Cochlear Benefits and Risks.

A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device which enables deaf people to hear.  The device works by stimulating nerves inside the deaf persons inner ear.

Cochlear implant devices that are available now have a magnet that holds the cochlear on your head, and are more effective than hearing aides.

What are the risks?

The risks are as follows:

• Injury to the patients facial nerve, which goes through their middle ear.  Damaging this nerve can result in paralysis to half of the face.
• Cerebrospinal fluid leakage.  A persons brain is surrounded by fluid that may leak during the procedure, leaving you more vulnerable to concussions and brain damage.
• Taste is changed.  A nerve that provides a person with 'taste' goes from the fiddle ear to the tongue.
• Tinnitus.
• Dizziness.
• An infection around the wound.
• Fluid collection (including blood) around the surgery area.
•  MRI scans may demagnetize the magnet.

Lifestyle Changes.
A person with a cochlear implant might have to change their lifestyle.  A person's implant might

•  Set off theft alarms.
• Set off metal detectors at airports.
• Be affected by mobile phones.
• Interact with computer systems in unpredictable ways.
• Have to be turned off on airplanes during take off and landing.

Benefits of using a cochlear implant:

• Assists deaf people with lip reading.
• Many cochlears can be used as mobile phones; they can call.
• Can watch TV without subtitles.
• Enjoy music and various other art.

Hearing Loss In Teenagers

Statistics show that hearing loss between people aged 12-19 are 31% more likely to be affected by hearing loss.  1 in 5 are affected.

However, the only theory that scientists and normal people alike have is that people are listening to music players or mp3 players too loud.

When we insert an earbud (earbud goes right near eardrum) and jack it up to a high amount of decibels, there is almost no room for the sound waves that have been created to exit the ear.

This is apparently the most preferred theory.

What do you think?

Leave a comment, so that I can add to my blog.  Enjoy!

Quick Facts

Some quick facts, eh?


1.The FDA first approved cochlear implant devices for adults in 1985 and for children in 1990.

2.More than 30,000 individuals worldwide have received cochlear implants.

3.Approximately 14,000 individuals in the U.S. have received cochlear implants (NIDCD).

4.Both audiologists and speech-language pathologists provide aural rehabilitation services to implant

5.recipients to facilitate their ability to detect and understand speech with the cochlear implant.

6.The average cost for cochlear implants is more than $40,000.

7.An increase in early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) programs as a result of legislation and advocacy efforts by organizations such as ASHA has allowed for the identification of more children who may benefit from cochlear implants during recent years.

9.Typically, the younger a child who was born deaf is implanted, the greater the benefit achieved in the areas of speech perception and speech and language development.

10.Among the professionals who may work as part of the cochlear implant team are audiologists, speech-language pathologists, educators, surgeons, medical specialists, psychologists and counselors.

Intro!

Hey guys,
Now I'm doing a project about Cochlear Implants.

Alright.  So let's think about it.

Over 30 million people in the U.S, which makes up about a quarter of the worlds population.

Tune into the next post to find some quick facts about cochlear implants.