Cochlear ImplantsBy: Victor J. Gabbidon

Purpose• A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic

device that provides a sense of hearing in the hearing impaired.

• Not to be confused with hearing aids which simply amplify sound for those hard of hearing. Cochlear implants work to replicate the natural processes of the ear.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

•Designed for patients with sensorineural hearing loss.

•Caused by abnormalities or lack of quantity in the hair cells of the cochlea.

•The implant serves as a makeshift cochlea by bypassing the patients improperly functioning cochlea.

Design•The design of a cochlear implant is

composed of 3 main parts: A sound processor, a transmitter, and an internal receptor with electrode wires.

•Of the 3 major components, only one is actually implanted internally.

Implantation

•The implantation of the internal portion of the device is a relatively simple procedure that can be done under general anesthesia.

•A small incision is made behind the ear and the device is implanted on the skull.

Functionality•Sound processor picks up through

microphone and converts it to digital code.•Code is transmitted to internal receptor

through transmitter that is connected magnetically to internal implant.

• Implant converts code to electrical signal which is then sent by electrodes to cochlea’s hearing nerve.

Disadvantages•In order for the device to be implanted

residual hair cells in the cochlea must be destroyed.

•Procedure essentially irreversible in terms of having the same hearing capacity as before the procedure.

•For this reason cochlear implants are typically only implanted on one ear

The Future of Hearing Technology•Esteem®:•Has the ability to restore hearing in

patients that are legally deaf. •The device has no external components

and is a more atheistic alternative to traditional implants.

Sources• http://www.envoymedical.com/how-esteem-improves-heari

ng• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Cochlear_implant#Parts_of_the_cochlear_implant• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/

2012/09/120920120416.htm• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensorineural_hearing_loss• http://www.ele.uri.edu/Courses/bme181/