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Hearing loss can be difficult to deal with. It can make talking with friends and family difficult and navigating the world complicated. The two most commonly recommended treatment options are hearing aids and cochlear implants. Both can help those with hearing loss hear better, but they both work in completely different ways.
This blog will explore the benefits of both hearing aids and cochlear implants, and in what type of hearing loss they work best.
Benefits of Hearing Aids
These small devices amplify sounds and make them easier to hear. They are typically recommended for those people who have some hearing ability. They cannot restore your hearing, but they do improve your hearing ability. It can improve your ability to hear and understand conversations and other everyday sounds.
How Hearing Aids Work
A hearing aid typically has three distinct parts. They are listed below:
- Microphone
- Amplifier
- Speaker (receiver)
A hearing aid is essentially a small amplifier that rests either inside your ear canal or behind the ear. It amplifies sounds and sends them through the ear canal to the eardrum and is processed by the brain.
Who Can Hearing Aids Help?
Hearing aids provide the best results for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. People of all ages can benefit from using them. Modern hearing aids are able to connect directly to smartphones and other devices to help those with hearing loss continue to engage with the world.
Limitations of Hearing Aids
While hearing aids help millions of people hear better, they do have some limitations. Those with profound hearing loss, typically do not do well with them. For those with this type of hearing loss, amplifying the sound isn’t enough. Cochlear implants typically do better for those with profound hearing loss.
Understanding Cochlear Implants
Designed for those with significant hearing loss, this medical device is surgically implanted. Instead of simply amplifying sound signals, they can bypass the damaged parts of the ear and send sound directly to the brain through electrical signals.
How Cochlear Implants Work
A cochlear implant has two main components:
- External sound processor: This is the part behind the ear or on the head and captures sound, converting it to digital signals which are sent to the internal device.
- Internal implant: This part of the device is placed beneath the skin and connects directly to the cochlea in the inner ear.
These two components working together send electrical impulses to the auditory nerve and then to the brain allowing the brain to directly interpret the sound signals.
Who Benefits from Cochlear Implants?
These devices can benefit those with hearing loss at any age. Children and adults both wear them. Cochlear implants best treat those with severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss. They are especially used when hearing aids have been found to not offer as much help as is needed.
Limitations and Considerations
Having a cochlear implant requires a surgical procedure and rehabilitation. It is typically not an instant fix and can require time for the body to adapt to a new way of hearing. Because it is delivered through digital replication and not natural sound, some sounds may sound different. This frequently takes an adjustment period.
Another consideration is the fact that cochlear implants require ongoing care which can require a hearing health professional to make adjustments and perform maintenance to the components.
Final Thoughts
Both hearing aids and cochlear implants offer options to those with hearing loss. It can help individuals reconnect with the world and engage with their friends and family. They each offer hope and self-confidence for those with hearing loss. Each one works differently and treats different types of hearing loss. It’s important to have a hearing health professional exam your hearing to determine which would best meet your needs.