hearing loss hearing aids

There has long been a number of ways to provide better hearing to those who experience varying degrees of loss in their hearing function. Hearing aids in many models have been available for decades and have improved greatly thanks to the advances in miniaturization and technology in general. The cochlear implant option has also been available for a number of years and recently has been more widely accepted.

While the procedure to provide a patient with cochlear implants was first introduced in the mid 1960s, the use of these implants did not really become widespread until the early 1990s. In fact, there was, and still is, some resistance to these devices from the deaf community, which actually first reacted with protests to this new approach to providing better hearing to those with profound hearing loss and deafness.

Nowadays, the majority of opposition to cochlear implant technology is in the past and there is a greater level of acceptance toward cochlear implants by the tight-knit deaf community. One of the main concerns, and sources of resistance, was the worry that the very unique culture that the deaf community enjoys would be threatened if the use of these implants became widespread.

Now some years later, however, it seems the fear of extinguishing the strong and proud culture of the profoundly deaf was mostly unfounded. Today, cochlear implants are no longer seen as a threat to that lifestyle but instead, as an alternative for better hearing.

Cochlear implants are also often referred to as an "internal hearing aid." But it should be made clear that cochlear implants are not the equivalent of the hearing aid products known as implantable hearing aids. The main difference is that the cochlear implants utilize electricity to directly stimulate nerves in the auditory system while the implantable hearing devices are essentially exactly the same as a standard hearing aid, simply implanted "permanently."

Traditional hearing loss hearing aids simply amplify the sounds. Cochlear implants work differently in that they "rewire" the internal workings in such a way that it actually bypasses the hair cells that have been damaged in the ear. Because of this approach, not everyone with severe hearing loss is eligible for cochlear implants. If the patient still has a certain level of hearing, then they might be rejected for this procedure. The reason for this is that the implant will destroy any natural hearing that is still functioning in the ear that receives the implant.

One interesting note to point out is that even after someone receives an implant, they are still considered to be deaf. In fact, they have the ability to turn their cochlear implants off and when the implants are not on, they are totally deaf.

The statistics show that more adults who are deaf are now having cochlear implant surgery done to give them some measure of hearing. The trend also shows that hearing parents, as opposed to deaf parents, are more likely to make a swift decision to have a deaf child receive these implants. In all instances this is a choice that is highly personal and which should only be undertaken with proper, professional counseling.

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