The latest hearing aid advice from many audiologist, especially for the very young, is to receive a cochlear implant in order for the child to hear better as they grow.  Of course not all audiologists or hearing specialists agree that a cochlear implant is the best remedy for a hearing impaired or deaf person.

The inner ear is where a cochlear implant device is implanted and is used to help re-establish hearing to those patients who have profound or severe hearing loss.  The technology for a cochlear implant consists of two parts.  There is an external device which contains a microphone and is placed behind the ear like hearing aid that hears sounds in the atmosphere.  The sounds are then processed and digitized by a small computer known as a speech processor.  Small speech processors could be worn behind the ear like hearing aid; however larger speech processors must be worn on the belt and of course the larger the speech processor, the more capability it has to select speech signals out of the environment, thus improving a person’s hearing.

A hearing clinic or an audiologist could determine if a patient is a candidate for a cochlear implant.  It is important that one makes the decision to receive a cochlear implant based on medical advice from their doctor in addition to reading everything they can about cochlear implants including the side effects.  One of the long-term risks of a cochlear implant is meningitis; however this is very rare.  Another concern is trying to interpret the sounds they implant from other sounds such as speech or music.  Many people who have recently received a cochlear implant can now distinguish music from static and rushed to receive free music downloads from the Internet.  Speech pathologists and audiologists could help a person who has recently received a cochlear implant with speech or music recognition.

Everyone responds to a cochlear implant differently, just as everyone’s hearing improves at different rates with a hearing aid.  Cochlear implant may not be for everyone. That’s why research and speaking to a professional cochlear implant specialist is advised before deciding on cochlear implant surgery.  A cochlear implant is just one of the many different options for a hearing impaired or death person. All options should be explored before a decision is made on any one particular device or method to improve one’s hearing.