| Over the course of many decades, there have been a | | | | cochlear implants are not the equivalent of the hearing |
| variety of methods to deal with hearing loss and | | | | aid products known as implantable hearing aids. The |
| provide ways for people who have hearing problems | | | | main difference is that the cochlear implants utilize |
| to enjoy better hearing levels. Hearing aids have been | | | | electricity to directly stimulate nerves in the auditory |
| one of the primary forms of assistive listening devices | | | | system while the implantable hearing devices are |
| and they have undergone many changes and | | | | essentially exactly the same as a standard hearing aid, |
| improvements thanks to high-tech advancements. One | | | | simply implanted "permanently." |
| option to hearing aids for the profoundly deaf has | | | | Traditional hearing loss hearing aids simply amplify the |
| been cochlear implant surgery, which has become | | | | sounds. Cochlear implants work differently in that they |
| more well-known and widely accepted in recent years. | | | | "rewire" the internal workings in such a way that it |
| While the procedure to provide a patient with such | | | | actually bypasses the hair cells that have been |
| implants was first introduced in the mid 1960s, the use | | | | damaged in the ear. Because of this approach, not |
| of these implants did not really become widespread | | | | everyone with severe hearing loss is eligible for |
| until the early 1990s. In fact, there was, and still is, some | | | | cochlear implants. |
| resistance to these devices from the deaf community, | | | | If the patient still has a certain level of hearing, then |
| which actually first reacted with protests to this new | | | | they might be rejected for this procedure. The reason |
| approach to providing better hearing to those with | | | | for this is that the implant will destroy any natural |
| profound hearing loss and deafness. | | | | hearing that is still functioning in the ear that receives |
| Nowadays, the majority of opposition to cochlear | | | | the implant. |
| implant technology is in the past and there is a greater | | | | One interesting note to point out is that even after |
| level of acceptance toward such implants by the | | | | someone receives an implant, they are still considered |
| tight-knit deaf community. One of the main concerns, | | | | to be deaf. In fact, they have the ability to turn their |
| and sources of resistance, was the worry that the | | | | cochlear implants off and when the implants are not |
| very unique culture that the deaf community enjoys | | | | on, they are totally deaf. |
| would be threatened if the use of these implants | | | | More and more deaf adults are deciding to take |
| became widespread. | | | | advantage of the benefits of a cochlear implant and |
| Now some years later, however, it seems the fear of | | | | parents, especially hearing parents, are more often |
| extinguishing the strong and proud culture of the | | | | seeking out cochlear implants for their children who are |
| profoundly deaf was mostly unfounded. Today, such | | | | either born deaf or who have had an illness or |
| implants are no longer seen as a threat to that lifestyle | | | | accident that has left them with severe hearing loss. |
| but instead, as an alternative for better hearing. | | | | The choice is one that is very personal and should be |
| Cochlear implants are also often referred to as an | | | | undertaken only in conjunction with trusted advice from |
| "internal hearing aid." But it should be made clear that | | | | qualified professionals. |