The Cochlear Implant School Toolkit

6 - Hearing and Language Challenges

Hearing challenge: Locating sound sources

Sound waves travel to a person from all directions, and the brain learns to locate sound sources. This is relatively easy for hearing people, who hear in stereo, or in both ears.

If a child hears with only one ear or through one microphone on his or her implant, then he or she has less chance to determine where the sounds originated.

Even a child with bilateral cochlear implants may have difficulty locating sound sources.