{"id":660,"date":"2022-12-21T13:03:03","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T10:03:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicinehospital.com.tr\/?p=660"},"modified":"2023-07-07T13:27:08","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T13:27:08","slug":"cochlear-implant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/cochlear-implant\/","title":{"rendered":"Cochlear Implant"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A cochlear implant device is an advanced technology hearing system that restores the function of the cochlea, the auditory center of the inner ear. The cochlear implant device consists of two parts. The internal part is surgically implanted into the cochlea (the auditory center of the inner ear). The external part is wireless and magnetic, and it is adjusted using a computer and given to the patient 2-3 weeks after the operation. The functioning of the cochlear implant starts with the external part capturing, filtering, and processing sound through a microphone. The sound is then digitized and transmitted to the internal part of the cochlear implant device. The device converts the processed sound into electrical energy and sends it to the electrodes. The electrodes stimulate the nerves in the ear with these electrical pulses, enabling the brain to perceive sound. Cochlear implantation surgery can be performed on infants, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults who have severe hearing loss in both ears and do not benefit from hearing aids. Cochlear implants can be applied to both ears, preventing the deterioration of the auditory perception center in the brain and improving the ability to determine the direction of sound and distinguish speech. Cochlear implant technology is different from hearing aids and cannot be compared. People with cochlear implants experience new experiences they haven&#8217;t had before, such as better perception of sounds, better focus in noisy environments, hearing previously unheard sounds, feeling more confident in daily life, and enjoying activities like talking on the phone, hearing, and enjoying music.<\/p>\n<h2>What is a Cochlear Implant?<\/h2>\n<p>A cochlear implant is a small electronic medical device that helps improve moderate to severe hearing loss. It is used in adults, children, and babies to assist with hearing loss.<\/p>\n<p>Cochlear implants use a sound processor that sits behind the ear. The processor captures sound signals and sends them to a receiver implanted under the skin behind the ear. The receiver then sends the signals to electrodes implanted in the cochlea, the spiral-shaped inner ear.<\/p>\n<p>The signals stimulate the auditory nerve and then direct them to the brain. The brain interprets these signals as sound, although the sounds will not be the same as normal hearing. Learning to interpret the signals from a cochlear implant takes time and training. Most people with cochlear implants achieve significant improvements in speech understanding after one year of use.<\/p>\n<p>The device works by electrically stimulating the cochlear nerve. It has external and internal components.<\/p>\n<p>The external component is placed behind the ear. It consists of a microphone that captures sound waves. A speech processor analyzes the sounds and converts them into digital signals. These signals are sent to a transmitter, which transmits them to the internal receiver. The transmitter and receiver are held together by a magnet.<\/p>\n<p>The internal component is implanted under the skin behind the ear. When the receiver receives the digital signals, it converts them into electrical impulses. These impulses are sent to the electrodes implanted in the cochlea. The nerves in the cochlea are stimulated by these electrical pulses, which allows for the perception of sound. While the brain will recognize the sounds, they will not be the same as normal hearing. Speech therapy and rehabilitation are necessary to learn how to interpret the signals received from the cochlear implant.<\/p>\n<h3>Who Is a Candidate for a Cochlear Implant?<\/h3>\n<p>A cochlear implant is not suitable for everyone. Babies, children, and adults may be good candidates if they have the following characteristics:<\/p>\n<p>Severe hearing loss in both ears<br \/>\nNo benefit from hearing aids<br \/>\nNo medical conditions that would increase the risks of surgery<br \/>\nAs an adult, you may also be an ideal candidate if you have:<\/p>\n<p>Hearing loss that disrupts verbal communication<br \/>\nLost all or most of your hearing later in life<br \/>\nReliance on lip-reading even with hearing aids<br \/>\nWillingness to participate in rehabilitation<br \/>\nUnderstanding of what cochlear implants can and cannot do<br \/>\nAn audiologist and an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon can determine if the device is suitable for you.<\/p>\n<h3>How Is a Cochlear Implant Different from a Hearing Aid?<\/h3>\n<p>A hearing aid is also a medical device for hearing loss. However, unlike a cochlear implant, it does not transmit sound signals through electrodes. Instead, hearing aids use a microphone, amplifier, and speaker to amplify sounds. This can help you hear certain things better. Additionally, hearing aids are not surgically implanted. They are worn either inside or behind the ear.