{"id":220,"date":"2018-09-06T21:57:33","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T21:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fueldev.site\/~lomaxent\/hearing\/hearing-aids\/chochlear-implants\/"},"modified":"2019-02-22T17:38:51","modified_gmt":"2019-02-22T17:38:51","slug":"cochlear-implants","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/entlv.com\/hearing\/hearing-aids\/cochlear-implants\/","title":{"rendered":"Cochlear Implants"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device that bypasses damaged hair cells in the ear and provides electrical stimulation directly to the auditory nerve, giving patients who are severely hearing impaired or profoundly deaf the ability to hear. It is most beneficial for those who cannot be helped with a traditional hearing aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Cochlear Implants Work? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A cochlear implant works differently than a hearing aid. Hearing aids amplify sounds so that a person with nerve damage can hear more clearly. Cochlear implants generate an electrical signal that the brain interprets as sound. The implant has an external portion that sits behind the ear, consisting of a microphone, a speech processor and a transmitter. These work in tandem with the internal components, a receiver and array of electrodes, which have been implanted in the ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The microphone picks up sound and sends it to the speech processor, which converts these signals to digital impulses and sends them to the transmitter. The transmitter, in turn, sends the processed audio signals to the receiver. From there, they are transmitted directly to the brain through the auditory nerve. While a cochlear implant does not cure deafness or restore hearing, it does allow a patient to perceive sound, and can help him or her to converse again. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are experiencing severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (the result of nerve damage to the inner ear) and can\u2019t benefit from conventional hearing aids, you may be a prime candidate for cochlear implants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A child that is born with severe to profound hearing loss, or a person that acquires hearing loss in this range after birth may be a cochlear implant candidate.  In order for auditory pathways to develop and mature, a child needs auditory stimulation.  The ability to grow and develop these auditory pathways in the brain is greatest during the first few years of life.  Therefore, the earlier the child in this situation receives a cochlear implant, the more beneficial it will be.  Post-implantation speech therapy with children is a crucial component in the success of cochlear implants.  Patients that receive a cochlear implant after speech and language skills have fully developed would likely not require speech therapy, but will need time to become accustomed to hearing with the implant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Cochlear Mapping?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Patients often need the help of a cochlear implant specialist and audiologist throughout the adjustment and programming process. This process is called cochlear implant mapping (MAPs are programs that optimize the functionality of a cochlear implant).<\/p>\n\n\n\n