[30 years of the cochlear implantations in the Czech Republic]

Cochlear implant is the unique sensory neuroprosthesis and still the only one used in clinical praxis. The function of the inner ear is replaced with direct electrical stimulation of the cochlear nerve. It is 30 years since the first cochlear implantation has been performed with the Czech single-channel cochlear neuroprosthesis. There are more than one thousand users of cochlear implants in the Czech Republic nowadays. Cochlear implants have become a standard of care of patients with severe hearing loss. It allows user inclusion to the society with only a minimum of obstacles.Key words: cochlear implant, history, neuroprosthesis, severe hearing loss.