What is a bilateral cochlear implant?
bilateral cochlear implant is an artificial auditory assistance that is surgically implanted in a person who has a significant loss of hearing. The term "bilateral" means that both ears are implanted by a device rather than just one ear. There is an external and internal component for the cochlear implant. The external handset converts the sounds into electric currents and transmits them to the inner receiver. The current then reaches the auditory nerve, allowing the patient to "hear" sounds. Adapting new sounds requires time and exercise. When the patient's brain gets used to different sound signals, they should start to sound more natural. Bilateral cochlear implant helps people with hearing loss to interpret the reading of lips more efficiently and also regulate their own voices.
Because the bilateral cochlear implant requires a perception adjustment generally assumed that small children are the most durable candidates for surgery and those that were not born with hearing loss. In spite of this is not an adult who was born to be lostThe hearing, in the acceptance of implants. Candidates for bilateral cochlear implant must have an active, undamaged auditory nerve fibers to make the device work.
In preparation for bilateral surgery of cochlear implants, patients will encounter various specialists, including speech therapists, audiologists and otologists or ear doctors. Psychological counseling is also recommended to facilitate the transition. Patients will have to publish their other health conditions, as well as any medicines and supplements they use.
Some people decide to have one ear implanted at a time in two separate operations. This is called sequential implantation, while in simultaneous implantation, both ears are treated in the same session. Bilateral surgery of cochlear implants begins with the administration of general anesthesia, so the patient is not awake. The surgeon cuts and drills into the bone behind the ear. Part of the inner cutThe eating is inserted into a part of the ear while the rest is implanted into the bone.
patients should expect to return home the next day. About a month later they will meet their audiologist to connect the external devices to the ears. External devices will be programmed and in the next few months the patient may return to an audiologist to adjust the handset as needed. After a bilateral cochlear implant, the patient will cooperate with an audiologist and a speech therapist to improve his perception of sound.
with bilateral cochlear implant is associated with several risks. It is possible that the operation will destroy any residual hearing. This may disrupt the possible use of any future technologies and progress for hearing loss. Some patients also reported dizziness, nerve injury and infection or mechanical failure of the implanted device. The risks of any surgery may include adverse reactions of anesthesia, infection and bleeding.