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Cochlear
Implant
- Hearing Loss Aid
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How
Hearing Works
 
Your ear consists of 3 parts:
- Outer ear: the visible outer portion
of the ear and ear canal
- Middle ear: the eardrum and three
tiny bones
- Inner ear: the fluid-filled cochlea,
which contains thousands of tiny sound receptors called
hair cell
For people with normal hearing, sound passes through
all three parts of the ear. The outer ear collects the
sound and directs it to the eardrum, causing it to vibrate.
This vibration creates a chain reaction in the three
tiny bones of the middle ear. Motion of these bones
causes fluid to move throughout the inner ear, or cochlea.
As the fluid moves, thousands of tiny sound receptors
(called hair cells) that line the cochlea bend back
and forth. When the hair cells move, they send electrical
signals to the hearing nerve, which carries them to
the brain where they are interpreted as sound.
About Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss typically occurs when part
of the inner ear (cochlea, hair cells, hearing nerve)
is damaged or destroyed. Sensorineural hearing loss,
also known as 'nerve deafness,' may have a variety of
causes, such as heredity, aging, disease, infection
or loud 'toxic' noise.
Despite the term “nerve deafness,” the
hearing nerve itself is rarely damaged. Instead, damage
most often occurs in the hair cells located in the cochlea,
which serve to send sound information (electrical signals)
to the hearing nerve. When hair cells are damaged, they
are unable to send sound information to the hearing
nerve and the person experiences hearing loss.
The degree of hearing loss depends on the number of
hair cells that are damaged. If only a small percentage
of hair cells are damaged, a person might experience
a mild or moderate hearing loss and may benefit from
the use of hearing aids. If a significant number of
hair cells are damaged, a person might experience severe
or profound hearing loss, and even loud sounds may be
difficult to understand.
In cases of severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing
loss, a doctor or audiologist may recommend that the
person be evaluated for a cochlear implant.
What is a cochlear
implant
The cochlear implant is a technological wonder. It
is the only medical technology able to partially restore
a human sense - hearing. Specifically, the cochlear
implant is an implanted device with an external mini-computer
called a sound processor. The processor translates the
surrounding sounds into signals that can be sent to
the hearing nerve and can be recognized by the brain
as sound. The sound processor and implant successfully
bypass the part of the auditory system that is damaged
and enhance hearing ability. This enables you or your
child to more easily interact with the world.
View
Amination
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1. Sound Processor -
captures sound from the environment, processes the
sound into digital information, then transmits it
to the implant. |
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2. Implant - converts the information
into signals that the electrode delivers to the
hearing nerve. |
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3. Hearing Nerve - carries the
sound information to the brain, where it is heard. |
In short, cochlear implants successfully
bypass the part of the auditory system that is damaged
and prevents you or your child from hearing well.
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Why do people get a Cochlear Implant?
Simply put, they want to hear better, or they want
their child to hear better. Much better. Their family
members want them to hear better, too. They want to
be included instead of being left out. They want to
be able to use the telephone, enjoy music, and hear
the sounds of nature. They want more opportunity for
the future. They want to be independent. They want to
relax and participate in the world of sound around them.
They want to hear life.
Who is eligible to receive a Cochlear Implant?
Typically, someone with severe-to-profound hearing
loss is unable to use the telephone reliably and has
real difficulty hearing in noisy environments even with
the use of hearing aids. Severely or profoundly hard
of hearing adults with "nerve deafness" (sensorineural
hearing loss) may be eligible to receive a cochlear
implant. Children with profound hearing loss in both
ears and who are 12 months of age or older may also
be candidates. Most people with severe or profound hearing
loss are considered candidates. The only way to determine
if you or your child is a cochlear implant candidate
is to be evaluated at a professional cochlear implant
center.
Please
note: The contents found on this page, in regards to
Cochlear Implants, are NOT sponsored or paid advertisements.
The Cochlear Implant information is for educational
and informational purposes only. The contents and images
are copyrighted and owned by Advanced Bionics. Implants.com
has been granted permission to display this content
and the images. For more information about Advanced
Bionics, please visit their website at advancedbionics.com.
Only doctors, (listed within the Implants.com doctor
directory) are paid listings or advertisements.
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