How Cochlear Implant Surgery Works: A Specialist’s Guide to Hearing Restoration
If you suffer from profound hearing loss, cochlear implant surgery can treat the condition. Health specialists usually recommend this treatment option when the traditional hearing aid fails. During the surgical procedure, a device is inserted inside your ear, stimulating the auditory nerve and helping you hear sound. So, follow this guide if you want to know how this implantation can bypass the inner ear’s damaged parts.
What Are Cochlear Implants?
Cochlear implants have two parts: external and internal. In the external procedure, a sound processor is used to help capture the sound from the surroundings and transmit the processed signal to the internal implant of the ear. Next comes the internal implant, placed under the skin and behind the ear through the surgical method. When it receives the signal, the electrode array stimulates the auditory nerve, which finally helps the brain perceive the sound.
How Is It Different From a Traditional Hearing Aid?
Cochlear implant surgery at https://earnosethroat.com.sg/cochlear-implant-specialist-singapore is quite different from the standard hearing aid, which is made to amplify the sound. However, in the case of cochlear implant surgery, it helps to bypass the damaged sensory hair cells and provides direct electrical stimulation.
How Is It Different From a Traditional Hearing Aid?
Cochlear implant surgery is performed under general anesthesia, and it is an outpatient procedure that takes around 3 to 4 hours to complete. During the surgery, a small incision is made by the surgeon behind the ear so that a small amount of bone can be removed; this gives access to the inner ear, where the device is implanted, under the skin. The incision is closed after the electrode arrays are inserted into the cochlear and secured. This procedure usually uses dissolvable stitches, eliminating the hassle of having to remove them after some time.
Postoperative Recovery and Activation
The patient is advised to undergo a recovery period set by the healthcare specialist. This phase helps to heal and lasts for 3 to 4 weeks. After this, the implant is activated, and the postoperative recovery phase ensures that the patient does not feel discomfort, dizziness, or swelling during that experience. With the doctor’s recommendation, you can also return to your routine after a week.
Activating the cochlear implant requires a follow-up appointment during which the external sound processor is connected to the implant. The device is programmed based on the patient’s specific hearing requirements, and it usually takes time and rehabilitation to adjust to the new way of procuring sound.
Conclusion
After the cochlear implant surgery, the patient needs to go through a rehabilitation program to optimize their hearing experience. You will find that this implant has significantly improved the quality of your life, and your ability to understand speech is also getting more apparent. Moreover, you can also find a better sense of connectivity with your surroundings through improved communication ability. However, before you opt for the surgery, you must go through evaluations and tests to determine the risks and benefits.
