So you have gotten your hearing tested. Now what? For many, hearing aids are the most logical choice for living a full life.
The joy of hearing:
Looking around, people see all of the beauty. What about the gorgeous sounds of the world? Children laughing, your loved ones singing in the living room, and a coworker greeting you in the morning are all wonderful sounds that add to your overall happiness. Imagine if you did not ever hear other people greeting you at work, in stores, or at personal gatherings.
After a short amount of time, a person would feel isolated and possibly sadness. Humans need interaction, and vocal exchanges are a large part of that necessity. About fifty-three million people worldwide have severe to profound hearing loss.
When hearing aids do not suffice:
Hearing aids work for many people. In some cases, they are not adequate. Fortunately, there is the option of cochlear implants. Cochlear implants are small devices that are surgically installed into the ear needing aid.
The implants stimulate the auditory nerve directly with electrical currents. An implant bypasses injured hair cells and provides valuable information that can improve speech perception. During the pandemic, many people have looked into cochlear implants.
During a conversation, if one or both people are wearing masks for COVID-19 precautions, it can make it almost impossible for some to understand what the other person is saying. Masks have made it very apparent to some Americans that cochlear implants may be necessary to continue life as normal as before hearing loss.
Who can benefit from cochlear implants:
Once, cochlear implants were offered mainly to def or near-deaf children. Now, research shows that adults may benefit greatly from them. According to research, age should not be a factor in the decision.
The elderly can benefit from cochlear implants just as much as younger adults. It is best to get them as soon as they are needed to prevent speech and mental health complications. Senior citizens are candidates if the following are true:
- the patient has moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears
- the patient has received limited benefit from hearing aids (measured by how well the patient performed on hearing test)
- the patient is in reasonably good health and their body can withstand stress of surgery
Orlando Hearing Center offers options:
Many people put off having a surgery for fear of lengthy recovery time, pain, and the cost. The FDA states, the benefits of a cochlear implant range widely.
With the help of Orlando ENT Hearing Center, the uncertainty is taken out of the equation. Join us next time as we share less invasive and more affordable options. Hearing aids are great for most people with hearing loss!
To everyone returning to school or continuing their education, Happy Back to School month!
Staff Writer
