What you need to know about Cochlear Implants?
If you or your family member suffers from severe to profound hearing loss, Cochlear implants may be the solution for you.
There are degrees of hearing loss:
Normal hearing Loss– (0-25 dB): Hearing is normal at this level.
Mild Hearing Loss (26-40dB) – A mild hearing loss may cause an inability to focus and increases efforts in listening.
Moderate Hearing Loss (41–55 dB):This may affect articulation and overall communication with peers. This causes trouble in hearing some conversational speech.
Severe Hearing Loss (71–90 dB): Severe hearing loss severely affects overall communication.
Profound hearing Loss (>90 dB): With profound hearing loss (deafness), speech and language deteriorate.
If you have ‘Severeto Profound hearing loss, a Cochlear Implant can be the right solution to living a better life again.
What is a Cochlear Implant?
Cochlear implant is a two-part electronic device that stimulates the hearing nerve (cochlear nerve) in your ear. It consists an external part which has the microphone and the speech processor that sits behind your ear. The internal part which consists of the implant and electrode array, is surgically placed and is not visible.
How does Cochlear Implant work?
The microphone that is lodged outside your ear picks up sounds from the environment. It then processes the sounds and sends it to the internal part of the implant.
The internal part consists of a thin wire and small electrodes implanted through a short stay surgery. The electrodes lead to the cochlea which is a part of the inner ear. After receiving signals from the microphone, the wire converts them into electric impulses. The electrodes collect these impulses and send them to different areas in the auditory nerve which leads to the brain. The brain recognizes these signals as sound.
It is a myth that Cochlear implant is a kind of a brain surgery. Hearing through Cochlear implant is different from normal hearing. It takes repeated learning over a period of time.
At The Hear Lab, we help you with Cochlear Implant surgeries as well as Counselling.
Contact us or drop in at our clinic to know more.