needs.

Once Bode’s cochlear implants were finally activated, I felt an overwhelming wave of relief. For the first ten months of his life, I had been working tirelessly to get to this day, with a quiet fear that something might go wrong or that I’d somehow overlooked something important. But finally, we were here. And, while I absolutely love using sign language with him, it’s still my second language—there’s so much I’m still learning. Now, just knowing I can speak to him directly, share little thoughts and moments without hesitation, feels like such a gift.

Tips for Moms Starting the Cochlear Implant Journey:

1. Take One Day at a Time: It’s easy to get overwhelmed thinking of everything you need to do for your child’s progress. I spent the first year of Bode’s life trying to stay ahead, but I often neglected my own well-being. Remember, as long as you’re giving your best each day, you’re doing enough.

2. Cherish the Little Moments: It’s tempting to look toward milestones and achievements, but don’t forget to enjoy the present. Time flies, so soak up every bit of your baby’s early days.

3. Start Learning Sign Language Early: Even if you’re not fluent, learning some basic signs can open up early communication with your child. I remind myself that I may not be fluent, but I am fluent enough for him.

4. Seek Support: Having family or friends with you on surgery day is invaluable. My mom joined us, which allowed us to take breaks and recharge, and it was a great comfort to share the day with loved ones.

5. Day of Surgery: Bring a few of your child's favorite toys, books, and comfort items for pre-surgery distraction. After surgery, introduce food or milk slowly to help avoid nausea.

6. Consider a Soft Helmet for Post-Surgery: With a baby as active as Bode, we wanted to protect his incision site as he recovered. We ordered a soft helmet, which helped me worry less as he moved around. I'll link the one I got HERE.  

7. Stay Organized with Information: Someone from the hospital should call you and go over the protocol for the procedure. They will give you all the details you need to know specifically. Write down notes from your conversation but more importantly, ASK THEM to email you the protocol with tips and reminders. It's easy for them, it's literally their job to help you make this happen. The emails are invaluable and so nice to reference. You won't have to question if you forgot anything. I created folders in my email for everything related to Bode’s journey—appointments, resources, surgery details, and more. This has saved me from feeling buried under information. I recommend starting folders for different aspects of the process so everything is easy to access. These are my five folders, I still use them 2.5 years into our journey.

• Bode ASL: I store any resources regarding learning ASL here.
• Bode Audiology: Any email regarding Audiology appointments is filed here.
• Bode CDC: Any email from our family service coordinator, his teacher of the deaf, anything to do with his IFSP, anything from WEII Plus (which is Wyoming specific) is stored here.
• Bode Cochlear Americas: Any email regarding technology support from their 'Recipient Solutions Manager', Cochlear webinars, 90 Day Processor exchanges, My Cochlear Family Account, and order/shipping detail emails goes here. 
• Bode Implants: Any email regarding his surgery--appointment details from the scheduler, hotel confirmations for that time are stored here.

I hope sharing our experience and these tips offers some guidance and encouragement. The first year can feel like a whirlwind, but there’s so much joy in seeing your child reach new milestones and opening up the way they can experience the world. This journey can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. If you’re just starting out, remember you’re not alone, and know that there are beautiful moments ahead. I'm here if you have any questions and you can follow along with me on Instagram: @olivelayne.

Up Next: Sign Language Vs Cochlear Implants: Why We Chose Both