Inside the World of Cochlear Implants
In recent years, thousands of individuals with profound or severe hearing loss have received cochlear implants. These devices help provide the sensation of sound to people with inner ear damage.
Cochlear implants are particularly beneficial for those with sensorineural hearing loss. Inside the inner ear, there’s a structure called the cochlea, which houses tiny hairs known as stereocilia. These hairs send sound to the auditory nerve through electrical signals. If these hairs are damaged or improperly developed, the ear can’t transmit these signals effectively.
### How Do Cochlear Implants Work?
Cochlear implants are part of a system that sends sound to the auditory nerve. The external components include a microphone, a speech processor, and a transmitter, while the internal components consist of a receiver and electrodes.
1. The microphone picks up sounds and sends them to the processor.
2. The processor converts these sounds into electrical impulses and sends them to the transmitter.
3. The transmitter forwards these impulses to the receiver implanted behind the ear.
4. The receiver sends the signals to electrodes implanted in the cochlea.
5. Finally, the electrodes transfer these signals to the auditory nerve as sound signals.
While cochlear implants don’t cure deafness, they do provide an opportunity to hear sounds that would otherwise be missed.
### Who Would Benefit from Implants?
Both adults and children can benefit from cochlear implants under specific conditions. Ideal candidates have profound hearing loss in both ears and gain little from traditional hearing aids.
**For Adults:**
– They should have lost hearing after developing speech and language skills.
– They must be willing to integrate into the hearing world and commit to the effort required to learn how to use the implants.
**For Children:**
– When possible, children should be involved in the decision-making process.
– They need to understand the benefits and limitations of the technology.
– They should be committed to the necessary rehabilitation and educational programs to maximize the use of the implants.
### What Happens During the Implant Procedure?
Before deciding on an implant, patients must undergo various medical screenings to confirm they are healthy for surgery and mentally prepared for the process.
The surgery entails placing the receiver behind the ear and inserting sensors in the cochlea. This can be done as an outpatient procedure or might require an overnight hospital stay.
About a month after surgery, once everything has healed, patients will be fitted with the external components. An audiologist will program and activate the implant, allowing the first sounds to reach the auditory nerve through it.
Multiple fittings and adjustments will follow to fine-tune the implant and enhance its reception. Patients will also work with audiologists, speech therapists, and other professionals to improve their speech and learn to respond to the sounds from the implant.
Cochlear implants can significantly improve the lives of those who receive them. Although they aren’t an instant fix for hearing loss, they make participating in the hearing world much more manageable.
