A brief perspective on cochlear implants
Article Abstract:
Cochlear implants are electronic devices used in individuals with profound deafness for whom hearing aids are ineffective. Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound and send it to the outer ear, cochlear implants stimulate still functional nerves of the inner ear and conduct impulses to the auditory cortex. A study comparing the effectiveness of three different implants - two multichannel implants and one single channel implant - found that patients with multichannel implants understood speech better than patients with single channel implants. About 2/3 of the patients with multichannel implants could understand speech although improvements varied widely. Interestingly, some members of the deaf community are trying to prevent the use of cochlear devices in children, arguing that hearing parents are ill-suited to judge whether their children should grow up hearing or deaf. The law, however, recognizes the learning disadvantages of growing up with even mild hearing loss and mandates its early diagnosis and treatment.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1993
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A prospective, randomized study of cochlear implants
Article Abstract:
Multichannel cochlear implants appear to be more effective than single channel implants in improving the ability of patients with hearing impairment to understand speech without reading lips. Cochlear implants are electronic devices that stimulate remaining nerves in the inner ears of patients with hearing loss. Of 80 adults with postlingual deafness who had not been helped by hearing aids, 30 received an Ineraid multichannel implant (implant 1), 30 received a Nucleus multichannel implant (implant 2) and 20 received the 3M/Vienna single channel implant before it was withdrawn by its manufacturer. All patients could hear with their implants, but 63% of those with implant 2 and 60% of those with implant 1 could understand some words and sentences compared with only 5% of those who received implant 3. Twenty-four patients with implant 2 were given a model with an improved speech processor, which furthered their ability to recognize words and sentences without lip reading.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1993
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Cochlear implants for children with severe-to-profound hearing loss
Article Abstract:
The article explains the effectiveness and feasibility of the cochlear implants for children with severe-to-profound hearing loss.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2007
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