(Ear Surgery, Cochlear Surgical Implant Procedure)
If a person has severe hearing loss, a cochlear implant may help. A cochlear implant is different from a hearing aid. A hearing aid makes sounds louder. It has the most benefit for a person who has some hearing loss. But a cochlear implant can help a person with very little or no hearing.
A cochlear implant is a small electronic device. It has two parts. One part sits behind the ear. It picks up sounds with a microphone. It then processes the sound and transmits it to the second part of the implant. The second part is put through the skin and implanted in the inner ear during a surgery. A thin wire and small electrodes leads to the cochlea, which is part of the inner ear. The wire sends signals to the auditory nerve. This is the nerve that sends sound impulses to the brain. A cochlear implant helps give a person a sense of sounds. It doesn't restore hearing to normal. But it can help a person understand speech and noises in the environment.
How a cochlear implant can help
How cochlear implants help varies from person to person. Some people can hear many sounds. But some people will have no change in hearing. A person may be able to:
Perceive different sounds, such as footsteps, a door closing, a telephone ringing
Understand speech without lip reading, or be helped with lip reading
Understand voices over the phone
Watch TV
Hear music
Important to know
Before considering a cochlear implant, it's important to understand certain facts. These include:
A cochlear implant requires a period of training and therapy after surgery. During this time, you will learn how to care for the implant. You will also have aural rehabilitation. This will help to improve your use of the implant. The amount of time you need for aural rehab depends on your age and your hearing before surgery.
Cochlear implants do not restore a person's hearing to normal. And in some people, they may not help with hearing at all.
You may lose the rest of your natural hearing in the ear where the implant is placed.
You may need to use new or recharged batteries every day.
You will need to remove the external part of the implant when bathing or swimming
The implant may irritate your skin. In some cases, it may need to be removed.
Static electricity may harm a cochlear implant. You will need to take care around computer and TV screens, synthetic fabrics, carpeting, and other things that make static electricity.
An implant can set off security systems, such as metal detectors. Implants may be affected by cell phones and radio transmitters. They must be turned off during takeoff and landing in an airplane.
You may not be able to have certain medical tests or treatments. These include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and ionic radiation therapy.
The implant can be damaged during an accident or while playing sports. Or, the implant can fail. Repairing the implant or replacing a damaged part may be expensive. In some cases, a new surgery may be needed to replace the implant.
Risks of the procedure
Risks of cochlear implant surgery include:
Bleeding
Swelling
Infection in the area of the implant
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Dizziness or vertigo
Numbness around the ear
Taste disturbances
Leakage of the fluid in the cochlea
Leakage of spinal fluid
Injury to the facial nerve, which can cause movement problems in the face
Infection of the membrane that covers the brain (meningitis)
Chronic inflammation around the implant (reparative granuloma)
Risks of general anesthesia
Need to have the implant removed because of an infection
There may be other risks, depending upon your medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your health care provider before the procedure.
Before the surgery
A cochlear implant is not right for everyone. To find out if an implant is right for you:
You will need to meet with hearing and speech specialists. These may include an audiologist, otologist, and speech-language pathologist.
You will need to meet with a psychologist or other counselor.
You will have hearing tests and physical exams.
You may have imaging tests to look at the structure of your ear. These may include X-rays and MRI. These can help show how well a cochlear implant will work in your ear.
Your health care provider may require other tests or preparation, depending on your medical condition.
During the surgery
Cochlear implant surgery is done in a hospital or clinic. The surgery lasts two to four hours. You may go home the same day. Or you may need to stay in the facility overnight. You are given medication (general anesthesia) to make you sleep during the procedure. The surgeon makes a cut behind the ear to open up the mastoid bone. Then the surgeon makes a small cut in the cochlea. He or she inserts the implant electrodes into the cochlea. The surgeon places an electronic device called the receiver under the skin behind the ear. The incisions are then closed.
After the surgery
About 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery, the external parts of the cochlear implant will be added. These include a microphone and speech processor. This is where the implant is programmed and activated. The external parts work with the internal part of the implant. You will also learn the basics of using and caring for the implant. You may need to return for several visits over a few days for initial adjustments. Further fine-tuning may take place over several months.
Learning to use a cochlear implant is a gradual process. It will likely require visits with speech-language pathologists, audiologists, counselors, and teachers. But with commitment, you can experience an improved quality of life with a cochlear implant.