Cochlear Implants From an Experienced Audiologist Near Morgantown, PA
If you have severe to profound hearing loss and struggle to comprehend spoken words—even when you are wearing hearing aids—an audiologist at Hearing Smile Professionals near Morgantown, Pennsylvania, can help you determine if cochlear implants may be a good option for you.
A Major Breakthrough in Hearing Technology
How do cochlear implants differ from hearing aids? Essentially, hearing aids work by amplifying sounds so those sounds can be better detected by any remaining healthy sensory cells in a damaged inner ear. Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants bypass the inner ear entirely and deliver sound signals directly to the auditory nerve.
Cochlear implants have several parts:
- A microphone, which picks up sounds from the environment
- A speech processor, which arranges the sounds picked up by the microphone
- A transmitter, which converts the sounds arranged by the speech processor into electrical impulses
- An electrode array, which collects the electrical impulses created by the transmitter and sends them to the auditory nerve
Cochlear Implant Surgery
Cochlear implants are surgically placed inside the ear during an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. After making a small incision behind the ear, the surgeon will create a passageway in the mastoid bone to reach the middle ear space. Next, the surgeon will place an electrode array inside the cochlea. The surgeon will then place a transmitter under the skin behind the ear and close the incision.
Typically, the procedure takes two to four hours to complete, and most patients go home on the same day.
Cochlear Implant Activation
Approximately four to six weeks after surgery, the external parts of the cochlear implant—the microphone and speech processor—will be added, programmed, and activated. At that time, an audiologist will explain how to use and care for these sophisticated hearing devices. After a few days of initial adjustments, the cochlear implants may continue to be finetuned over the next several months.
The Key to Better Hearing & Quality of Life
Learning to use cochlear implants is a gradual process that often involves ongoing visits with an audiologist and speech-language pathologist. With dedication and commitment, most people achieve a significantly better quality of life.
If you would like to learn more about cochlear implants, contact Hearing Smile Professionals today to schedule a consultation with an audiology doctor at our office near Morgantown, PA.
