cochlear implants (CIs) for people with hearing loss
One of the remarkable recent technological achievements
that affect people with hearing loss is the cochlear implant. This
device is a source of controversy among the culturally Deaf, some of
whom see it as a threat to their culture. Among the late deafened and
oral deaf, however, the cochlear implant is viewed as nothing short of a
miracle.
No one maintains that cochlear implants restore normal
hearing, nor are implants uniformly successful for all recipients. They
work by bypassing the cochlear hair cells, defects of which are a common
cause of deafness. Receiving a cochlear implant requires a surgical
procedure that includes drilling a hole behind the ear and inserting a
wire into the cochlea. The wire is actually a collection of electrodes,
each of which is sensitive to a different frequency range and stimulates
the auditory nerve with the corresponding frequency.
This section contains general information about cochlear
implants, the technology, and the experiences of people who use CIs. For
information on specific products, please visit our information on the
three main CI Manufacturers.
Our CI Information
page provides both general and detailed information regarding cochlear
implant technology, candidates, current devices, expected improvements,
etc.
Bilateral Cochlear Implants
Hybrid Cochlear Implant
Totally Implantable Cochlear
Implants
Children and Cochlear
Implants
Cochlear Implant Risks
Cochlear Implant Technology
Adult Cochlear Implant
Candidates
Medical Considerations of the
Cochlear Implant
Mapping Cochlear Implants
Cochlear Implant Surgery
Music and the Cochlear Implant
Audiological Rehabilitation for
CI Users
Here are some great
stories people have written about their cochlear implant experiences.
Interested in the CI controversy within the hearing loss
community? Then check out the information on the
CI Controversy
page.
Most
people who have CIs think they're great! But one requirement is that the
auditory nerve must be intact. Suppose that nerve has been destroyed or
damaged - is there anything that can help restore hearing in those
cases? The answer is, "Yes". The device, which is a cousin of
the Cochlear Implant, is the Auditory Brainstem Implant.
If you're looking for information on a specific cochlear
implant, please see the Cochlear
Implant portion of our Resource Directory.
March 2011 -
Waterproofing CI Processor with a Balloon
January 2011 -
Cochlear Implant Comparison Chart
November 2007 - What a Cochlear Implant Is
NOT and What It ISNovember
2006 - Soap Opera Character Gets
Cochlear Implant
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 2011
I'm not sure that swimming while wearing your
cochlear implant is a good idea under any circumstances. But if you must,
I guess waterproofing the CI first makes a lot of sense. Here's one way to
do it using a balloon. I have to admit, I'd be pretty nervous about doing
this, but I suppose I'd give it a shot if it was really important to one
of my kids. The instructions provided deal with Cochlear implants, but I
would think a similar approach would work for other CIs. Here's a link to
the instructions. But remember, I'm not suggesting you try it!
Here are the instructions!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 2011
I don’t know anything about this chart or the folks
who put it together, but the claim is that it’s an objective comparison of
the three cochlear implants available in the US. There is a lot of
information there, and what I saw in a brief examination did appear to be
informative and unbiased.
Here's the chart!
