A cochlear implant and its components
A cochlear implant is a small and complex electronic aid that allows people who are profoundly deaf or have hearing problems to understand. The unit components are divided into two parts, one of which lies externally behind the ear and the other of which is surgically implanted into the ear (House, 2012). The device's key components are a microphone, a voice processor, a transmitter, and electrode arrays. The microphone absorbs sound from the environment. The speech processor selects and organizes sounds recorded by the microphone. The converter transforms speech processor signals into electric impulses. The last part of the device is electrode arrays that receive impulses from the transmitter and convey them to various regions of the auditory nerve. The device does not fully reinstate the normal hearing; however, it provides a vital representation of multiple sounds in the surrounding that facilitates comprehension of speech. Cochlear Implant assists people whose sensory cells in the inner ear are crucially mutilated; therefore, other normal hearing aids cannot help them.
Candidacy by children and adults
According to American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, both children and adults can be excellent candidates for the use of the device, but there are essential criteria that must be fulfilled. The device can be installed on children with hearing loss at an early age as 12 months. The medical experts endorse early exposure to the implants for children so that they are introduced to sounds while still at important time of language acquisition. The next step after implantation is massive speech and language therapy to facilitate fruitful results from the device. The children candidates use the device when they have deep hearing loss exhibited in both ears, achieve no benefits from the use of hearing aids and they should be healthy and devoid of any complications that may hamper surgery (Reefhuis et al., 2012).
The children assisted by their parents should understand the outcomes of effectual use of cochlear implants and also register for an educational process that will enhance the development of auditory skills. Adults qualify for the implants irrespective of whether hearing loss came before or after learning the language. Those who lost hearing after learning the language are more likely to accrue more success from the device. Adults qualify for the implant of cochlear when they have intense hearing loss in both ears; when hearing aids do not help their situation and they show no notable risk if surgery is conducted on them. They should have the desire to hear and communicate. The benefit of the treatment is regaining of hearing sense (Cohen, & Hoffman, 2013).
My counsel
My counsel to hearing loss patients who wish to use cochlear implant regarding their realistic expectations is that they visit an ENT specialist who may refer them to a reputable a cochlear implant center. It is a norm that at the center, the implant candidates undergo both audiological and psychological testing to ascertain their suitability and success of the procedure. My next counsel to the patients is to adhere to the provided follow-up schedule after the implant surgery. It is imperative for them to recognize the risks or dangers that have been associated with Cochlear Implants in the past and advise them on how to go about them. Some of the dangers are a variation on how a person hears the sound, total loss of residual hearing, possible implant failure, challenges of understanding the hearing and many other problems. Outcomes of the implants vary which individual case on people who undertake the procedure (Cohen, & Hoffman, 2013). The outcome depends on the period of hearing loss before seeking help, severity of the hearing loss and health condition of the cochlear. If the are other disturbing medical conditions and considerably less practice or therapy with the implant, then rewards may not be promising.
The efficiency of the implant
The implant would be efficient, for instance, if cochlear implant functions better than hearing for the people who experimented with hearing aid before. If the patients can hear and concentrate better in a noisy environment and if the patient is capable of linking with sounds that he missed earlier. Other successful surgeries are portrayed with the ability to enjoy music, talk on the phone and hear as well (Lesner, 2016).
References
House, W. F. (2012). Cochlear implants. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, 85(3_suppl), 3-3.
Cohen, N. L., & Hoffman, R. A. (2013). Complications of cochlear implant surgery in adults and children. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, 100(9), 708-711.
Reefhuis, J., Honein, M. A., Whitney, C. G., Chamany, S., Mann, E. A., Biernath, K. R., … & Costa, P. (2012). Risk of bacterial meningitis in children with cochlear implants. New England Journal of Medicine, 349(5), 435-445.
Lesner, S. (2016). American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
