How cochlear implant works?

Cochlear Implant is very extra-ordinary and complicated device. Today, Cochlear Implant is giving back the sense of hearing to millions of its recipients through out the world. If you are also willing to implant yourself or any of your loved ones, you must know a little bit about the cochlear implants.

Lets learn how cochlear implant works

Cochlear implant has basically two parts:

1. Sound processor

2. Implant

Sound processor:

Sound processor is the most important part of your cochlear implant system. Sound processor converts the sounds in environment into short bursts of low power electric impulses. Sound processor act as a brain of cochlear implant system and it decides which sounds to go and which has to be filtered.

These are of two types :

1. Behind the Ear, BTE : These are conventional sound processors. These are worn behind the ear.

2. Off the ear, OTE : These are newest types of sound processors and are worn mostly over the head.

2. Implant

Implant is inserted to a very tiny part of ear known as cochlea. Implantation of this device is a very complex process and has to be performed by an ENT with training and experience to handle these devices. Implant send the electric signals received from the processor to the auditory nerve.

Which Sound Processor or Implant will be best for me?

There is no definite answer for this. Each patient is different, the anatomy or ear is different , their listening needs are different, so there is no "one size fits all" device. A team comprising of patients, his family members, ENT surgeon and an Audiologist discuss and decide which cochlear implant will suit the patient best. But irrespective of different devices, there are few points where all ENTs and Audiologist agree:

1. Cochlear Implant should be done as early as possible to help develop natural speech and language skills.

2. Two ears are always better than one.

If you are planning for cochlear implantation, visit you ENT or audiologist without any delay.