Ever heard of or about Cochlear Implants?

– A cochlear implant is a small electronic medical device that improves moderate to severe hearing loss. It's used to help hearing loss in adults, children, and babies.

The device works by bypassing the damaged parts of the inner ear and directly stimulating the auditory nerve with electrical signals. These signals are then interpreted by the brain as sounds.

– A cochlear implant consists of two main parts: an external sound processor and an internal implant. The sound processor is worn behind the ear or on the body and captures sound from the environment. It converts the sound into digital signals and sends them to the implant through a coil that is attached to the head with a magnet.

– The implant is surgically placed under the skin behind the ear and contains a receiver and an electrode array. The receiver receives the signals from the sound processor and delivers them to the electrode array, which is inserted into the cochlea (the spiral-shaped part of the inner ear).

– The electrodes stimulate different areas of the cochlea depending on the frequency and intensity of the sound, creating a sensation of hearing.

– Cochlear implants are different from hearing aids, which amplify sound and rely on the functioning of the inner ear. Cochlear implants can provide hearing for people who have severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss, which means that their inner ear is damaged or not working properly.

– Cochlear implants can also help people who have mixed hearing loss, which means that they have both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss (caused by problems in the outer or middle ear).

– Cochlear implants can improve communication, speech understanding, quality of life, and social interaction for people with hearing loss. However, they also have some limitations and risks.

– Some of the benefits and drawbacks of cochlear implants are:

Benefits

• They can help people hear sounds that they could not hear before or hear better than with hearing aids.

• They can help people understand speech in quiet and noisy environments, as well as on the phone or through other devices.

• They can help children develop speech and language skills and attend mainstream schools.

• They can help adults regain or maintain their employment and independence.

• They can help people enjoy music, entertainment, and hobbies.

Drawbacks

• They do not restore normal hearing or eliminate the need for lipreading or other communication strategies.

• They require surgery, which has some risks such as infection, bleeding, nerve damage, or device failure.

• They require regular follow-up visits, maintenance, and adjustments.

• They may cause side effects such as headaches, dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or facial twitching.

• They may not work well for everyone or in every situation.

– If you are interested in getting a cochlear implant, you will need to undergo a comprehensive evaluation by a team of professionals, including an otolaryngologist (ENT doctor), an audiologist, a speech-language pathologist, a psychologist, and a social worker. They will assess your medical history, hearing level, speech and language abilities, motivation, expectations, and support system. You will also need to have a trial with a hearing aid to see if you can benefit from it before considering a cochlear implant.

– The surgery to implant the device usually takes about 2 to 4 hours and is done under general anesthesia. You will need to stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days after the surgery. The implant will be activated about 2 to 6 weeks after the surgery by an audiologist who will program the device according to your hearing needs and preferences. You will also need to attend regular sessions of auditory rehabilitation with a speech-language pathologist who will help you learn how to use and optimize your cochlear implant.

– The cost of a cochlear implant varies depending on your insurance coverage, location, type of device, and services required. The average cost in the United States is about $100,000 per ear , which includes the device, surgery, hospitalization, programming, rehabilitation, and follow-up care. Some insurance plans may cover part or all of the cost of a cochlear implant. You may also qualify for financial assistance from various sources such as government programs, foundations, charities, or manufacturers.