A
cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide
a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely
hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind
the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin (see
figure).
An implant has the following parts:
An implant has the following parts:
- A microphone, which picks up sound from the environment.
- A speech processor, which selects and arranges sounds picked up by the microphone.
- A transmitter and receiver/stimulator, which receive signals from the speech processor and convert them into electric impulses.
- An electrode array, which is a group of electrodes that collects the impulses from the stimulator and sends them to different regions of the auditory nerve.
An implant does not restore normal hearing. Instead, it can give a deaf person a useful representation of sounds in the environment and help him or her to understand speech.
The implant system has three primary parts:
Microphone and Transmitter — The headpiece and transmitter is about the size of a quarter and is worn above the ear to pick up sounds. These sounds are sent to a speech processor.
Speech Processor — The speech processor is worn externally, either on a belt like a pager or behind the ear like a large hearing aid, to convert sound into a digital code that is transmitted to an implanted stimulator.
Implanted Stimulator — The implanted stimulator is a small component placed under the skin behind the ear. It receives a digital code from the speech processor and sends it to the auditory or hearing nerve. The brain interprets this signal and it is recognized as sound.
The small headpiece and transmitter is held in place by a magnet coupled to the implanted stimulator under the skin.
Cochlear Implant Surgery
Microphone and Transmitter — The headpiece and transmitter is about the size of a quarter and is worn above the ear to pick up sounds. These sounds are sent to a speech processor.
Speech Processor — The speech processor is worn externally, either on a belt like a pager or behind the ear like a large hearing aid, to convert sound into a digital code that is transmitted to an implanted stimulator.
Implanted Stimulator — The implanted stimulator is a small component placed under the skin behind the ear. It receives a digital code from the speech processor and sends it to the auditory or hearing nerve. The brain interprets this signal and it is recognized as sound.
The small headpiece and transmitter is held in place by a magnet coupled to the implanted stimulator under the skin.
Cochlear Implant Surgery
Cochlear
implant surgery lasts about two to three hours and is performed while the
patient is under general anesthesia. The electrode array is inserted into the
cochlea. The receiver/stimulator is secured to the skull. At the end of the
operation the implant is tested by attaching it to the processor and making
sure that it is functioning well. An x-ray is also obtained to ensure that the
electrode array is positioned correctly.
Typically, patients remain in the hospital for two nights. They have a bandage on their head which is removed after a few days. Patients return to school or work as soon as they feel well enough to do so, usually within a week of surgery.
Typically, patients remain in the hospital for two nights. They have a bandage on their head which is removed after a few days. Patients return to school or work as soon as they feel well enough to do so, usually within a week of surgery.
Who
Benefits From A Cochlear Implant ?
Cochlear implants can help patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears who cannot benefit adequately from the use of hearing aids. People of all ages can qualify, from age 1-100. The ideal candidate has hearing loss of short duration. In children born with deafness, early implantation is preferred, so that they may experience speech sounds in time to begin learning language before the age of 2-3. In special cases, implantation may be performed on patients with long-term deafness.
Procedure
Cochlear implants can help patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears who cannot benefit adequately from the use of hearing aids. People of all ages can qualify, from age 1-100. The ideal candidate has hearing loss of short duration. In children born with deafness, early implantation is preferred, so that they may experience speech sounds in time to begin learning language before the age of 2-3. In special cases, implantation may be performed on patients with long-term deafness.
Procedure
Before your child's surgery, you'll meet with an
anesthesiologist and hospital admitting personnel and your child will complete
any necessary tests. Tours of the hospital also can be arranged. Surgery is
usually performed the following day.
Implant surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes about three hours. During the operation, a surgeon will anchor a receiver-stimulator device in the temporal bone in the skull and insert what is called an "electrode array" into the cochlea, the small snail-shaped structure in the inner ear that contains the hearing organ.
First, an incision is made behind the ear to expose the temporal bone. The surgeon then positions the implant component against the bone. A hole is made in the temporal bone with a microscopic drill, allowing the surgeon access to the cochlea. A small hole is made in the wall of the cochlea and the electrode array is gently guided into the cochlea.
The internal receiver is secured in place on the skull bone with sutures and the incision is closed. A sterile dressing is placed on the incision.
Children generally remain in the hospital overnight and return home the day after surgery.
Implant surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes about three hours. During the operation, a surgeon will anchor a receiver-stimulator device in the temporal bone in the skull and insert what is called an "electrode array" into the cochlea, the small snail-shaped structure in the inner ear that contains the hearing organ.
First, an incision is made behind the ear to expose the temporal bone. The surgeon then positions the implant component against the bone. A hole is made in the temporal bone with a microscopic drill, allowing the surgeon access to the cochlea. A small hole is made in the wall of the cochlea and the electrode array is gently guided into the cochlea.
The internal receiver is secured in place on the skull bone with sutures and the incision is closed. A sterile dressing is placed on the incision.
Children generally remain in the hospital overnight and return home the day after surgery.
Having
the industry’s most elaborate and exclusive Patient Care and Clinical
Coordination teams stationed at each partner hospital, we provide you the
smoothest and seamless care ever imagined. With a ratio of one Patient Care
Manager to five patients our patient care standards are unmatched across the
sub continent.
For more
information about cochlear implant in India, you can write
to us at info@wecareindia.com.You can visit us at http://www.wecareindia.com/ENT/cochelar-implant-surgery.html
Call us at +911145589996 /
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