Transcript Cochlear Implants: A Closer Look

Cochlear Implants:
A Closer Look
11/13/2006
What is a Cochlear Implant (CI)?
According to the National Institute on Deafness
and other Communication Disorders
(NIDCD), a cochlear implant is a small,
electronic device that has the ability to
provide a sense of sound to someone who is
profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing
(“Cochlear Implants”, 2006).
How does the implant work?
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The microphone picks up the sound.
The speech processor codes the sounds picked up by
the microphone.
The transmitter and receiver receive the signals and
convert them into electrical impulses.
The electrode array receives the impulses and
delivers them to the VIII (Auditory) Nerve.
How does the implant work? (cont.)
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Although CIs do not restore a persons’ hearing to
normal, they can allow people to better use and
understand sound.
Cochlear Implants avoid the damaged part of the ear
and directly stimulate the nerve.
These signals are then sent to the brain where they
are interpreted into sound.
This illustration shows an ear with a cochlear implant; which includes a microphone, speech
processor, transmitter, receiver/stimulator, and an electrode array (“CochlearImplants”,2006).
Credit: Medical illustrations by NIH, Medical Arts & Photography Branch
Who can get a CI?
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Both adults and children who are profoundly deaf or
severely hard of hearing can receive CIs; although
this additionally depends on individual
circumstances.
Currently, implant candidates must have a trial
period wearing hearing aids, monitoring the speech
and language development. Specifically in children,
if they plateau in their development then
implantation is considered (Reed, 2005).
The FDA first approved cochlear implants for
children two years and older in 1990 (Geers, 2006).
Who can get a CI?
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In 2000, the FDA lowered the implant age of
eligibility to 12 months old
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Because of earlier diagnosis of hearing loss, due to
newborn hearing screenings, the average age of
cochlear implantation has decreased (Geers, 2006).
Who can get a CI? (cont.)
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According to the Food
and Drug
Administration’s
(FDA’s) 2005 statistics,
an estimated 22,000
adults and 15,000
children had received
Cochlear Implants
(“Cochlear Implants”,
2006).
From these statistics you can see how important it truly is to be educated about
Cochlear Implants before seeking one out. Early intervention and
knowledge about the device itself is very valuable.
Receiving a Cochlear Implant is a very thorough and complicated process,
which requires tremendous dedication from both the family and the CI
user.
It is also important to keep in mind that not everyone will be a candidate for a
Cochlear Implant.
If you are interested in obtaining more information about Cochlear Implants
contact your local audiologist, Speech-language pathologist, or ENT.
References
Cochlear Implants. (2006,May). Retrieved November 10, 2006 from National
Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders Web site:
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/coch.asp
Geers, A. (2006). Factors influencing spoken language outcomes in children following
early cochlear implantation. Advances in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 64, 50-65.
Retrieved September 25, 2006, from the MEDLINE database.
Reed, V.A. (2005). An introduction to children with language disorders (3rd
ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.