Sound travels through the ear canal, causing the ear drum to vibrate. This movement then activates the small bones in the middle ear, known as the ossicles. These vibrations continue on to the hair cells in the cochlea, which convert them into electrical nerve impulses. The cochlear nerve then carries these impulses to the brain, where they are understood as sound.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss refers to a decrease in a person's ability to hear sounds. This can manifest in various ways, such as not being able to hear the doorbell ring or a loved one calling from another room.
For those who have moderate to severe hearing loss, it can mean missing important information in a business meeting or classroom. For those who have no hearing at all, it can mean missing out on the key aspect of human interaction: communication.
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Hearing loss can greatly impact a person's quality of life, making it difficult to interact with others, leading to misunderstandings, increasing stress, and limiting the ability to enjoy and appreciate the range of sounds that bring pleasure and meaning to life.
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The cause of hearing loss can vary, but it is typically caused by damage to the auditory system, which includes the ear, the auditory nerve, and the brain. This damage can occur due to a variety of factors, such as exposure to loud noise, aging, certain medical conditions, and genetics.
Types of Hearing Loss
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
A Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs when the inner ear or the auditory nerve has a problem in functioning and delivering sounds to the brain. Either damaged small hair-like cells of the inner ear or the auditory nerve weakens the smooth transference of nerve signals to the brain.4 It is an extremely common type of hearing loss that also is permanent. The sensorineural hearing loss could be genetic, congenital idiopathic, or resulting from several medical conditions.​
Common causes of this type of hearing loss are: -Illnesses -Aging -Head injury -Problem in the formation of the inner ear -Meningitis -Mal formation of cochlea -Inner hair cell dysfunction -Ototoxicity
Conductive Hearing Loss​
A conductive hearing loss can happen when sounds do not get through the outer and middle ear. It becomes challenging to hear soft sounds whereas louder sounds can be obstructed. Excessive ear wax, ear infections, a penetrated eardrum, a built-up fluid, or an unusual bone growth in the middle ear can cause conductive hearing loss.2 Often, medicine or a surgery can cure this kind of hearing loss.3 An audiologist must be consulted for accurate professional advice and treatment options.
Mixed Hearing Loss
In this type, there is both a conductive and a sensorineural hearing loss. This happens when there is damage in the middle or the outer ear and in the inner ear or the auditory nerve pathway.
Degree of Hearing Loss
Early detection of hearing loss is crucial in providing the best opportunity for a child's overall development. By identifying and addressing hearing loss early, children are given the chance to reach their full potential, particularly in terms of language development.
Research shows that the first three years of a child's life are crucial in developing speech and language skills. Therefore, it is important to evaluate whether a child has a degree of hearing loss in order to provide the best possible outcome for their development.
26-40dB
A child with this degree of hearing loss will have difficulty hearing and comprehending speech that is spoken in a soft tone, from a distance, or against a background of noise.
41-60dB
A child with this level of hearing loss will have difficulty in hearing and comprehending speech that is spoken in a low volume, from a distance, or with background noise.
61-80dB
A child with this level of hearing loss may only be able to hear very loud speech or loud sounds in the environment, such as a fire truck siren or a slamming door. They will likely have difficulty hearing most everyday conversational speech.
over 81dB
A child with profound hearing loss may experience loud sounds as vibrations, but will have difficulty in hearing and understanding speech.
What are the signs?
Ignoring hearing loss can have a significant impact on a child's development, not only in terms of language acquisition but also in terms of emotional well-being. Children who experience difficulties with communication may experience stress, anger and feelings of loneliness.
Infants & Children
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A baby of 12 months- 23 months of age with profound hearing loss.
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A child over 2 years with severe to profound hearing loss
Adults
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Adults that have Moderately Severe to Profound hearing loss
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Open-set sentence recognition scores less than or equal to 50-60%
Know if you or your child is a candidate
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Adults that have Moderately Severe to Profound hearing loss
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Open-set sentence recognition scores less than or equal to 50-60%
Adults
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We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to hear and experience the world through sound. If you suspect that your child may have hearing loss, don't delay in seeking professional help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step towards addressing your child's hearing loss.
What is a
cochlear implant?
A cochlear implant is a medical device that is surgically implanted into the ear to help individuals with severe to profound hearing loss.
The implant consists of two parts: an external microphone and speech processor that sits behind the ear and an internal device called an electrode array that is surgically implanted into the cochlea (the part of the inner ear responsible for hearing).
The microphone and speech processor work together to convert sound into electrical signals, which are then sent to the electrode array, stimulating the auditory nerve and allowing the individual to hear sound.
Cochlear implants have been proven to be effective in improving hearing and speech understanding in people with severe to profound hearing loss. It is important to consult with a hearing health professional to determine if a cochlear implant is a right option for you or your child.
External Unit (Sound Processor)
The external unit of the cochlear implant platform is the sound processing unit, which includes a battery pack and a sound processor. The sound processor houses an in-built microphone, and utilizes advanced technology that utilizes unique algorithms to provide a pure and natural sound experience. The microphone captures the sound from the environment, which then is processed by the unit's sound processor, converting the sound into electrical signals that are sent to the internal implant, the electrode array. This allows the user to hear sound with a high level of clarity and naturalness. The external unit is also rechargeable or may have replaceable batteries, depending on the manufacturer's design. It is important to note that the external unit must be worn consistently and properly to ensure optimal performance of the cochlear implant system.
Bilateral
implant
While a unilateral cochlear implant can provide access to hearing, having two cochlear implants, also known as bilateral cochlear implantation, offers numerous benefits.
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If you are considering a cochlear implant and you want to experience the benefits of bilateral implantation, please contact us to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards improving your hearing and overall quality of life.
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Safety
Education
Speech
Bilateral implants can aid in determining the location of sounds from a distance, such as when crossing roads or driving, as well as identifying alarming sounds.
Listening with two cochlear implants offers better sound intensity, which can potentially improve a child's ability to learn and perform in school.
The increased loudness and sensitivity to differences in intensity and frequency can enhance speech understanding in both quiet and noisy environments, potentially improving speech outcomes to that of a normally hearing child.
Concentration
Social
Music
Two cochlear implants can reduce the cognitive effort and focus required while listening continuously, making it less taxing on the mind.
Bilateral implants can enhance the experience of socializing and attending events or places like cafes by providing better hearing in noise.
Listening with both ears provides a more immersive and enjoyable musical experience.