| A Cochlear Implant is a small surgically implanted | | | | of recognising the new senses and relating them to |
| device that gives profoundly deaf and severely hard | | | | sounds they remember meaning they are comfortable |
| of hearing people the sense of sound. The device | | | | with communication normally, based on using just the |
| does not restore or replicate normal hearing, but it | | | | device alone. Young children who have pre-lingual |
| gives the user a sense of sound which is enough to | | | | deafness generally may need to learn an additional |
| help them understand speech. | | | | sign language, speech reading, lip-reading or cued |
| There are over 200,000 cochlear implants in use | | | | speech technique to help them understand the senses |
| worldwide, generally found in the west due to the | | | | that they are feeling. |
| costs associated with the materials and technology, | | | | Children who receive the implant early, and have the |
| the implant surgery and the post-implantation therapy | | | | correct amount of post implantation therapy can go on |
| needed. In recent years, bilateral implants are becoming | | | | to learn speech, a language and social skills. The |
| more commonplace (one implant in each year). | | | | majority of children who get the implant are between 1 |
| The device comprises of a; -Microphone that can pick | | | | and 5 years old. Children who receive it earlier will be |
| up sounds from the environment, -Voice processor | | | | exposed to sounds that are beneficial during the critical |
| which selects sounds picked up by the microphone | | | | period when children learn speech and language skills. |
| -Transmitter and stimulator which receives sound | | | | Who can be considered for an implant? |
| signals from the voice processor and convert them | | | | In the UK, Cochlear Implants will be considered for |
| into electric impulses, -And an electrode array which is | | | | anyone who cannot gain any useful input from hearing |
| a group of electrodes that collects the impulses from | | | | aids, and must instead rely solely on lip reading or sign |
| the stimulator and sends them to the cochlea to be | | | | language to communicate. Your family doctor should |
| carried to the brain via the scala tympani. | | | | always be your first contact when looking to discuss |
| The actual implant is placed beneath the skin behind | | | | this procedure. |
| the ear, and the transmitter and the electrode array is | | | | Some children who have received implants early in life |
| placed in position so that external movement will not | | | | have had a sufficient benefit from them and had no |
| misplace them. Externally, the microphone covers this | | | | problem joining mainstream education and living an |
| location, connected to the voice processor, which | | | | ordinary life. If you are an adult and are having been |
| usually fixes behind the ear like any other hearing aid. | | | | advised to look into cochlear implants, you should look |
| Some voice processors are too large for this location, | | | | for one of the 20 implantation centres across the UK. |
| so can be worn in a pouch, on the belt, or on a collar. | | | | There, the staff will carry out the necessary tests and |
| The larger the voice processor, the greater the ability | | | | predict the benefits that the surgery may bring. As the |
| of a system to pick out and amplify the relevant | | | | technology develops, the criteria for deciding whether |
| speech sounds. Because electronic technology is | | | | somebody might be a suitable candidate for a |
| improving at a rapid pace, it is expected that these | | | | cochlear implant also change. |
| larger voice processors will soon become outdated. | | | | In the United States, the decision to receive an implant |
| There are also far advanced models that can be fully | | | | should involve discussions with medical specialists, like |
| implanted, but not without problems (battery | | | | in the UK, including an experienced cochlear-implant |
| replacement, microphone location), however they are | | | | surgeon. Due to the different healthcare systems |
| not suitable for wide scale use yet. | | | | between the countries, it can be very expensive for a |
| The current method for transmitting the data is through | | | | Cochlear Implant in the US. |
| radio frequency. The microphone is held in place over | | | | A person's healthcare insurance may or may not |
| the implant via a magnet in the implant. There is no | | | | cover the expense, so it is worth checking with your |
| physical connection of the two parts whilst the device | | | | healthcare insurer. Some individuals may choose not to |
| is working to limit the change of infection. This also | | | | have a cochlear implant for a variety of personal |
| means that the device can be removed for sleeping, | | | | reasons. Surgical implantations are almost always safe, |
| battery replacement and upgrades. | | | | although complications are a risk factor, just as with |
| How does a Cochlear Implant Work? | | | | any kind of surgery. Another issue to consider is the |
| A Cochlear Implant differs from the previous | | | | post implantation therapy that is needed. The user will |
| technologies available, such as conventional hearing | | | | have to take time to learn the sounds the implant |
| aids. Cochlear Implants directly stimulate the Cochlea | | | | generates and the senses that the user feels when it |
| and the auditory nerve whereas hearing aids only | | | | is activated and picking up sounds. This process takes |
| amplify sounds so that they can be detected by | | | | time and practice. Speech-language pathologists and |
| damaged ears. | | | | audiologists are frequently involved in this learning |
| Sounds in the air lead to resonant vibrations on the | | | | process. Prior to implantation, all of these factors need |
| basilar membrane in the Cochlea. High pitch sounds | | | | to be considered. |
| create vibrations that do not pass very far over the | | | | What does the future hold for Cochlear Implants? |
| membrane, whereas low pitch sounds create | | | | Technological advances promise to keep this industry |
| vibrations that stretch further. These vibrations cause | | | | developing at an almost alarming rate. Electronic |
| disturbance to microscopic hair around the membrane, | | | | devices will become smaller and cheaper, making them |
| which can be picked up by surrounding nerves. The | | | | even more accessible to a greater number of people, |
| brain is able to interpret which area of the membrane | | | | for a wider number of reasons. |
| is vibrating, so can therefore represent the correct | | | | Currently, scientists and University researchers are |
| sound that is being made. | | | | looking at different uses for the technology, based on |
| Hearing aids, by increasing the sound volume can give | | | | studies of users who already have implants. The |
| the user an idea of the sounds that are around them | | | | quality of sound is being researched - sounds will in the |
| so that damaged hairs can still be stimulated if the | | | | future become more like normal hearing by including a |
| volume is high enough. Cochlear Implants send a | | | | higher density and amount of electrodes. Currently, |
| different type of signal to the brain via the same nerve | | | | there are around 24 electrodes in a device, but |
| systems. This means those who get an implant will | | | | scientists are looking at devices with 240 electrodes. |
| have to learn or relearn how to process this | | | | Also, smaller electrode arrays will provide different |
| information. Once learnt, sounds can be recognised | | | | purpose devices that can be used to target hearing |
| quite well, to an extent, and users can enjoy a | | | | loss in different frequencies - repairing the sense of |
| relatively normal life of hearing. | | | | sound for people who cannot hear high pitched noises. |
| Who has a Cochlear Implant? | | | | As previously mentioned, the wholly internal implant is |
| Children and Adults of any age can be fitted with, and | | | | being developed, which will in the long term offer an |
| benefit from a Cochlear Implant. The youngest | | | | internal microphone and a lifetime battery. This is some |
| recipient of an implant was just 5 months old, and | | | | years away, but as technology advances it, in theory, |
| there is no upper age for implantation. Adults with | | | | should be possible. |
| post-lingual deafness have had very good experiences | | | | |