| Extensive research on how to reverse loss of hearing | | | | available information. To determine if you are a |
| in patients began in the 1950's and continued until | | | | candidate for this type of hearing instrument, you need |
| scientists and medical researches finally sprung upon a | | | | to visit a medical specialist. If you doctor gives the |
| breakthrough. This breakthrough was a hearing | | | | go-ahead for the surgery, it might be helpful to talk with |
| instrument called a cochlear implant. | | | | someone who has undergone the cochlear implant |
| The technique did not become immediately available to | | | | surgery. |
| the public until the Food and Drug Administration finally | | | | Talking with someone who has an implant can help |
| approved its use in the 1980s. Individuals who suffer | | | | you prepare for what you need to do after your |
| from a hearing disability suddenly found that they had | | | | surgery is over. You will have to undergo speech and |
| a new opportunity to gain their sense of hearing again. | | | | language therapy from a speech pathologist or |
| Since then the introduction of the cochlear implant has | | | | audiologists. This can be an extremely time-consuming |
| revolutionized the way the deaf and hard-of-hearing | | | | and frustrating task, especially for a child having to |
| individuals have been able to interact with the rest of | | | | learn unfamiliar sounds. But repeated practice |
| the world. | | | | eventually leads to successful hearing with a cochlear |
| The Typical Person Likely to be Suitable for a | | | | implant. |
| Cochlear Implant | | | | Life after Implant Surgery |
| Candidates for a cochlear implant can be of any age, | | | | The difficulty of the surgery comes with the therapy |
| the obvious requirement must be that they suffer from | | | | afterwards. Adults who have lost their hearing later in |
| a severe hearing disability. Hearing problems can occur | | | | life may have an easier time adapting to this hearing |
| at any age, but for most adults hearing loss it usually | | | | instrument because they are already familiar with a |
| develops gradually and over a period of time. The | | | | variety of sounds. Children, on the other hand, can |
| cause are wide and various and can range from | | | | have a difficult time with this type of hearing |
| employment related damage, living environment, illness, | | | | instrument, especially if they were born deaf. They will |
| or medications. All these can promulgate hearing loss in | | | | have to learn new languages and sound associations |
| adults. They degree of the problem can only be | | | | from scratch because they won't have a mental |
| analyzed during a hearing test which will tell you how | | | | library of sounds to go by. |
| severe the hearing loss is in your ears, and assist your | | | | If you are thinking that a cochlear implant may benefit |
| doctor to know if you could be a possible candidate. | | | | you, we suggest that you consult with your doctor to |
| For children, the processes are a little different. To find | | | | see if you are a possible candidate. By doing this, you |
| out if your child has a hearing disability, it is important | | | | can find out how extensive your hearing loss really is |
| for them to undergo hearing tests at a young age, | | | | through a series of hearing tests. You might also find |
| usually beginning when they are babies. If you have a | | | | your problem solved through a less complicated |
| child diagnosed with a hearing disability after having a | | | | solution. As research about cochlear implants |
| series of hearing tests, then cochlear implants may be | | | | continues, doctors will be more able to determine who |
| a solution. | | | | can benefit the most from this device and how to |
| Before having surgery for a cochlear implant, it is | | | | make them more readily available for those who |
| imperative you make good decisions based on all the | | | | suffer from hearing loss. |