Your Cochlear Implant Specialists in
Northeast Oregon
Hearing loss impacts the lives of millions of people of all ages in every part of the world.
The most common solution to restore hearing and a better quality of life involves the use of hearing aids, but there are cases that require an alternative solution to improve hearing clarity when hearing aids aren’t enough.
Children or adults looking for improved hearing clarity and more natural sound turn to our audiologist at Audiology and Hearing Aids Associates to facilitate better communication and better hearing from cochlear implants.
Cochlear hearing implants, whether in one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral), are used to improve hearing clarity and elevate speech and language processing abilities in children as young as six to twelve months on up to adolescents and adults.
Although cochlear ear implant technology is something many people are aware of, few truly understand what they are and how they are used.
Great people. Good, knowledgeable and helpful. Best audiologists I’ve ever been to.
Schedule A Cochlear Implant Assessment
What Is A Cochlear Implant?
When your inner ear is damaged or has deteriorated, the electronic device designed to compensate for the damage done is called a cochlear implant, which transmits modified sound signals or impulses directly to the auditory nerve rather than sending amplified or processed sounds through the ear canal and regular auditory system.
An external processor receives and processes the sounds around you and then transmits them to an internal electrode, which is threaded into the cochlea using a surgical procedure. Though cochlear implants cannot cure your hearing loss, they help access sound that is not arriving via natural pathways, even when using amplification.
Cochlear hearing implants were first FDA approved in the 1970s in order to facilitate a higher level of hearing clarity for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. Similar to other electronic devices, the advancements in digital technology have had a significant impact on the processing and performance capacities of cochlear implants, which far exceeds the capabilities of early instruments.
Used alongside hearing aids or to replace them, cochlear implants are able to provide an adequate solution to overcome individual hearing loss challenges.
As a member of the Cochlear Provider Network, Audiology & Hearing Aid Associates is able to provide you with access to the most advanced and effective solutions for your unique hearing needs, ensuring that you receive the treatment you need to achieve optimal outcomes, delivering the highest level of expertise and consistency, and providing continuity of care throughout your unique treatment journey.
More Answers To Your Questions About Cochlear Implants
Q: What Is A Bi-modal Fitting?
When a patient wears a traditional hearing aid in one ear and uses a cochlear implant in the other, it is called a bimodal fitting. Communication between the two devices to maximize hearing potential is now possible thanks to advancements in digital technology and connectivity.
Q: Who Is A Good Candidate For A Cochlear Implant?
Specific candidacy requirements usually include your level of hearing loss, your capacity to understand words, and the effectiveness of hearing aid use, along with your medical history.
Determining whether or not you are a good candidate for a cochlear implant requires collaboration between your audiologist and a surgeon.
Q: What Risks Are Involved With Cochlear Implant Surgery?
Any surgical procedure, especially those that make use of general anesthesia, involves risks. Depending on your medical history, most procedures include minimal risks and few, if any, complications, requiring only a one-day hospital stay.
Q: Will I Need Additional Surgeries To Accommodate New Technology As It Becomes Available?
Technological advancements associated with cochlear implants occur in the exterior processing unit, which is easily replaced to accommodate these upgrades without surgery, while the implanted device is a pretty basic component that does not need replacing to upgrade.
Q: Can People With Cochlear Implants Swim, Shower, And Remain Active?
One of the great benefits of cochlear implants is the fact that you can go on with your active lifestyle with few restrictions, except scuba diving and skydiving, which involve intense pressure changes that can damage the device. Patients remove the external processor in order to shower or swim and engage in other aggressive physical activities while using protective headgear.
Q: How Long After Being Implanted Are Cochlear Implants Activated?
Your audiologist will activate your cochlear implant within 4-6 weeks after surgery. They are activated gradually, beginning with basic soft sounds. You will then build on your progress in order to introduce more sounds in the successive weeks and months.
Q: Are Cochlear Implants Covered By Insurance?
Most private insurance companies and Medicare cover FDA-approved cochlear implants.
Learn More About Cochlear Implants From Our Specialist
When hearing aids do not provide adequate hearing improvement or facilitate speech and language development, cochlear implants often provide the best alternative solution for those with severe to profound hearing loss.
Cochlear implants are an important tool utilized by Audiology and Hearing Aid Associates to help improve the quality of life for those in Northeastern Oregon who qualify for them.
If you, or a loved one, are interested in finding out whether you qualify for cochlear implants or just want more information about our program, simply complete and submit the adjacent form, and our specialist will contact you.
FREE DOWNLOAD: HOW TO ENCOURAGE A STUBBORN MAN TO GET HIS HEARING TESTED
With hearing loss impacting 1 in 5 of us, the data suggests that at least one special person in our lives are struggling with hearing loss. The challenge is that it's often difficult for these people to admit that they have a challenge with their hearing or be open to seeking help.
That's why we have developed a free white-paper to help you to understand the different ways that you can support a loved one and encourage them to get the help that they need.
Patient Resources