<\/p>\n<p>If you have mild to moderate hearing loss, hearing aids are usually the ideal option. The level of amplification provided by the device depends on the degree of your hearing loss. While some hearing aids can assist with severe hearing loss, they may not always provide benefits in understanding speech. In such cases, a cochlear implant may be a better choice.<\/p>\n<p>Pros and Cons of Cochlear Implants<\/p>\n<p>Like most medical devices, cochlear implants have their pros and cons.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you have severe hearing loss, a cochlear implant can improve your quality of life.<br \/>\nThe benefits depend on your procedure and rehabilitation process. With a cochlear implant, you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hear different sounds, such as footsteps.<\/li>\n<li>Understand speech without relying on lip-reading.<\/li>\n<li>Hear sounds on the telephone.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy music.<\/li>\n<li>Watch TV without subtitles.<\/li>\n<li>The device can help infants and young children learn how to speak.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cochlear implant surgery is generally a safe procedure. However, it carries potential risks, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bleeding<\/li>\n<li>Swelling<\/li>\n<li>Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)<\/li>\n<li>Dizziness<\/li>\n<li>Infection at the surgical site<\/li>\n<li>Dry mouth<\/li>\n<li>Changes in taste<\/li>\n<li>Facial paralysis<\/li>\n<li>Balance issues<\/li>\n<li>Meningitis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Surgical removal of the implant (due to infection) or corrective surgery for a faulty implant.<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s important to discuss the potential risks and benefits with your healthcare provider before considering a cochlear implant.<\/p>\n<p>Your specific risks depend on your overall health and medical conditions.<\/p>\n<h3>What Does Cochlear Implant Surgery Involve?<\/h3>\n<p>If your doctors determine that you may benefit from a cochlear implant, they will explain what it entails and plan the surgery. Typically, the following steps are involved:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Before the surgery, you will be given general anesthesia to put you to sleep.<\/li>\n<li>While you are asleep, your surgeon will make an incision behind your ear and create a small recess in the mastoid bone.<\/li>\n<li>Your surgeon will create a small hole in the cochlea and then insert the electrodes through the hole.<\/li>\n<li>They will then place the receiver behind your ear, beneath the skin. It will be secured to the skull, and the incision will be closed.<\/li>\n<li>After the surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room and closely monitored to ensure there are no side effects.<\/li>\n<li>Typically, you will be discharged from the hospital a few hours after the surgery or the following day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before leaving the hospital, a healthcare professional will show you how to care for the incision. You will have a follow-up appointment in about a week, so your surgeon can check the incision and see how it is healing. The incision needs to heal before the implant is activated. About one month after the surgery, your doctor will add the external components. The internal components will be activated later. Over the next few months, you will need to see your doctor regularly for adjustments. You will also require a form of treatment called audiological rehabilitation, which will help improve your hearing and speech skills.<\/p>\n<p>Summary<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If hearing aids do not improve your hearing or speech, you may be a good candidate for a cochlear implant. This device, surgically placed in your cochlea, converts sounds into electrical impulses that are interpreted by your brain.<\/li>\n<li>An audiologist will use hearing tests and imaging tests to assess your level of hearing loss and determine if a cochlear implant is right for you.<\/li>\n<li>After the surgery, deciding on audiological rehabilitation is important. It is necessary to improve your perspective and effectively use the cochlear implant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Note: *The content of our page is for informational purposes only. For diagnosis and treatment, consult your doctor.*<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A cochlear implant device is an advanced technology hearing system that restores the function of the cochlea, the auditory center of the inner ear. The cochlear implant device consists of two parts. The internal part is surgically implanted into the cochlea (the auditory center of the inner ear). The external part is wireless and magnetic, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19522,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-guide"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=660"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/660\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atlasuniversitesihastanesi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}