Hearing implants in the field of ENT have revolutionised treatment for hearing loss in all age groups. Cochlear implant device is one amongst the few bionic devices which are implanted in the human body enabling the patient to hear by converting sound signals into electrical impulses. These signals are sent to the brain via the cochlear nerve.
Cochlear implant surgery is done for children born with congenital hearing loss(severe to profound). The surgery is also done in adults who have lost hearing completely in one or both ears . Geriatric hearing loss patients with no benefit from hearing aids also can be implanted with cochlear implant device.
Bone conduction devices are implanted in children without outer ear development providing sound via bone conduction to normal cochlear and nerve
The Department is fully equipped with surgical and audiology centre of excellence providing care for congenital deafness and postlingual deafness.
Scope:
- Department of ENT & Hearing Implantology provides the niche service of Cochlear implant and bone conduction implant surgery at Aster RV Hospital, lead by Dr Rohit Udaya Prasad , audiometry and speech therapy team.
- Cochlear implant surgery is done from age of 9 months onwards in children who have congenital deafness. Bone conductor implant surgery is done for children and adults with congenital atresia, single sided deafness , or chronic discharging ears
- Cochlear implant surgery is advised to patients suffering from severe to profound hearing loss, where using a hearing aid does not help in hearing. Cochlear implant is an electronic device that restores hearing.
- Long-term support of people who receive cochlear implants, from the initial fitting and programming of the devices to ongoing management of device performance.
Expected outcomes
- Factors that can affect the outcomes of cochlear implantation include the age when hearing was lost and the length of time between hearing loss and the cochlear implant surgery.
- For children, the best results generally occur with getting a cochlear implant at a young age( 9 months to 2 yrs) if they are born with significant hearing loss.
FAQs
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What is Hearing loss?
It is the inability to hear partially or completely of one ear or both ears. Hearing loss can occur in children, adults and geriatric populations. Visit nearby ENT Hospital in Bangalore to avail best-in-class treatments and facilities.
What are the components of a cochlear implant?
One of the devices that can be implanted surgically and another one is a sound processor which is connected to the inner device via magnet. Cochlear Implant device perform the function of cochlea by converting sound signals into Electical signals ( 50,000- 80,000 signals per second).
When is the early age that a child can have an implant?
A child can be implanted by an 8 or 9 months based on the size of the skull, provided the child has been diagnosed early and radiologically tested.
What is done for patients by caregivers post cochlear implant surgery?
It takes time for the wound to heal. Generally, after 2 weeks, the cochlear implant devices are switched on where a child will be able to hear for the first time in his/her life with mapping and programming of the device.
Subsequently, the patient undergoes Aural habilitation / AVT to achieve listening and spoken language.
What are Hearing implants? Who needs them?
Hearing Implants are cochlear implants / bone conduction Implants, vibrant sound bridge or active middle ear implants and passive middle ear Implants. Based on the hearing of the patient treatment can be planned with a specific implantable solution.
What is Minimally Invasive trans canal Cochlear implant Surgery?
This Technique of Cochlear Implant Surgery is also called as Veria technique Trans canal cochlear implant surgery. This involves Minimal Drilling of Mastoid Bone. There is a tunnel drilled preserving the mastoid bone. This Tunnel is used to insert the electrode into the Cochlea. The current developing Robotic cochlear Implant surgery is based on this technique.
What are bone conduction implants?
Bone conduction implants are devices which are used in children with poor development of outer ear/ absent pinna and or external auditory canal with normal inner ear function
This is also used in adults with chronic discharging ears where surgical reconstruction no more benefits and also in single sided deafness.
What are devices specific information for caregivers?
The only thing parents should be concerned about is that there is no injury to the head and children should not have an upper respiratory infection. The inner device will work only when the outer device is connected to it. The external device needs maintenance, rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries can be used.
If you experience ear problems, consult the Best ENT Doctor in Bangalore at Aster RV Hospital, JP Nagar.
