Cochlear Implants
Source: PIB
GS III: Science and Technology
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Cochlear Implants
Why in the News?
Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the benchmark of 50 bilateral simultaneous cochlear implants in the last 18 months by the Department of Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) at Army Hospital (R&R).
Here in this news understanding Cochlear Implants are enough.
About Cochlear Implants
- A cochlear implant is a medical device designed to provide hearing to individuals with severe to profound hearing loss or deafness.
- Unlike traditional hearing aids, which amplify sound, cochlear implants work by directly stimulating the auditory nerve, bypassing damaged parts of the inner ear (the cochlea).
- It has been revolutionary for people with severe hearing loss or profound deafness, as they can significantly improve their ability to hear and communicate.
- They are most effective when implanted in children at a young age, as early intervention can promote better speech and language development.
- It’s important to note that it does not completely restore “normal” hearing but provides a sensation of sound.
- The individual may need auditory rehabilitation and speech therapy to learn how to interpret these new auditory signals effectively.
- They have undergone significant advancements over the years, making them an essential tool in the field of auditory rehabilitation.
How does a cochlear implant generally work?
- External Components
- Microphone: It picks up sounds from the environment.
- Speech Processor: This small computer processes the incoming sound into digital signals.
- Transmitter Coil: The processed signals are sent to the internal implant through a transmitter coil that sits on the skin behind the ear.
- Internal Component (Implant)
- Receiver-Stimulator: This part of the implant is surgically placed under the skin behind the ear. It receives signals from the transmitter coil and converts them into electrical impulses.
- Electrode Array: A thin, flexible electrode array is inserted into the cochlea, the spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear. The electrodes directly stimulate the auditory nerve fibres.
- Brain Processing
- The electrical impulses generated by the implant travel along the auditory nerve to the brain.
- The brain interprets these impulses as sound, allowing the individual to perceive sound, including speech and environmental noises.
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