The Beacon

Cochlear implants are small and highly complex electronic devices which enables people with acute degree of deafness to have sense of hearing to some extent. More popularly called the bionic ear, cochlear implants are used at least by an estimated 200,000 people worldwide. This implant is pretty much similar to the basic hearing aids except that this device is fitted deep inside the ear by surgical means. The mode of functioning and usage of cochlear implants is vastly different from that of hearing aids. Hearing aids function by increasing the amplitude of the incoming sound waves and these waves are in turn picked up by the slightly damaged audio-sensory receptors. These devices are fitted outside the ear and are used mainly for people with mild to moderate level of hearing defects. Cochlear implants on the other hand are fixed inside the ear which bypass the eardrum and directly stimulate the auditory nerve which leads up to the brain.

Cochlear implant devices are essentially made of four parts namely a microphone, speech processor and amplifier, transmitter and stimulator and an electrode array which is a set of electrodes that collect signals from the receiving stimulator which in turn activates various regions of the auditory canal. The fitting of cochlear implants to a patient is a big task in itself. The success of installing cochlear implants depends on the age of the person, cause for deafness, minimum hearing capacity of the ear, health and ability of the person to recognize speech. The surgical procedure for fixing cochlear implants is relatively simple taking from 1 and ½ to 5 hours. The surgical procedure is prone to some risk just like in other cases with the possibility of damaging facial nerves while removing the device. Once the device is fixed in the ear, the patient automatically loses his natural hearing ability, so it is advisable to opt for one bionic device than two.

The efficacy of cochlear implants varies from person to person. While some people experience improved hearing ability after getting cochlear implants, there are still others who feel using the implant is worse than hearing without it. However, cochlear implants prove to be a blessing for people who suffer from deafblindness since it orients the person’s sense of balance present in the ear and promote interaction with other people around. It also helps people to regain the ability to understand and remember speech.

There are certain disadvantages associated with fixing cochlear implants in the inner ear. Due the process of implantation of the device, the delicate nerves connecting to the cochlea may be damaged. Candidates seeking cochlear implants go through a series of battery tests to ensure that the cochlear implants will function effectively in the patients’ ears.

Phonak hearing aids are a very reliable and durable brand of hearing aid.