Mr. Shay Kearns:

It is difficult to say. It depends on each case, but it has been proven that if the hearing nerve is not stimulated within six to seven years - a report issued in the UK this year says four to five years - there is significant loss in benefit of a cochlear implant. This can range from being able to hear clearly what I am saying now to just hearing a mumbling sound, but not understanding it. The person is aware there is a sound, but has no understanding of what the sound is.