C. Scott Brown, MD, neurotologist and Director of the Cochlear Implant Program at the Atlanta Institute for ENT, has become the first surgeon in Georgia and the Southeast region of the United States, and first private-practice surgeon in the country, to surgically implant Cochlear Americas’ newly released internal cochlear implant device— the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Nexa Implant, the world’s first and only smart cochlear implant. Built on over 40 years of Cochlear’s proven reliability, the Nexa Implant features upgradeable firmware and internal memory, allowing patients to access future innovations and instantly activate new or replacement sound processors via Smart Sync. This milestone marks a new era in hearing technology—designed to evolve with the patient and deliver long-term confidence in their hearing journey.
Cochlear implants can be life changing because they allow people with severe-to-profound hearing loss to once again access sound. For many patients, this means the ability to communicate more naturally, re-engage socially, and participate more fully in school, work, and family life.
Cochlear’s newest implant combines greater reliability, enhanced surgical flexibility, and compatibility with their most advanced sound processor technology. These improvements are designed to support long-term hearing outcomes and a better quality of life for patients. https://www.cochlear.com/us/en/home
“This advancement represents a milestone for patients in Georgia and across the Southeast,” said Dr. Brown. “My goal is to ensure that every individual has access to the most advanced, effective, and safe hearing technology available. This new implant provides enhanced longevity, improved performance, and the potential to broaden hearing opportunities for both children and adults with severe-to-profound hearing loss.”
Dr. Brown personally performs approximately 150 cochlear implant surgeries annually, placing him among the highest-volume cochlear implant surgeons in the United States. He collaborates closely with audiologists at the Atlanta Institute for ENT, as well as a broad network of providers across Georgia and the Southeast, ensuring timely access to specialized care even in regions where it would otherwise be limited.
The first implantation of this device in Georgia reflects both Dr. Brown’s leadership and the Atlanta Institute for ENT’s dedication to clinical innovation, bringing the most advanced treatments directly to the community. https://www.ai4ent.com/our-team/scott-brown
About Dr. C. Scott Brown
A Georgia native, Dr. Brown earned his B.A. in Chemistry (magna cum laude) from Vanderbilt University and his M.D. from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He completed his residency in Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery at Duke University, where he founded the otolaryngology section for the Journal of Medical Insight and served on patient-safety and quality committees. He went on to complete a Neurotology & Skull Base Surgery Fellowship at the University of Miami Ear Institute.
His clinical practice spans the management of ear, hearing, balance, and skull base disorders, including cochlear implantation, chronic ear surgery, facial nerve disorders, otosclerosis, bone conduction hearing aids, and acoustic neuromas. He has published peer-reviewed research, contributed to surgical education, and received the Otolaryngology Fellow Teaching Award twice for his dedication to training the next generation of surgeons.
About Atlanta Institute for ENT
The Atlanta Institute for ENT provides advanced ear, nose, and throat care with the quality of a university hospital practice and the personal attention of a private practice. The cochlear implant program, led by Dr. Brown, has expanded drastically over the last four years. As a leading front-runner in surgical and audiologic care for ear, nose, and throat conditions, the institute delivers life-changing treatments to patients across metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia.