When someone has a hearing loss, there are several options that may be considered to help restore or create an improved sense of hearing. One of these options is the classic and familiar hearing aid. Another option is the cochlear implant. While the classic hearing aid appears to have been mostly accepted and incorporated into deaf society, there has been a torrent of controversy about the cochlear implant since the device was first introduced several decades ago.

Why is there a difference in perception between the classic hearing aid and the cochlear implant, and why has there been such controversy over the implant?

The classic hearing aid can be contained mostly within the ear, or can have an additional component that hangs over the ear and tucks behind the ear. The cochlear implant is a device whose use requires head surgery that includes implantation of electrodes into the cochlea, which is the organ of hearing in the inner ear. In addition a small magnetic plate is inserted under the skin. The exterior parts of the device are attached to the user’s head by the use of this plate and by looping over the ear like the classic hearing aid.

Those in favor of the use of cochlear implants very often hold the medical view that hearing loss is a deficiency that should be corrected if possible. They feel that the implants represent nothing more culturally significant than a nearsighted person adopting the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Those not in favor of the implants often hold the position that deafness is not a deficiency, but that it is an identity and a culture. They fear that cochlear implants will contribute to the destruction of that culture. In some cases there may also be discomfort about the actual implantation of technology into the body.

A cochlear implant is an electronic hearing aid that comes in several parts. The first part is the microphone. It is worn hanging behind the ear, like a traditional hearing aid. It is attached by wires to a transmitter and a speech processor, which contain a magnet.

The second part is surgically implanted under the skin covering the mastoid bone, which is the bone just behind the ear. The third part is implanted into the round window of the cochlea, which is the part of the inner ear that is designed for hearing. The round window is a tiny membrane in the wall of the cochlea.

The cochlear implant’s speech processor is worn against the head, attached by a magnet through the skin to the second part implanted under the skin. On those users who wear their hair short, the outer components of a cochlear implant are much more visible than a traditional hearing aid.

A patient who has received a cochlear implant must recover from the surgery for several weeks before the implant can be activated. When it is activated, the device must be “mapped” to deliver amplification that is tailored to the user’s particular hearing loss.

Children who receive these implants may be surprised by the new restrictions they face. Due to the possibility of static discharge, these children cannot play with balloons or play in ball pits, or engage in any other activities that may produce static electricity. Any static discharge would erase the individualized mapping of the implant.

What are the best- and worst-case scenarios of using a cochlear implant? Some users report life-changing results that seem nothing short of miraculous. Conversely, some users receive very little benefit from the device. There are many variables that may affect the results achieved. These variables include the user’s pre-existing physical conditions, the user’s level of language development, and the age of onset of the hearing loss. In addition, during implantation any natural residual hearing the user may have had is permanently destroyed. Like any device, a cochlear implant eventually wears out and will need to be replaced, necessitating further surgery.

If the prospective user is very young, the decision to implant this device can be a difficult one for the child’s parents. In order for parents to make a well-informed decision, all the possible advantages as well as the risks and disadvantages must be presented and carefully weighed.

For more information on assisted devices for those with a hearing loss, please visit hearmore.com.

http://hearmore.com

Source: EzineArticles.com