What is cochlear implant surgery and does it help deaf people hear?
A COCHLEAR implant is a surgical procedure aimed at helping deaf people have a sensation of hearing.
Here is what you need to know on the cochlear implant surgery.
What is a cochlear implant and how does it work?
The implant is an electronic system that stimulates the nerve of hearing in the cochlear - which converts the vibrations into nerve impulses which are carried to the brain.
It can give a sensation of sound to profoundly deaf people who have been unable to hear even when using the most powerful hearing aids available.
The cochlear implant system is made up of several pieces of equipment, which work together to provide the sensation of hearing.
The microphone clips into the ear and picks up sound which is converted into an electrical signal in the speech processor.
Signals pass from the speech processor through a wire to a coil, held in place on the scalp by a magnet.
Then the signal passes through the skin to the receiver package.
The receiver converts the signal into a tiny electrical current that travels via an electrode implanted in the cochlear to stimulate the auditory nerve.
The auditory nerve then carries the signal to the brain to give a sensation of hearing.
It does not cure deafness, but provides a useful sensation of hearing sound.
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How do we hear?
The ear consists of three parts, the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.
Sound enters the ear canal and causes the eardrum to vibrate.
These vibrations then pass through the middle ear via three small bones onto the inner ear.
The cochlea of the inner ear converts the vibrations into nerve impulses which are carried to the brain.
The brain then interprets these nerve impulses as sound.
What does a cochlear implant operation involve?
The procedure takes several hours and requires general anaesthetic.
Some hair will usually be shaved off before the surgeon makes a cut behind the ear and drills through the bone, into the middle ear and the cochlea.
The receiver and internal magnet is then inserted and the incision closed up.
Is it available on the NHS?
Currently modern hearing aids are available on the NHS, but hearing aids don't necessarily help everyone.
And ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist will carry out an assessment to find out whether cochlear surgery will help, as the implant will only work if the auditory nerve is working properly, and then refer the patient to have surgery.
According to the , some areas fund a limited number of implants every year.
Therefore, your child may have to wait a while to have surgery, but you can self fund the operation if you wish to go private.
The NHS website refers people to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID).
carries out studies on hearing loss and prevention.
Besides funding research projects, it also sometimes funds surgeries, which will then also be part of the research that the institution carries out.