Hearing aids do not help some people with severe or profound hearing loss. They cannot hear words clearly through hearing aids. Sound amplified by hearing aids does not help because the cochlea is not functioning normally. For such people, a cochlear implant is a better instrument for hearing.

What is a cochlear implant?

Cochlear Implant is a prosthetic device, which is surgically implanted in the cochlea of ​​the inner ear. Children and young people who have severe to very severe hearing impairment in both ears and who have low-speed (sloping) hearing loss and do not benefit from hearing aids, but whose hearing nerves are working properly, can benefit from cochlear implants.

How does surgery perform?

Cochlear implant surgery may take an hour or so. The surgeon makes a hole behind the pinna of the ear and implants electrodes inside the cochlea and a receiver-stimulator package in the mastoid bone behind the ear. The patient has to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days after the surgery.

How does it help with hearing loss?

The cochlear implant helps to direct electrical stimulation directly to the nerves of the cochlea in the ear, just as a hearing aid helps to amplify sound into the ear. The cochlear implant provides a wide range of sound/voice information. The performance of the covenant assessment test is found to vary between individuals. With time and training, most patients can understand speech without hearing aids, and many people speak on the telephone and enjoy music.

Cochlear-implanted individuals can swim, shower, and participate in virtually all types of sporting activities without wearing an external ear device. You can remove your hearing aid before swimming or hair is wet, you can remove external components (processor and headpiece) Not prohibited from participating in all athletic activities, although it is always recommended to wear a protective headgear It is recommended.

Are there any risks in implant surgery?

The need for general anesthesia is natural in any surgery. There are risks involved in any surgery. However, cochlear implant surgery has a low risk and most patients require a short hospital stay and do not have surgical complications. Surgical complications may account for about 5%.

Can the patient hear immediately after surgery?

After surgery, the patient has to wait until the wound is healed. During this period, due to the inability to hear, the person who has the surgery cannot hear through the cochlear implant. After this part is fixed, the program and processor are programmed or mapped for the first time. This is called 'switch' on. this may enable a patient to hear the voice.

Consult a doctor or ENT Specialist in Gurgaon, to get a clear assessment of whether you would be an eligible candidate for a cochlear implant and what to expect from the procedure.