What is a cochlear implant?
Ear with cochlear implant
Source: NIH/NIDCD
A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that helps provide the sensation of sound to people who are profoundly deaf or profoundly hard of hearing. The implant consists of an outer part located behind the ear and a second part that is surgically placed under the skin (see diagram). The implant has the following parts:
- A microphone that picks up surrounding sounds.
- A speech processor that selects and organizes the sounds picked up by the microphone.
- Transmitter and receiver/stimulator. It receives signals from the speech processor and converts them into electrical impulses.
- Electrode array. A group of electrodes that collect impulses from the stimulator and transmit them to different areas of the auditory nerve.
Implants do not restore normal hearing. Instead, it provides hearing-impaired people with a useful representation of sounds in their environment and helps them understand speech.
How does a cochlear implant work?
Cochlear implants are very different from hearing aids. Hearing aids amplify sounds, allowing damaged ears to detect them. Cochlear implants bypass the damaged part of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. The signals generated by the implant are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve, and the brain perceives the signals as sound. Hearing from a cochlear implant is different from normal hearing and takes time to learn or relearn. However, it allows many people to recognize warning signals, understand other sounds in their environment, and understand face-to-face or telephone conversations.
Who receives a cochlear implant?
Children and adults who are deaf or have severe hearing loss can be fitted with a cochlear implant. As of December 2019, there are approximately 736,900 registered devices embedded worldwide. In the United States, approximately 118,100 devices are implanted in adults and 65,000 devices are implanted in children. (estimated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) [FDA]as reported by cochlear implant manufacturers approved for the U.S. market).
The FDA first approved cochlear implants to treat hearing loss in adults in the mid-1980s. Since 2020, cochlear implants have been approved by the FDA for use in children starting at 9 months of age. For young children who are deaf or have severe hearing loss, cochlear implants at an early age provide the child with an optimal period of exposure to sound to develop speech and language skills. Studies have shown that when these children receive cochlear implants before they are 18 months old and receive intensive treatment afterwards, they are better able to hear and understand sounds and music than those who receive the implants later in life. and has been shown to be able to speak. Research shows that children eligible for cochlear implants before age 18 months can develop language skills at a similar rate to children with normal hearing, and many are successful in mainstream classrooms. It has also been shown that
Some adults who lose all or most of their hearing later in life may benefit from a cochlear implant. They learn to associate signals from the implant with the sounds they remember, including speech, without the need for visual cues such as lip reading or sign language.
How do I receive a cochlear implant?
Using a cochlear implant requires both a surgical procedure and extensive therapy to learn or relearn hearing. Not everyone will have the same level of performance with this device. The decision to receive an implant requires discussion with a medical professional, including an experienced cochlear implant surgeon. This process can be expensive. For example, health insurance may cover the cost, but not necessarily. Some people choose not to have a cochlear implant for a variety of personal reasons. Surgical implantation is safe in most cases, but as with any type of surgery, complications are a risk factor. A further consideration is learning how to interpret the sounds produced by the implant. This process takes time and practice. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are often involved in this learning process. All these factors should be considered before transplanting.
What does the future hold for cochlear implants?
NIDCD supports research that advances the benefits of cochlear implants. Could scientists help people with limited high-frequency hearing loss while preserving low-frequency hearing, for example, by using a shortened electrode array inserted into part of the cochlea? I’m researching what’s going on. Researchers are also looking at the potential benefits of combining a cochlear implant in one ear with another cochlear implant or hearing aid in the other ear.
Where can I find additional information about cochlear implants?
NIDCD maintains a directory of organizations that provide information about normal and impaired processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, speech, speech, and language.
Use the following keywords to find organizations that can answer your questions and provide information about cochlear implants.
NIDCD Information Clearinghouse
1 Communication Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892-3456
Toll Free: (800) 241-1044
Toll-free TTY: (800) 241-1055
Email: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov
NIH Publication Number 00-4798
February 2016