Hearing solution for severe to profound hearing loss
For severe to profound hearing impaired individual, hearing aids are of limited benefit as it merely amplifies sound louder but the cochlea is unable to process the sound. A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged part of the ear and stimulates the hearing nerve directly. Cochlear implant systems convert everyday sounds into coded electrical pulses and stimulate the hearing nerve and the brain interprets them as sound. Hearing through a cochlear implant is different from normal hearing and takes time to learn and relearn. However with the advancement in implant technology many people with severe to profound hearing loss can once again regain the ability not only to understand environmental sounds but also to enjoy a conversation and participate in daily activities.
The cochlear implant system consists of an external speech processor that sits behind the ear and an implant portion that is surgically placed under the skin.
- The microphone in the external speech processor picks up sounds from the environment.
- The speech processor analyses the sound and converts it to digital signal.
- The digital signals are sent to the coil and transmitted across the skin to the implant.
- The internal implant in turn sends the signal to the electrodes, which stimulate the hearing nerve directly by passing the damaged cochlea.
- The brain recognises these signals as sound.
