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
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.
An organization called Cochlear
Implant Association International (CIAI) provides information and support
to implantees.
September 2006 - Telephone
Options for Cochlear Implant Users
September 2006 -
Commercial Development of the Cochlear ImplantNovember
2006 - Soap Opera Character Gets
Cochlear Implant
November 2006 - Court
Overturns Cochlear Implant Denial
April
2007 - A Look at Cochlear Implants Today
November 2007 - What a Cochlear Implant Is
NOT and What It IS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September
2006
Cochlear
implants (CIs) have become commonplace in the past few years, and the
candidacy requirements have been loosened as CI performance has improved.
Of course, it hasn't always been so. About 25 years ago, CI developers
knew they had a viable device, but there are several important steps
between a viable device and a successful commercial product. For a
fascinating history of how the CI traversed those steps, please point your
browser to:
http://www.phm.gov.au/hsc/cochlear/commercial.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November
2006
A
health plan administrator acted unreasonably in denying coverage of a
plan participant's cochlear implant, according to an Oct. 23 ruling by
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The court ruled in
Carolina Care Plan Inc. v. McKenzie that the plan abused its discretion
in denying the participant's claim. The ruling appears to be an
important victory for patients. But one audiologist who has been long
involved in cochlear implants said she is not sure how far-reaching the
case may be. Full
Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 2007
Here's a pretty good article on cochlear implants
(CIs). It includes some human interest, a look at the
"controversy" surrounding implants, a bit of history, where
implants are today, and where the various manufacturers see progress
coming in the future. For those who have any interest in a CI, it's well
worth the read! Here's
the story!
