Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
BOOKS
Christiansen, John B. and Irene W. Leigh. Cochlear Implants inChildren: Ethics and Choices. Washington, DC: Galladet University Press, 2002.
Niparko, John K., ed. Cochlear Implants: Principles and...
Practices. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2000.
PERIODICALS
Cheng, Andre K., et al. "Cost-Utility Analysis of the Cochlear Implant in Children."Journal of the American Medical Association 284, no. 7 (August 16, 2000): 850–856.
"The Earlier the Implant, the Greater the Benefit."The HearingJournal (February 2001).
Mraz, Stephen J. "Breaking the Wall of Silence."Machine Design (December 9, 1999).
ORGANIZATIONS
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf. 3417 Volta Place NW, Washington, DC 20007. (202) 337-5220.
Cochlear Implant Club International. 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 440, Washington, D.C. 20015-2052. (202) 895-2781.
Hearing Loss Link. 2600 W. Peterson Ave., Ste. 202, Chicago, IL 60659. (312) 743-1032, (312) 743-1007 (TDD).
National Association for the Deaf. 814 Thayer Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. (301) 587-1788, (301) 587-1789 (TDD).
OTHER
Cochlear Implant Recipients may be at Greater Risk forMeningitis. FDA Public Health Web Notification. October 17, 2002 [cited February 23, 2003].
Advertisement
This animation not only shows how the ear detects sound waves and converts those waves into nerve signals, but it also shows how cochlear implants work and allow patients with nerve deafness to hear.
A cochlear implant has a microphone outside the ear that transmits sounds to an implanted receiver. In turn, the receiver transmits electrical impulses to the cochlea and cochlear nerve, which is stimulated in normal hearing. (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
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Other Information
A cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing. The cochlear implant is often referred to as a bionic ear. Unlike hearing aids, the cochlear implant does not amplify sound, but works by directly stimulating any functioning auditory nerves inside the cochlea with electric field stimulated through an electric impulse. External components of the cochlear implant include a microphone, speech processor and an RF transmitter. Similarly an RF receiver is implanted beneath the skull's skin. The transmitter has a piece of magnet by which it attaches to another magnet placed beside the receiver. When the receiver gets a signal, it will be transmitted to the implanted electrodes in the cochlea. The speech processor allows an individual to adjust the sound level of sensitivity.
Other Information
ENT surgeons diagnose and treat conditions of the ears, nose, throat, head and neck, and undertake some cosmetic procedures.
-Dr David Luff
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