What is a cochlear implant?
A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin. An implant has the following parts:* A microphone, which picks up sound from the environment.
* A speech processor, which selects and arranges sounds picked up by the microphone.
* A transmitter and receiver/stimulator, which receive signals from the speech processor and convert them into electric impulses.
* An electrode array, which is a group of electrodes that collects the impulses from the stimulator and sends them to different regions of the auditory nerve.
An implant does not restore normal hearing. Instead, it can give a deaf person a useful representation of sounds in the environment and help him or her to understand speech.
How does a cochlear implant work?
A cochlear implant is very different from a hearing aid. Hearing aids amplify sounds so they may be detected by damaged ears. Cochlear implants bypass damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. Signals generated by the implant are sent by way of the auditory nerve to the brain, which recognizes the signals as sound. Hearing through a cochlear implant is different from normal hearing and takes time to learn or relearn. However, it allows many people to recognize warning signals, understand other sounds in the environment, and enjoy a conversation in person or by telephone.
I think the reason this subject never came up yet in my blog is because it is an extremely "hot" topic in the Deaf community which I have learned to avoid with grace. The reason for this is that many people in the Deaf community are extremely proud to be Deaf. They would never even consider changing the fact that they are Deaf. Some of these people believe getting a cochlear implant is a way of disrespecting their deafness. On the other hand, there are some who feel if they were a candidate for getting the implant, they would jump on the idea. The whole idea of the cochlear implant has stirred many mixed feelings and has even destroyed close family relationships. If you are truly interested in this subject, I would recommend an entertaining yet informative movie called Sound and Fury. This movie accurately demonstrates the quarrels some families have gone through because of cochlear implants.
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