{"id":6818,"date":"2020-01-17T09:46:16","date_gmt":"2020-01-17T16:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/?p=6818"},"modified":"2022-06-07T12:40:14","modified_gmt":"2022-06-07T19:40:14","slug":"how-cochlear-implants-can-treat-single-sided-deafness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/how-cochlear-implants-can-treat-single-sided-deafness\/","title":{"rendered":"How Cochlear Implants Can Treat Single-Sided Deafness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Until recently, cochlear implants were a recommended hearing loss treatment only for people who have bilateral hearing loss (affecting both ears) who do not benefit from a traditional hearing aid. However, recent studies show that people with unilateral hearing loss (in only one ear) may also benefit from using cochlear implants.<\/p>\n

What Is a Cochlear Implant?<\/h2>\n

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A cochlear implant<\/a> is a medical device that is surgically implanted into the inner ear. Cochlear implants are different from traditional hearing aids because they don\u2019t merely amplify sounds; they treat sensorineural hearing loss (hearing loss that is caused by damage to the inner ear) by directly stimulating the auditory nerve, bypassing the damaged part of the ear.<\/p>\n

According to Melody Mathews<\/u><\/a>, audiologist at The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital, a cochlear implant is \u201can amazing device that helps give hearing back\u2026 By replacing the damaged portions of the hearing system, the implant gives back sounds and gives them the meaning they\u2019re missing out on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Living with Unilateral Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n

Dr. Emily Byers, a veterinarian, was one of 60 participants in a recent study on the benefits of cochlear implants.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople think that, \u2018Oh, if you’ve got one ear, you’re still OK.\u2019 But you’re not,” explained Byers<\/u><\/a>. \u201cWhen you go out shopping or to the movies or a to restaurant with friends, it’s hard to find where sounds are coming from. If I couldn’t see lips, I couldn’t hear. I was essentially deaf, even though I had one working ear.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Byers\u2019 implant was first activated, she reported, \u201cIt sounded very mechanical, like a computer.\u201d This is common for people new to cochlear implants, which is what makes the rehabilitation process so important. It takes time and effort to become used to how cochlear implants translate sound.<\/p>\n

Byers used smartphone apps to play games and listen to familiar nursery rhymes in order to blend the mechanical sounds coming through the implant with the natural sound coming through her hearing ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, everything sounds almost perfectly normal to me. I can hear birds. Birds sound like birds… pianos sound like pianos. It’s incredible!\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next?<\/h2>\n

Thanks to this study, the FDA has now approved cochlear implants for patients with unilateral hearing loss.<\/p>\n

To learn more about cochlear implants or to find out if you could be a candidate, call Arizona Hearing Specialists<\/a> today!<\/p>\n

Learn More About Single Sided Deafness<\/h3>\n