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COCHLEAR IMPLANT CENTER- DMH
Ear Anatomy
To understand hearing loss, it is essential to understand the anatomy of the ear. The ear has three main parts- the outer ear, the Middle ear and the Inner ear.
OUTER EAR- Outer ear has two parts, Pinna and ear canal. Pinna collects sounds from the surroundings and ear canal directs sound into the ear.
MIDDLE EAR- Sound waves travel through ear canal setting the ear drum into vibrations. Chain of three small bones, called as Ossicular chain transfers vibration into the inner ear.
INNER EAR- Contains fluid and highly sensitive “Hair” cells like structures get stimulated due to Ossicular chain vibrations. Signals from Auditory nerve are sent to brain for sound perception.
What is Hearing Loss?
If a person has little to no hearing due to some problem in his/her outer ear, middle ear OR Inner ear is said to have a hearing loss. Hearing loss in Outer ear OR middle ear is reversible and can be treated and cured completely. But if a person has a hearing loss in inner ear due to some reason then use of Hearing aids and/ Or Cochlear Implant is recommended. Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears. In children hearing problems can affect the ability to learn spoken language and in adults it can cause work related difficulties.
What is Cochlear Implant?
A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin. Cochlear implants bypass damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. Signals generated by the implant are sent by way of the auditory nerve to the brain, which recognizes the signals as sound.
How does Cochlear Implant work?
Sounds are picked up by the microphone in the audio processor. The audio processor analyses and codes sounds into a special pattern of digital information. This information is sent to the coil and is transmitted across the skin to the implant. The implant interprets the code and sends electrical pulses to the electrodes in the cochlea. The auditory nerve picks up the signals and sends them to the auditory centre in the brain. The brain recognizes these signals as sound.
What is a Candidacy Criteria for Cochlear Implant?
Cochlear Implants are used successfully worldwide by both prelingually and postlingually deafened children and adults. Since 2000, cochlear implants have been FDA-approved for use in eligible children beginning at 12 months of age. For young children who are deaf or severely hard-of-hearing, using a cochlear implant while they are young exposes them to sounds during an optimal period to develop speech and language skills. Implantation at a young age is highly recommended because hearing is important for language development .Research has shown better outcomes for children implanted at an early age.
1. Older children and adults with previous speech and language development generally perform better with a cochlear implant.
2. for children, those born with a profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.
3. For those older children and adults has acquired severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.
4. Children those receive little or no benefit from hearing aids.
What next after a Cochlear Implant surgery?
At Deenanath Mangeshkar Super Specialty Hospital, Neonatal Hearing screening is carried out as a routine test for every new born baby to rule out whether a baby has a normal hearing or suspected hearing loss, which helps us in early identification (intervention).
All investigations related to Pre Cochlear Implant surgery like Audiometry test, OAE test, BERA test, C.T Scan, M.R.I etc are done under one roof. Post Surgery SWITCH ON, Mapping, Auditory Verbal Therapy is done by experienced team. All required surgical instruments, well equipped Operation Theaters and experienced surgeons are unique to Deenanath Mangeshkar multi-specialty hospital.
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