Advanced Hearing Loss Treatment in Northern Utah

Hearing loss affects far more than your ability to listen. It can change how you communicate, learn, work, and connect. For people whose hearing loss is too severe for traditional hearing aids, cochlear implants can be a life-changing solution.

Dr. Luke Edelmayer is one of the top cochlear implant specialists in Northern Utah. He and his team provide evaluation, surgery, and long-term follow-up for both children and adults with severe hearing loss. Here's more about what that entails.

What Is a Cochlear Implant?

A cochlear implant is a medical device that helps people with significant hearing loss perceive sound. A cochlear implant includes two parts:

• Internal implant: Surgically placed under the skin behind the ear, with an electrode inserted into the cochlea.
• External processor: Magnetically connects to the implant and converts sound into electronic signals that stimulate the hearing nerve.

This technology allows sound to reach the brain even when the inner ear is no longer functioning well enough for traditional hearing aids.

Cochlear Implants vs. Traditional Hearing Aids

While traditional hearing aids work well for many people with hearing loss, they have limitations—especially when clarity (not just volume), is the problem.

“A hearing aid is like a small speaker that makes everything louder, but it still relies on the inner ear to do the work,” says Dr. Edelmayer. If the inner ear is too damaged or underdeveloped, amplification alone doesn’t help.

Cochlear implants provide:

• Improved speech understanding
• Better clarity, especially in noisy environments
• Access to sound for people with profound hearing loss
• The ability to bypass non-functional portions of the inner ear

Who is a Candidate for Cochlear Implant Surgery?

Candidacy is determined through an evaluation that includes hearing tests, speech understanding measures, and medical assessments. You or your child may be a candidate for cochlear implants if you have:

• Profound hearing loss in one or both ears
• Word recognition scores below about 40%
• Hearing loss of 80 decibels or greater
• Sudden hearing loss due to illness or injury
• Difficulty understanding speech even when using well-fitted hearing aids

Cochlear implants are also commonly covered by insurance, including many commercial plans.

What Is the Best Age for a Cochlear Implant?

Cochlear implants may be performed as early as six months old, allowing a child’s brain to develop speech and language pathways during the most important learning window. Early intervention is critical for children with congenital or early-onset hearing loss.

Meet Northern Utah’s Cochlear Implant Specialist

Dr. Luke Edelmayer, Otolaryngologist (ENT)

Dr. Edelmayer is one of the only cochlear implant surgeons in Northern Utah and the sole provider offering this procedure at Ogden Clinic. His expertise spans pediatric and adult hearing loss, cochlear implant evaluation and surgery, auditory rehabilitation, and long-term device management. Patients choose Dr. Edelmayer for his unique combination of surgical precision, experience, and deep passion for helping people reconnect with sound.