Cochlear Implants

Cochlear Implants

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that restores hearing for people anywhere from hard of hearing to the profoundly deaf. The cochlear implant is surgically implanted under the skin behind the ear. The surgeon puts the electrode array inside the inner ear and than inside the cochlea. The implant works by a device outside the ear, which rests on the skin behind the ear. It is held upright by a magnet and is also connected by a lead to a sound professor.

What happens when you get a cochlear implant? First, you are given an injection to make you fall asleep. Once you’re asleep the hair behind your ear is shaved off. Then you have the operation tat usually lasts from 2-4 hours. The doctor cuts behind your ear and puts the implant into the bone right there. Next he places an electrical array the curls inside your cochlea. When you wake up you are sent home for a few days to rest. After you are all rested you go to an audiologist to get the sound professor programmed. The sound professor is a main part is allowing

you to hear when you have a cochlear implant and when it’s not in, you won’t hear anything. Once the sound professor is programmed you with be able to hear.

The cochlear implant uses a much different method to enable a person to hear opposed to a normal hearing ear. The cochlear implant has five parts; a microphone, sound processor, head piece, implant and hearing nerve. The microphones function is to capture sound from the outside environment. A sound processor than selects and arranges all the sounds captured from the microphone. The headpiece sends the signal through the skin and to the implant to pick up. Than the implant picks up the sound and sends it through the lead and to the electrode array. Finally, the sound is picked up by the hearing nerve and the message is sent to the brain.

When a person with normal hearing hears the sound travels along the ear then bounces against the ear drum. The eardrum, the bones inside, and the cochlea vibrate and move thousands of tiny hairs inside the ear. When these hairs move an electrical response occurs. This electrical response goes to the hearing nerve and then it is send to the brain.

Cochlear implants cost much more then a hearing aid. Insurance companies don’t cover the cost of hearing aids however; most companies do cover the cost of getting a cochlear implant. Figuring out the average price of a cochlear implant includes evaluation, the implant itself, surgery and rehabilitation. The total cost including these four things is $40,000.00. Most people think that the fee is well worth it.

Cochlear implants are becoming more and more popular now. Even babies as young as 12 months are receiving