Purpose: Bone conduction implants are used to treat hearing loss by bypassing the outer and middle ear and directly stimulating the cochlea through bone vibrations.
Mechanism: A small titanium implant is surgically placed behind the ear or anchored to the skull bone. A sound processor worn externally picks up sound waves, converts them into vibrations, and transmits them through the bone to the inner ear.
Candidates: People with conductive hearing loss, single-sided deafness, or mixed hearing loss where traditional hearing aids are not effective.
Advantages: It can improve hearing clarity without blocking the ear canal, suitable for those with chronic ear infections or malformed outer ears.
Cochlear Implants:
Purpose: Cochlear implants are designed for individuals with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, where the cochlea’s hair cells are damaged or non-functional.
Mechanism: Surgically implanted electrodes in the cochlea’s inner ear stimulate the auditory nerve directly, bypassing damaged hair cells. An external processor captures and processes sound into electrical signals sent to the electrodes.
Candidates: People with severe hearing loss who gain little benefit from hearing aids, including children and adults.
Advantages: Offers clearer sound perception than hearing aids for severe hearing losses, enables speech perception and language development in children.
Hearing Aids:
Purpose: Hearing aids amplify sounds for individuals with mild to profound hearing loss by making sounds louder and clearer.
Types: Available in various styles including behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), receiver in the canal (RIC), and completely-in-canal (CIC), depending on the degree of hearing loss and aesthetic preferences.
Mechanism: Microphones pick up sound, which is processed and amplified before being delivered through a speaker into the ear canal.
Candidates: Individuals with mild to profound hearing loss due to aging, noise exposure, or other factors.
Advantages: Improves hearing in everyday situations, enhances communication, and can be adjusted for specific hearing needs.
