What Are Cochlear Implants for Hearing- Cochlear implants are electronic devices designed to enhance your hearing ability. They entirely don’t restore your hearing. They inverse the function of the inner ear or cochlea. They will replace the damaged sensory hair cells that are present inside your inner ear. This will in turn help you provide clear sounds that are more beneficial to you than hearing aids.
The parts of the cochlear implants include the external sound processor and the implant that is placed under the skin surgically and is attached to the electrode array placed in the inner ear. The parts together bypass the part of the ear that is not working and help send the sounds straight to the hearing nerve. By getting in contact with Zeneth Healthcare, you can have comprehensive knowledge regarding the cochlear implant and its benefits you can avail.
How is the Cochlear Implant Surgery Conducted?
First of all, the surgeon will make a small incision behind the ear to insert the implant. After that, an opening in the bone behind the ear is created that will connect to the cochlea. The implant electrodes are placed in the inner ear i.e. cochlea. The internal processor is then placed by the surgeon in between the muscle and the bone behind the ear. The internal processor will receive the sounds from the external speech processor that is to be worn outside the skin.
After this, the incisions are closed by the surgeon. The patient is then transferred to the recovery area for close observation as he recovers from anesthesia. The patient is then discharged after the close observation of several hours and he is now allowed to go home to take rest.
The hearing will be improved after the surgery and the device will be programmed later after a few weeks. This is the time in which the incisions will heal. For this duration of time, you cannot go for hearing aids in the ear in which such surgery took place.
How to Recover after the Cochlear Implant Surgery?
Before you exit the hospital after your surgery, the surgeon will guide you by giving you instructions on how to take care of the incisions. Such instructions include the changing of the stitches and when to go for washing the area around the incision. This will last for a day or two days after the surgery is conducted.
The follow-up appointment will take place at a duration of a week after the surgery. In this, the surgeon will verify the incisions and remove the stitches. It is recommended to wait for three to four weeks for the area to heal before the start of the cochlear implant.
In case of pain, swelling, fever, or drainage you need to consult the doctor.
Activation of Cochlear Implant
When the inner ear heals, you need to return to the audiologist. He will program the cochlear implant and will explain to you the usage of the external processor on the ear. The main motive of the cochlear implant is to get your hearing ability again.
Numerous appointments take place within a period of four to six weeks. In the early programming appointment, most people are not able to understand the sounds that come from the cochlear implant. You will then work with an audiologist and the auditory rehabilitation therapist to plan and train the brain to understand the sounds that fit your lifestyle.
During the life of the implant, programming appointments are needed for about six to twelve months. In this period, your brain will be trained to process the sounds and provide them a meaning. The adjustments may be introduced to the implant if it is necessary.
Conclusion
The cochlear implant has many benefits if you are a person with complete hearing loss issues or a person who wants to hear in a better manner. The people who go for the cochlear implant can participate in conversations and can make use of the phones. You may get an appointment fixed with Zeneth Healthcare to avail the benefit of a cochlear implant for hearing. They will guide you and make you understand your queries regarding such cochlear implants. You will receive personalized recommendations and afterwards, you can arrive at an informed decision.