1. Cochlear Implants

2. What is a Cochlear Implant?
It is a surgically implanted device that delivers electrical stimulation within the ear. It contains both internal & external parts.
External Parts: Internal Parts
Microphone Electrodes
Transmitter coil Receiver/Stimulator
Speech Processor

3. Where are the parts located?
The electrodes are surgically implanted in the cochlea, where they stimulate the nerves.
The receiver is implanted just below the skin behind the ear.
A magnet holds the coil in place next to the implanted surgical system.
The microphone & processor may be behind the ear or may be worn in a pocket, belt pouch, or harness.

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8. Who uses implants?
It can help severely or profoundly deaf adults & children who get little or no benefit from hearing aids.
Those who experience deafness from nerve damage may benefit from the implant.

9. How does the implant work?
The microphone picks up the sound.
The processor converts the sound to an electrical signal and sends it to the coil.
The signal is transmitted to the implanted receiver by radio waves.
The receiver sends the signal to the electrodes implanted in the cochlea.
The electrodes stimulate the nerves in the cochlea.

10. Videos about Implants:
“How a Cochlear Implant Works”
“Cochlear Implant Surgery Thomas Jefferson”
“29 years old and hearing myself for the 1st time”

11. What determines the success?
How long the person has been deaf
How old the person was when they became deaf (pre-lingual or post-lingual)
How long they have had the implant (if they actually use it and if they can make sense of the information from the implant)
Health of the cochlea
Age when they got the implant
How quickly they learn

12. What determines the success?
How good their support system is
How hard they work on speech therapy

13. Benefits Can hear (duh!) Can watch tv without captions
Can use a regular telephone
Can enjoy music
Possibility for better education, better jobs
Easier for hearing parents

14. Medical Risks
General anesthesia risks – some have serious side effects
Injury to facial nerve near implant site
Infection
Dizziness/vertigo
Tinnitus
Taste disturbances
Meningitis – infection of the lining of the brain
Numbness around the ear

15. Other drawbacks, arguments
Implant might not work
Expensive
Destroys hearing completely
Some say it’s not natural
Some believe it’s not moral – against God’s design
Hours of speech therapy required
Supposed to give up signing – depend on implant
Some believe it destroys Deaf culture

16. Miscellaneous Info
Children should be implanted 10 months to 2 years, during optimal time for learning language
Ear with least residual hearing is implanted because it destroys any hearing you have
Implants don’t make someone a hearing person
People hear implant sounds differently
Implants must be removed before showering, swimming, etc.

17. Miscellaneous Info Cost is approximately $65,000.
N.A.D. recommends parents look at every aspect before making a decision. Talk to doctors, deaf people, implanted patients, etc.

18. Conclusion:
There is not one right answer for every situation. Many factors must be considered before making the decision about an implant.