Cochlear implants are sophisticated medical devices that help in hearing correctly. They are commonly used for people who have severe hearing loss but with some residual hearing ability. They do not cure the hearing loss or restore hearing at home; in fact, help to understand the things properly by bypassing the sound from the damaged ear to the brain. Unlike ordinary hearing aids, they require surgical implantation.
Here is who can go for a cochlear implant?
They are the best hearing solutions for adults and children. Adults are often benefited immediately and start improving after three months of the initial session. Performance continues as time passes for many years. Adults with following symptoms are a candidate of cochlear implant:
- Severe hearing loss in both ears
- Get benefited from ordinary hearing aids very little or not at all
- Have no medical problem that can bring danger during the implantation
- Have will power improve and go for the implantation to listen and communicate the world better
On the other hand, children improve at a slower rate, and they require training after the implantation to become more familiar with their new hearing device. Children under 12 months are eligible for the treatment. After implantation, then needs to go through intense speech and language therapy to achieve the best possible outcome.
These implantations become imperative for the children when they;
- Have severe hearing loss in both ears
- do not get benefited from normal hearing aids at all
- Healthy and do not have medical complications
- Have the support of parents and other educational programs to help them recover and develop auditory skills
People who report that they perceive with different types of sounds such as the sound of footsteps, engines, the ringing of the telephone, rusting of leaves. They can also go for a cochlear implant to clear the symptoms. They also help people to watch TV more easily and enjoy music as well.
What are the risks of a surgical implant?
As stated above, unlike normal hearing aids cochlear implant is a surgical process, so it brings some risks with it as well.
Cerebrospinal fluid leakage
The brain is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid which protects it from friction and responsible for its health. When a hole is created in the inner ear or anywhere else the covering around the brain can damage, which can lead to the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.
Injury to the facial nerve
The middle ear is related to the face movements because it lies close to the face. Any injury in the ear can lead to temporary or permanent paralysis on one or both sides of a face.
Infections
The cuts in the skin made at the time of surgery can lead to a skin wound and eventually the moreover the blood or fluid can collect at the site of the surgery and cause numbness around the ear.
Damage Taste Sense
The nerve that gives the taste sense can cause all cells to get damaged due to any problem with the middle ear. This can disturb the taste sense permanently.