Hearing for those suffering from hearing loss or impairment; including hearing aids and cochlear
Advances in science and technology have provided a variety of ways to improve hearing for those suffering from hearing loss or impairment; including hearing aids and cochlear implants, which represent a qualitative leap towards the world of complete hearing.
Hearing aids are an effective and rapid solution to improve hearing, while cochlear implants provide a permanent and advanced solution.
You may have wondered: Which is better, hearing aids or cochlear implants?
Hearing aids or cochlear implants: the difference between them
Hearing aids and cochlear implants are among the most prominent treatment options for sensorineural hearing loss - the most common form of hearing loss - which occurs due to a problem with the cochlear hairs or damage to the nerves of the inner ear.
The difference between them can be explained as follows:
Definition
Hearing aids: are devices used to increase the sound level, so they are worn or installed around the ear to be visible, or inside the ear to be hidden, and people can remove the hearing aids whenever they want or need to.
Cochlear implantation: a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia, which involves implanting an electronic device in the inner ear to restore the ability to hear by directly stimulating the auditory nerve to provide a greater sense of sound.
It is a permanent procedure that cannot be removed or removed, and consists of an internal implant and an external hearing device that receives sound.
Uses
Hearing aids: are used for all cases of hearing loss; Mild, moderate, severe and profound.
Cochlear implant: Used for cases of severe to very severe hearing loss in both ears, where hearing aids do not benefit.
Adaptation time
• Hearing aids: 2 weeks or less.• Cochlear implant: 6 to 12 months.
Advantages
• Hearing aids:• Non-surgical procedure.
Easy to use.
Can be easily adjusted to suit the person's needs.
The ability to program them to remove background noise and increase the degree of certain frequencies, which makes it easier to hear sounds in noisy environments, and this can be controlled via a mobile phone application.
Different options and types are available.
Lower cost.
Cochlear implant:
• The ability to compensate for very severe hearing loss in cases where the benefit is little or not available from hearing aids.• Provides a wider range of hearing than hearing aids.
• Provides the ability to understand speech without relying on lip reading.
Disadvantages
Hearing aids:
1. They are not effective in all cases of severe to profound hearing loss.2. They may not be able to restore normal hearing.
3. The battery life is short in some types.
4. Some types are visible and can be seen by others.
Cochlear implants:
• Very expensive compared to hearing aids.• The external device is not hidden.
• Requires surgery to install.
• Requires more regular care, maintenance, examination and updating than hearing aids.
Is a cochlear implant better than hearing aids?
A cochlear implant is an option to treat hearing loss for people who do not find hearing aids effective in restoring their hearing ability, especially if hearing aids do not provide any benefit in terms of improving their ability to speak.
In fact, choosing the most appropriate one depends on the person's need and health condition, and this is evaluated by a specialist to reach the most appropriate one for the person's condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a child need a cochlear implant?
Yes, especially in cases of severe or very severe hearing loss. It is noted that infants under the age of one and a half years are the most likely to benefit from cochlear implantation.
The earlier this procedure is taken, the better the results and the greater the understanding of speech and language learning.
Is cochlear implantation performed on the elderly?
Yes, it is suitable for them and they can benefit from it provided that there are no contraindications to the procedure.
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