Hear Better With Cochlear Implants From an Audiologist Near Harrisburg, PA
Cochlear implants can be an excellent solution for addressing hearing loss, especially severe to profound hearing loss that cannot be treated with traditional hearing aids. If you don’t hear well, the experienced audiologists at Hearing Smile Professionals can find out why, then suggest the best solution to help you communicate better. We offer a comprehensive selection of hearing devices for adults and children near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Hearing Aids Can Address Mild to Severe Hearing Loss
Many people benefit greatly from hearing aids, but they are not right for everyone. Hearing aids are primarily effective for addressing mild to severe hearing loss caused by damage to the small sensory hair cells in the inner ear (sensorineural hearing loss). This type of damage can result from exposure to loud noise, direct trauma to the ear, certain medications, or age-related degeneration.
Hearing aids work by magnifying the sound vibrations that enter the ear. Any remaining undamaged hair cells can then detect the amplified vibrations and convert them into neural signals that are transmitted to the brain. The greater the damage to hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss, and the greater the hearing aid amplification needed to compensate. The amount of amplification that hearing aids can provide is limited. Additionally, if the inner ear structures are severely damaged, even highly amplified vibrations will not be detected.
Cochlear Implants Can Address Moderate to Profound Hearing Loss
Cochlear implants can be effective even in situations where hearing aids are not. Instead of amplifying sound vibrations, cochlear implants use a surgically placed implant to directly stimulate the auditory nerve and completely bypass the damaged structures in the inner ear.
Although cochlear implants do not restore normal hearing (nothing can), they can be life-changing for a person who was previously unable to understand spoken words in person or over the telephone, enjoy watching movies and television shows, hear pleasant sounds such as babies laughing and birds singing, and recognize warning signals such as a beeping alarm.
Get Ready to Experience a Life Filled With Sound
The right cochlear implants or hearing aids will help you engage with the world around you. Schedule an appointment with an audiology doctor at Hearing Smile Professionals today. Our office is conveniently located near Harrisburg, PA.
