Are Cochlear Implants Effective In Restoring Hearing?

January 11, 2025

Many people suffer from hearing problems and plan to undergo a cochlear implant surgery to restore their hearing abilities. While there might be many questions running in your mind as you plan to undergo the surgery, one important question would be if the implant is effective or not. Well, cochlear implants are basically for the people who suffer from moderate to strong hearing loss. 

Understanding the basics 

Cochlear implants allow people with hearing loss to hear sounds but one must know that they don't restore normal hearing. The electronic device helps you understand the speech of the other person without having to read their lips and perceive sounds better. 

Is it different from hearing aids?

While you might be confused between a hearing aid and a cochlear implant, let us tell you that both of them are different. If you have severe hearing loss due to inner ear damage, a hearing aid might not help as they only make sound louder and not improve your natural hearing ability. You may consult an ENT surgeon near me to know more about hearing aids and if they can help in your case. 

On the contrary, cochlear implants apply a mild electric current to the cochlear structures to cause stimulation in the ear. People who have severe hearing loss and are unable to understand speech despite the heading aids can look forward to cochlear implants. 

Cochlear implant insertion 

Generally performed on an outpatient basis, cochlear implant surgery is done under a general anesthesia. The surgeon will make a cut behind your ear to place the internal processor between the bone and the muscle. The surgeon will enter the inner ear through a small hole to place the electrodes within the cochlea. 

The surgery for placement of cochlear implants in Mohali lasts for around two hours, depending upon your overall condition. The audiologist will call you for the activation of the external parts of the implant after 4 weeks from the day of surgery. This will help begin the electrical stimulation process and you will be able to start hearing gradually.

Types of cochlear implants 

There are numerous cochlear implants available in the market that may vary in size, electrode numbers, model, features and weight. A majority of the cochlear implants have inner ear and external ear units but some may come with combined sound processors and disk-like pieces. These implants include a transmitter and a microphone which eliminates a hanging piece on the ear. 

The inner ear structure does not change with the advancement of the age and hence, both- adults and children can wear the same type & size of implants. You may visit an audiologist in Mohali to learn more about the implants and which type of implant would be the best for you. 

Are implants effective?

One thing that you must make a note of if you are planning to undergo surgery for a cochlear implant is whether it is effective enough to help in your case. Well, implants are very much effective in helping you interpret sounds better but having nothing to do with normal hearing loss. Cochlear implants cannot help in restoring normal hearing and only help you perceive sounds by understanding the speech of the other person. 

Cochlear implants convert the sounds from the surrounding environment into electrical energy and stimulate the nerve for hearing. If you are undergoing cochlear implant surgery near me, you will be able to hear more sounds without relying on lip reading after the procedure. 

Who needs to undergo it? 

Cochlear implants are a reliable choice in numerous people with hearing problems because of their umpteen benefits. Your doctor will recommend you undergo this procedure if you are completely deaf or have major hearing loss issues in one or both ears. 

The implant surgery is a great alternative for people who aren't getting significant help despite wearing hearing aids. Furthermore, if you can accept the limitations of the implants and still feel their use will help you to a certain extent, the cochlear implant procedure is for you. 

Effectiveness of cochlear implants 

Undergoing a surgery for cochlear implants at the best hospital in Chandigarh could prove very beneficial for you because of the effectiveness of the implants. However, the results may vary for every person depending upon their severity of hearing loss and response to the procedure. 

While implants can't restore normal hearing, they help you understand speech & sounds which will improve your degree of hearing. Children below 2 years of age with implants will reap the best benefits while adults with hearing loss due to age will be able to see hearing improvement in the initial months after the surgery. 

Sohana Hospital has state-of-the-art facilities and advanced technology that help in accurate diagnosis of hearing problems. Our experienced audiologists and surgeons have a proven track record of successful surgeries for cochlear implant placement.