Patients

Welcome to the patients' area. Learn more about cochlear implants in this dedicated area for Patients.

Professionals

Are you a Professional? Please explore this area for helpful resources and information for your profession.

Welcome to the British Cochlear Implant Group

BCIG is a unique group of health care professionals and other interested parties in cochlear implant provision in the UK. The BCIG believes that if a patient meets the criteria for a cochlear implant as specified in the NICE Guidance, funding for that treatment must be provided by the appropriate healthcare commissioning body following a positive assessment by the specialist cochlear implant centre.

Explore About Us

BCIG Meeting 2025

22065

people in the UK use cochlear implants

1395

New UK cochlear implant recipients 2022/2023

Cochlear implants improve quality of life

What are cochlear implants?

A cochlear implant is an electronic device which may be suitable for children and adults who receive little benefit from conventional hearing aids. Conventional hearing aids work by making sounds louder.

A cochlear implant is different because sounds are turned into tiny electrical pulses, which are sent directly to the nerve of hearing. The implant can therefore bypass some of the inner ear structures which are not working. Naturally it is important to remember that no electronic device can be expected to restore function to the levels experienced by a normally hearing ear.

Learn More About Cochlear Implants