User:Kira2525/sandbox

= Deaf Culture =

Cochlear Implant

What makes up a cochlear implant

The make of Cochlear implants had started in the late 1970's but has recently become popular. A cochlear implant is a small device to help those who are deaf or severely hard of hearing to gain the sense of hearing. The implant is made of two portions one portions has to be surgically implanted into the person while the other portion sits behind an ear. There are four parts to a cochlear implant the first in a microphone the second is a speech processor which is used for arranges the sounds from the microphone. A transmitter and receiver is used for takes the speech signals and turns them into electrical impulses. The final part is the electrode array sends the impulses to the auditory nerve to give someone the ability to understand speech.

How a cochlear implant works and who gets them

A cochlear implant differs from a hearing aid because a hearing aid amplifies the sounds a hearing person would already hear if their ears were not damaged. The cochlear implant passes the damaged area of the ear and goes straight for the auditory nerve to the brain. With the implant a person has to learn or relearn sounds the implant helps understand sounds around them as well as speech. In December 2012 324,200 cochlear implants were registered all around the world. In the United States 96,000 adults and children had cochlear implants. In the mid 1980's the FDA approved for adults to get the implants to help with hearing lost. Cochlear implants have been approved for children of one year of age as of 2000. Young children who get a cochlear implant and therapy before being 18 months of age are shown to have a better understanding of sounds and speech then an adult who has gotten the same implant. A cochlear implant and therapy can help a child who is deaf develop the sense of hearing and be able to be in a mains stream classroom like children who were born with the sense of hearing.

Additional information

Cochlear implants are not only a surgical process but, years of therapy is also needed for a person to be able to learn or relearn how to use the sense of hearing. Getting a cochlear implant can be expensive and not every form of health insurance will pay for the procedure. Before getting an implant it is recommended that the person meet with a specialist about the benefits and risks that come with any surgical procedure. Most people with a cochlear implant cannot get an MRI scan due to the implant being metal.

Cost

A cochlear implant is more expensive than a hearing aid. The cost for the cochlear implant could be as much as $100,000 but that includes the cost of the device, surgery, evaluation from a doctor, and rehabilitation. Most insurance companies will cover these costs.

Risks

A cochlear implant surgery is a relatively safe surgery but with any surgery there are risk some more severe than others. The most common complications would be a problem with the wound healing, infection, nerve damage of the face, or skin breakdown. A few other complications are failure of the device to work, dizziness, abnormal taste, or leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.

Benefits

With the implant even though someone who is deaf will not hear the same as someone born with the ability to hear they will be able to hear in some way. If a person gets the implant at a young age they are more likely to be in mainstream classes in school. Ather benefits is a person can have a better understanding when someone is speaking to them than lip reading, although some people use the implant to help them better lip reading.