| Hearing aid implant is a cross-breed device which | | | | significant improvement in the ability to understand |
| provides a therapeutic option for those patients who | | | | speech, especially in a noisy situation, decreased |
| are not satisfied with hearing aids as they do not | | | | feedback as well as a significant reduction in infections |
| adequately distinguish sounds. Hearing aids typically are | | | | and discomfort. The implant has a thin electrode, |
| miniature amplifying devices worn outside the ear by | | | | occupies less space in the inner ear, and is implanted |
| people who have some natural hearing. Cochlear | | | | by special surgical techniques thus preserving natural |
| implants are surgically implanted within the ear so as to | | | | hearing. |
| enable those patients who have no hearing left to pick | | | | Researchers believe that this is due to a synergistic |
| up and distinguish middle and higher frequency sounds. | | | | effect achieved by preserving natural hearing and |
| These bypass the damaged portions of the ear and | | | | coupling it with the cochlear implant, resulting in a device |
| directly stimulate the auditory nerve, and the electrical | | | | which amplifies low frequencies while simultaneously |
| impulses are sent to the brain via wires implanted in | | | | stimulating middle and high frequencies electronically. |
| the ear. | | | | The implantation of the hearing aid implant is an |
| The hearing aid implant is a new alternative to the | | | | outpatient procedure and takes about two hours. The |
| traditional hearing aid providing superior acoustics. It | | | | cost of the implant is around $10,000, but the device |
| consists of two components: an internally implanted | | | | proves to be more cost effective than a conventional |
| receiver and an external audio processor which work | | | | hearing aid as its life is ten years as against the three |
| synergistically in order to enhance the middle ear | | | | to four years that a hearing aid lasts. |
| hearing function in patients with some residual natural | | | | The use of this device is still investigational, and given |
| hearing. | | | | that there have been no randomized case control trials |
| The external processor nestles behind the ear and | | | | demonstrating it efficacy and potential risks, patients |
| transmits sounds across the skin to the receiver. | | | | are advised to thoroughly discuss its relative merits |
| These signals are converted into vibrations by the | | | | and drawbacks with their otolaryngologist before |
| receiver and transmitted into a miniature transducer in | | | | considering the procedure. Anecdotal reports suggest |
| the middle ear via a thin wire, which mechanically | | | | that the most common serious complication is loss of |
| vibrates the ossicles. | | | | the residual hearing in the ear receiving the implant. |
| As the energy is directly transmitted to the middle ear | | | | Significant hearing loss has been reported in 10 percent |
| bones, problems related to poor acoustics, background | | | | to 15 percent of recipients. |
| noise and general discomfort are eliminated. As the | | | | The hearing aid implant can prove to be a blessing for |
| process bypasses both the auditory canal and the | | | | the particular subgroup of patients it targets by |
| eardrum, the resultant sound clarity is much better. | | | | amplifying as well as electrically transducing the |
| Specialists believe that patients can hope for a | | | | frequencies lost to the hearing impaired ear. |