This article focuses on the role that cochlear im-plants may play in psychosocial/identity development. It also explains the concept of identity, how it evolves, and what deaf-related identities mean. The important message in this article is that the cochlear implant is merely a tool. It does not define a person. How the per-son with a cochlear implant is defined depends both on his/her internal resources, personality, and how welco-ming and supportive is the environment. Key words: Cochlear implants. Deaf identities. Psycho-social.
