THIS ARTICLE MAINLY DEALS WITH:  DEAFNESS AND COCHLEAR IMPLANT

(1) Sound waves travel through the auditory channel towards the tympanum.

(2) Tympanum consists on a tense membrane, resembling a drum surface. It vibrates as sound waves reach it.

(3) Vibrations are transmitted by the small bones chain to the cochlea, inner ear.

(4) Vibrations make the cochlear fluids move.

(5) Because of this movement, ciliate cells also start moving. At this time, ciliate cells emit small electric signals, which are captured and gathered by the auditory nerve.

(6) Electrical signals travel through the auditory nerve and reach the brain.

(7) Brain recognizes electrical signals as sounds.


AUDITION LOSS

Conductive hearing loss is produced by problems in the external or middle ear that block sound in any way, and prevent someone from hearing. Tympanum and ear small bones don’t vibrate. Sensorial hearing loss is caused by problems in the inner ear or cochlea. Inner ear doesn’t transform sounds into small electrical impulses, no signal gets to the auditory nerve. Auditory nerve is not able to send any information to the brain. Neural hearing loss is produced by problems in the auditory way. Auditory nerve is damaged or doesn’t exist at all. No signal is transmitted to the brain.

COCHLEAR IMPLANTS

Cochlear Implants or “bionic ears”, are a wonder produced by modern technology. It is the only medical procedure which is capable of partially restoring a human sense: Audition. All cochlear implants have some things in common:

An implanted device. A receiver is placed in the temporal bone, beneath the skin, behind the ear.

A group of electrodes is installed at the inner ear, at places in which sensorial cells are damaged or lost. An external mini-computer, known as sound processor. This processor transforms sounds of the environment into signals that are sent to the auditory nerve and recognized by the brain as sounds. Sound processor and implant are able to go through the damaged parts of the hearing system, and increase hearing capabilities.

WHO CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COCHLEAR IMPLANTS?

Implants are treatments for hearing losses caused by problems at the inner ear, or cochlea. They are helpful when audiphones are not working enough, and patients are not able to understand spoken language.

Cochlear implants work, both in children’s and adult’s hearing losses. In cases of birth deafness and deafness produced at any time afterwards.

It is not possible to be completely sure of results of this treatment for any particular case. There are some facts:

Results always depend on deep deafness duration. Lasting cases get usually poorer results.

Children born deaf get the best results if surgery is performed before their 5 years of age. Ideal time is 1-3 years of age.

BACKGROUND NOISE

People with normal audition experience some difficulties to understand when there is background noise. Of course, this problem is much bigger for people using audiphones or cochlear implants. High technology implants, of high resolution, have special features that solve this problem at least in part, providing patients a much better hearing and understanding, in presence of background noise.

High resolution implants are the new generation of technologic advancements in the field of implanting procedures. They provide more  and  better  sound information than any other cochlear implant available. They are the best option to treat children and adults with severe deafness.