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Cochlear Implants

By Candice

What is a Cochlear Implant?
A cochlear implant is a type of hearing device that works by bypassing the parts of the ear that are not working well, to help a person hear sounds.  It works by stimulating the hearing nerve directly via a small electrode placed within the cochlea, or hearing organ.  There is also an external processor, which is about the size of a traditional hearing aid, although they are getting smaller all the time.

What type of patient would be considered for a Cochlear Implant?
A person may be a candidate for a cochlear implant (or two implants) if they are not receiving enough benefit from their hearing aids.  A common misconception is that a person must be “totally deaf” to benefit from a cochlear implant.  That is not the case at all, and in fact it is better to be proactive and treat hearing loss before it becomes debilitating.  We can do specialized testing in our office to determine whether a person might benefit from a cochlear implant.

Image by Cochlear.com

Hear-it even says once someone receives a cochlear implant, their self-esteem increases and they become more social!

Signs that hearing aids just aren’t doing the trick:
You have trouble hearing on the phone. You often misunderstand what people are saying. You feel people mumble when they talk. Find yourself withdrawing with conversations because you can’t hear. You have to read lips to understand what someone is saying.

Are you interested to find out if you’re a candidate? Call our office today at 315-468-2985 to book an appointment.