Cochlear Implants What is a Cochlear Implant It

Cochlear Implants

What is a Cochlear Implant? • It is a surgically implanted device that delivers electrical stimulation within the ear. It contains both internal & external parts. • External Parts: Microphone Transmitter coil Speech Processor Internal Parts Electrodes Receiver/Stimulator

Where are the parts located? • The electrodes are surgically implanted in the cochlea, where they stimulate the nerves. • The receiver is implanted just below the skin behind the ear. • A magnet holds the coil in place next to the implanted surgical system. • The microphone & processor may be behind the ear or may be worn in a pocket, belt pouch, or harness.

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Who uses implants? • It can help severely or profoundly deaf adults & children who get little or no benefit from hearing aids. • Those who experience deafness from nerve damage may benefit from the implant.

How does the implant work? • The microphone picks up the sound. • The processor converts the sound to an electrical signal and sends it to the coil. • The signal is transmitted to the implanted receiver by radio waves. • The receiver sends the signal to the electrodes implanted in the cochlea. • The electrodes stimulate the nerves in the cochlea.

Videos about Implants: • “How a Cochlear Implant Works” • “Cochlear Implant Surgery Thomas Jefferson” • “ 29 years old and hearing myself for the 1 st time”

What determines the success? • How long the person has been deaf • How old the person was when they became deaf (pre-lingual or post-lingual) • How long they have had the implant (if they actually use it and if they can make sense of the information from the implant) • Health of the cochlea • Age when they got the implant • How quickly they learn

What determines the success? • How good their support system is • How hard they work on speech therapy

Benefits • • • Can hear (duh!) Can watch tv without captions Can use a regular telephone Can enjoy music Possibility for better education, better jobs Easier for hearing parents

Medical Risks • General anesthesia risks – some have serious side effects • Injury to facial nerve near implant site • Infection • Dizziness/vertigo • Tinnitus • Taste disturbances • Meningitis – infection of the lining of the brain • Numbness around the ear

Other drawbacks, arguments • • • Implant might not work Expensive Destroys hearing completely Some say it’s not natural Some believe it’s not moral – against God’s design • Hours of speech therapy required • Supposed to give up signing – depend on implant • Some believe it destroys Deaf culture

Miscellaneous Info • Children should be implanted 10 months to 2 years, during optimal time for learning language • Ear with least residual hearing is implanted because it destroys any hearing you have • Implants don’t make someone a hearing person • People hear implant sounds differently • Implants must be removed before showering, swimming, etc.

Miscellaneous Info • Cost is approximately $65, 000. • N. A. D. recommends parents look at every aspect before making a decision. Talk to doctors, deaf people, implanted patients, etc.

Conclusion: • There is not one right answer for every situation. Many factors must be considered before making the decision about an implant.