Hearing aids help many people get their sense of sound back, but they don’t work in every scenario. Because every situation is unique, some patients might need other options. Cochlear implants and auditory brainstem implants provide an alternative for those who are deaf, significantly hard of hearing or have hearing loss that doesn’t respond to hearing aids. Our team at Audiology Center of North Texas, LLC can help you determine if an implant is the best choice for you.
How Do Cochlear and Auditory Brainstem Implants Work?
A cochlear implant is a device that stimulates the auditory nerve by using electrodes placed in the cochlea of the inner ear. The external part of the device sits behind the ear and picks up sounds with a microphone. The sound is then transmitted to the implant.
An auditory brainstem implant works similarly but connects directly to the brainstem.
While hearing aids amplify sounds, implants bypass damaged portions of the ear to directly stimulate the auditory nerve. The implant generates signals that are sent through the auditory nerve to the brain, which are recognized as sounds.
How Do I Know if Hearing Implants Are Right for Me?
Implants are often used in the following circumstances:
· You’re experiencing hearing loss that is not helped by hearing aids.
· You miss more than half of spoken words or rely on lip reading, even with hearing aids.
· You have profound sensorineural hearing loss, a condition involving damage to your inner ear.
What Are the Benefits of Hearing Implants?
· They might provide an alternative if hearing aids do not work for you.
· You might be able better understand family, friends and co-workers.
· You may feel more confident in situations where you previously struggled to hear.
Should I Get a Cochlear Implant or an Auditory Brainstem Implant?
Our team will help you determine which implant is best for you. Cochlear implants are the most common type of implant, but in some cases, an auditory brainstem implant is ideal. If you have a small or missing auditory nerve, damage from a skull fracture, an unusually shaped inner ear or a neurofibromatosis type II (NF2) tumor, you might be a candidate for an auditory brainstem implant.
When Is the Best Age To Receive Hearing Implants?
Our provider will work with you to answer this question.
In young children, studies have shown that there are benefits of receiving cochlear implants and auditory therapy prior to turning 18 months. For example, they can often hear and communicate at better rates than children who receive implants when they are older, develop language skills at similar rates to peers with normal hearing and typically find success in mainstream classrooms.
Success with hearing implants also isn’t just limited to children. People who have lost their hearing later in life can use cochlear implants to associate signals from the device with sounds they remember.
How Do I Receive a Cochlear Implant?
After healing from the surgery, your audiologist will program the device to fit your unique needs and teach you how to care for it. You will also receive aural therapy to interpret the new electrical signals.
The duration of this rehabilitation will vary based on your goals and progress. Whether it lasts for a shorter period of time or is a long-term endeavor, Audiology Center of North Texas, LLC will be by your side.
Our Team Is Here For You
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when thinking about receiving cochlear or auditory brainstem implants. Undergoing surgery and taking the time to learn to interpret the new sounds that you’re hearing can feel daunting, and you might not know where to start. At Audiology Center of North Texas, LLC, we’ll guide you through every step of the process.
Call Audiology Center of North Texas, LLC for more information or to schedule an appointment.
(817) 585-4080
