The world sees a good listener as a sensible person, as they can understand and empathize with others. Such people are able to communicate well with others. They can form meaningful relationships, fulfill their responsibilities well and thus live a more complete life. But what about those who cannot hear? The A deaf face significant problems as they are often not given due respect in society and misse golden opportunities in life. In many cases, hearing aids can help if the hearing loss is upto 80%, if the loss is more than that then even this hearing aids cannot help them. For this kind of population (whose loss is more than 80 to 90%) cochlear Implant will help to hear like any other normal hearing persons.
Cochlear implant stimulates the auditory nerve to provide the sensation of the sound and restore hearing to a certain level. The implant can also help the hearing impaired secure a better future. They can now attend personal development programs where they have to listen such as audio books and courses. This will help them evolve as a person and succeed in whatever field they choose.
Cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a hearing impaired.Cochlear Implant includes two major parts, one part of the device is placed externally behind the ear (BTE) or over the ear (OTE) called as speech processor and a second part surgically placed under the skin and this is not visible outside, it’s called as Implant.
External device includes a microphone to pick up sound from the surrounding; A processor to select and arrange sounds picked up by the microphone and a transmitter to send the signals to internal implant. Internal implant includes a receiver/stimulator to receive signals from the speech processor and an electrode array, which is a group of electrodes that gathers and delivers the signals to the auditory nerve.
An implant does not restore complete normal hearing. But, it can give a hearing impaired a useful representation of sounds in the environment. It can also help him or her understand speech.
The FDA first granted its approval to the device during the 1980s to treat hearing loss in adults. The FDA has approved it, but now children as young as 10 months are also eligible to undergo cochlear implant surgery. For young kids who are deaf, using a cochlear implant exposes them to sounds at a critical juncture in their development of speech and language skills. According to research, a young child who has a cochlear implant followed by intense therapy before becoming 18 months old, can better hear, understand sound and music, and communicate than those children who receive implants later in life.
Cochlear implants are also helpful for some people who have lost all or most of their hearing later in life. Out come varies based on the duration of the deafness. Related to outcomes you can contact cochlear implant audiologist.
A surgical procedure and extensive training to learn or relearn how to hear are both required in the use of cochlear implants. A person who opts for a cochlear implant can consult cochlear implant audiologist or cochlear implant surgeon to know about more details.
The cost of cochlear implant surgery is determined by several factors, including the make and type of implant. whether it is a government or private hospital, and the facilities offered. In India, the cost of cochlear implant surgery ranges between 600,000 to 17,50,000 surgery and other post op service costs are extra.
Chief Audiologist & Clinical Specialist in Cochlear Implants
Shravya Speech & Hearing Center, Hyderabad
For more information visit at www.shravyahearingcenter.com or call us on 9966664797 / 9966383222
