Cochlear Implants: A Brief Introduction

When people think technology to correct hearing loss, they often picture the standard behind-the-ear model of hearing aids. While these devices are helpful for many hearing impaired people, they are only one example from a very wide variety of assistive technologies. One of the most interesting innovations in this fast-growing field is the cochlear implant, or CI.

The Food and Drug Administration approved CI’s for adult use in 1984. As research progressed over the next few years, the device was also approved for younger and younger people. Today infants as young as six months can undergo the surgical procedure required for a CI. Many doctors recommend this because severe hearing loss can affect a child’s language development and education if it is not treated as soon as possible.

CI’s have become increasingly popular as research demonstrates their safety and effectiveness. Today about 60,000 Americans benefit from the use of these items. But what exactly is a cochlear implant, and how does it help people hear?

A Challenging Problem

As you may guess from the name, a CI is implanted in the cochlea. This is a small, snail-shaped organ in the ear filled with hair cells – small, highly sensitive cells that receive audio information. In some individuals, these cells are damaged by injuries, toxins, or genetic abnormalities. This condition is known as sensorineural hearing loss.

People with this kind of condition cannot always benefit from older types of hearing aid. This is because such devices only amplify sound, just like a small scale version of the microphones and speakers that singers use. Making sound louder can help for some conditions, but it is not always useful for people whose audio receptor cells are not functioning correctly.

CI’s can help some people with this problem because they do more than amplify sound. They consist of a microphone and sound processor that are attached to the skull, usually behind the ear. This processor sends information to electrodes that have been implanted in the cochlea. These electrodes then directly stimulate the auditory nerve that transmits information from the cochlea to the brain; they may also benefit people by stimulating whatever hair cells are still functioning.

Hearing through the use of a CI is not exactly the same as typical hearing, because information is being sent directly to the auditory nerve instead of traveling by way of hair cells. However, the brain can still interpret this as sound. It may take time for it to “learn” this skill, however. New CI recipients need to be patient as they adjust to life with much improved hearing.

By: Joseph Devine

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To learn more about hearing aids and other solutions for hearing impairment, contact HearingPlanet.