Question 1

What is a cochlear implant?

Accepted Answer

A cochlear implant is a device designed to help severe to profoundly deaf individuals who gain little or no benefit from hearing aids.
 
With their cochlear implant they gain awareness of environmental sounds, most can understand speech without lip-reading and some can use the telephone.
 
The cochlear implant system converts acoustic sound waves into weak electric currents, which are delivered to the immediate vicinity of the auditory nerve in the inner ear or cochlea.
 
The auditory nerve is stimulated by these electric currents and transmits nerve impulses to the brain, where they are understood as acoustic sensations.

Question 2

If a patient suffers from nerve deafness, does this meant that his hearing or auditory nerve is destroyed?"

Accepted Answer

No, the auditory nerve may still potentially function even in cases of nerve deafness; in most cases the auditory nerve is intact (or partially functional), but the hair cells in the cochlea are damaged or destroyed.
 
Normally, when sound waves reach the ear they are converted into electric currents by tiny sensory hair cells. The auditory nerve responds to the electric current and passes it on to the brain. We experience this as "hearing".
 
If the hair cells are damaged, there is no mechanism to convert the sound waves into electric currents, and without electric current the nerve is not stimulated. As a result nothing can be heard.

Question 3

How can the cochlear implant help?

Accepted Answer

The cochlear implant conveys weak electric stimuli to the vicinity of the auditory nerve.
 
The electric stimulus activates the nerve, which then transmits a signal to the brain.
 
The brain recognizes this signal and we experience this as "hearing".
 
The cochlear implant has the same function as the hair cells, in that it transforms sound into an electric current that stimulates the auditory nerve.

Question 4

How many parts are there to a cochlear implant system?

Accepted Answer

A cochlear implant consists of two main components:-
 
The internal component, Cochlear Implant, which is implanted surgically, and
 
The external components, Speech Processor, Microphone & Transmitter Coil, which are worn outside the body.

Question 5

Is hearing absolutely  normal with a cochlear implant?

Accepted Answer

No. From individuals who could hear before they were deafened we know that the acoustic impressions from a cochlear implant differ from "normal hearing".
 
Users initially describe the sound characteristics with words like "mechanical", "technical", and "synthetic".
 
This perception changes over time, most users do not notice this artificial sound quality after a few weeks.

Question 6

How long does it take before the user derives the maximum benefit from a cochlear implant?

Accepted Answer

From research we know that the performance of individuals can be quite different. However benefits start immediately.
 
For adults, performance reaches a plateau at about 3 months after the initial tuning sessions and continues to improve at a slower rate.
 
In children improvement is at a slower pace. A lot of training is needed after implantation to help the child use the new ‘hearing’ he/she now has.

Question 7

Does the cochlear implant help in watching TV or in listening to the radio?

Accepted Answer

For many users the cochlear implant does make watching TV easier - especially when you can also see the speaker's face. The radio is more difficult as there are no visual cues available.

Question 8

What can children receiving a cochlear impalnt be expected to achieve?

Accepted Answer

Since children are better able to utilize new information than adults, they can also be expected to benefit more from a cochlear implant.
 
A very limited hearing can have a considerable influence on a child's ability to learn to talk and on overall development. The speech of most children with cochlear implants is of better quality and more intelligible than their peers using acoustic hearing aids.

Question 9

Can the patient hear immediately after the operation?

Accepted Answer

No. Without the external coil and the speech processor the patient cannot hear. These components are fitted about a month after the operation, at the initial tuning session.

Question 10

Why is it necessary to wait 3 to 6 weeks after the operation before begining the training?

Accepted Answer

A waiting period is necessary for the operative incision to heal completely. This usually takes 3 to 6 weeks. When the swelling has subsided, the initial fitting or programming of the processor can be done.

Question 11

What happens during the basic program?

Accepted Answer

The basic program consists of 3 phases:
During the speech processor tuning the clinician will perform certain tests to find out when a patient experiences acoustic signals as being unpleasantly LOUD .The speech processor is then adjusted so that no acoustic signal reaches this point.
 
Audiology tests are necessary to check whether the adjustment is correct and to find out what the patient perceives, before training is begun.
 
Familiarization with the use of the device and aural training.

Question 12

Is it beneficial if someone who is close to the patient takes part in the training program?

Accepted Answer

If possible, yes. This person should be included in the training program so as to be able to help the patient with the exercises. Such a person should also know how to handle the processor.

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