What is the Difference between Ordinary Hearing Aids and a Cochlear Implant?

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Medical Video: The Difference Between Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants

Hearing aids are the main tool for people who have hearing difficulties to facilitate communication so they can still interact smoothly with their surroundings. There are two choices of hearing aids that are commonly available, namely hearing aids and cochlear implants. If you are considering using a hearing aid but are still confused about which one to choose, first consider the difference between a normal hearing aid and cochlear implant.

What is a hearing aid?

Hearing aids are small electronic devices that you use in or behind your ears.Hearing aids increase the volume of sound entering the earso that people with hearing loss can listen, communicate, and participate more smoothly in their daily activities. Hearing aids can help people hear more clearly in quiet and noisy situations.

However, there is a maximum limit of the increase in volume that a hearing aid can provide. In addition, if the inner ear is too damaged, even large vibrations will not be converted into nerve signals. In this situation, hearing aids will not be effective.

How the hearing aid works

Hearing aids have three parts: microphone, amplifier, and speaker. Hearing aids receive sound through a microphone, which converts sound waves into electrical signals and sends them to amplifiers. The sound amplifier then increases the signal strength and then sends it to the ear through the speaker.

Hearing aids increase the sound vibrations that enter the ear through hair cells. The surviving hair cells detect greater vibrations and convert them into nerve signals that are passed to the brain. The greater / more severe damage to hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss, so the greater the volume increase needed for you to hear.

What's the difference with cochlear implants?

A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that is placed in the ear of a person who has a hearing loss due to a damaged cochlea. This tool works by sending impulses from the cochlea directly to the auditory nerve, which will then carry sound signals to the brain.

The cochlea or commonly called a cochlea organ functions to take sound vibrations and send them to the brain through the auditory nerve. When the cochlea is damaged, the sound will not be able to reach the nerve so that the brain cannot process the signal as sound. The cochlear implant functions to replace damaged inner (cochlear) ear function to deliver sound signals to the brain. In other words, cochlear implants help you hear because it works directly with the auditory nerve and brain.

How the cochlear implant works

The implant consists of two parts, namely the outer part which is placed behind the ear and the inside which is planted inside the ear through small surgery.

Broadly speaking, cochlear implants have four double parts: a microphone, sound processor, transmitter, and implant body. Hearing aids receive sound from the outside through a microphone, which is then captured by the processor to convert sound waves into digital signals and send them to the sound amplifier alias transmitter. The sound amplifier then sends this digital sound signal into nerve impulses, which are then passed on to the auditory nerve in the brain to be processed into auditory information (sound).

Which is better for you: hearing aids or cochlear implants?

The choice of using a hearing aid or cochlear implant is actually more of a personal preference, but it would be better if you first consult an ENT doctor about your condition; what is the cause of your hearing loss, and how severe the complaint is.

Hearing aids are especially useful in improving hearing and speech understanding of people who experience hearing loss due to damage to small sensory cells in the inner ear, called hair cells. This type of hearing loss is called sensorineural hearing loss. Damage can occur due to illness, aging, injury due to noise (eg because listening to music is too loud through a headset / headphone), or certain drugs. Most hearing aids are digital and have batteries. But for some situations, such as swimming or extreme exercise, you may have to take it off during activities.

Meanwhile, cochlear implants are aimed more at people who experience hearing loss due to damage to the cochlea. Cochlear implants allow users to hear and understand speech to enjoy music. Although visible, implants usually do not obstruct everyday life. Even you can still swim while using an implant, because basically the cochlear implant is embedded in the ear. Also note that most users report hearing faint "beeps" or "machine" sounds.

Children and adults who have difficulty hearing or even severe deafness can use cochlear implants. Cochlear implants are even safe to use even by children at least 12 months. A research cited by the National Institute of Health proves that cochlear implants that are installed before 18 months of age can make children hear better, understand various sounds and music, even interact with friends without requiring visual cues such as sign language.

What is the Difference between Ordinary Hearing Aids and a Cochlear Implant?
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