Appreciating the cochlear implant

[Bill Reese]

Technically, it aids hearing so it's a "hearing aid" but it's not like 
previous hearing aids in that it doesn't change sound in some way to 
make it better understood by a hearing impaired person.  Instead, it 
delivers electrical impulses directly to the hearing nerve, bypassing 
most of the auditory structures.  It does this in the cochlea, the organ 
within the inner ear that does this for people who can hear. 

Within the cochlea, which looks a bit like a snail shell, there's a 
winding, narrowing passage through which sound travels.  Different 
frequencies move hair cells at different points along that passage, with 
the lower frequencies being in the wider part and the higher frequencies 
further along.  These hair cells are like switches, sending electrical 
impulses to the brain, which translates the impulses to an image of sound. 

Depending on manufacturer, a cochlear implant inserts 16 to 22 
electrodes into this passage, each terminating at different points.  A 
speech processor is worn outside of the body, either on the ear, like a 
hearing aid, or on the body, like the older body worn hearing aids.   
This device is a mini computer that processes sound, turning it into 
impulses, which are sent to a headpiece.  This headpiece is an FM 
transmitter which transmits both power and signals to the internal 
electronics.  The internal electronics then translates the FM signals 
into the impulses which are sent to the cochlea through the electrodes.  
Depending on the frequencies of the sound, different electrodes are 
switched on and off, resulting in a simulation of the sound.

Bill


Valerie Sutton wrote:
> Isn't the cochlear implant simply a fancy hearing aid implanted inside 
> the body?
>
> I always thought of the cochlear implant as another kind of hearing aid...
>
> Val ;-)
>
> --------
>
>
> On Dec 6, 2008, at 12:35 PM, Adam Frost wrote:
>
>> Ha! The same thing could be said with hearing aids as well, which was 
>> thought to be the cure-all of deafness much like many think cochlear 
>> implants are now. Interesting how the arguments throughout history 
>> stay the same, it is just the toys that change. ;-)
>>
>> Adam
>>
>> On Dec 6, 2008, at 12:27 PM, Bill Reese wrote:
>>
>>> Gerard,
>>> Perhaps I should not mention that I have a cochlear implant as I'm 
>>> late-deafened and don't really fit into the category of a born or 
>>> cultural deaf person whose first language is sign language.  
>>> However, I and others in my ALDA-Suncoast support group have 
>>> cochlear implants and we all still sign.  It's pidgin sign, not ASL, 
>>> and used to get across what we are saying in English.  The implant 
>>> doesn't help any of us hear 100%.  For some, it's more like they're 
>>> deaf as opposed to stone deaf.  For others, they can enjoy music.  
>>> But when we're together as a group, sign language, speechreading, 
>>> writing notes (total communication) is what we do.
>>>
>>> I believe, just by the nature of that fact, it may be imputed that a 
>>> born or cultural deaf child who gets an implant and who is immersed 
>>> in Deaf culture would still naturally use sign language.
>>>
>>> A few things to consider:
>>> 1. At night, the implant is usually turned off and the deaf person 
>>> is deaf.
>>> 2. When swimming, the device is off and the deaf person is deaf.
>>> 3. When the implant's battery dies and the person has no spare, 
>>> they're deaf.
>>> 4. When they just don't feel like wearing the implant, they're deaf.
>>>
>>> In short, the implant isn't used 24/7 and sign language is still needed.
>>>
>>> Bill
>>>
>>>
>>> Gerard Meijssen wrote:
>>>> Hoi,
>>>> In several discussions about sign languages and SignWriting, the 
>>>> subject of the cochlear implant was mentioned. I have been doing 
>>>> some reading on the subject. I find it hard to learn what a 
>>>> cochlear implant does for someone who gets an operation and has one 
>>>> implanted. I learned that the operation is not without risks and 
>>>> the soundfiles that I listened to on the Internet do not give 22 
>>>> channel quality.
>>>>
>>>> The Wikipedia article is deemed to be not good enough. So I am 
>>>> really looking for an improved article and also in a better 
>>>> appreciation of such devices.
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>      Gerard
>>>>
>>>> http://ultimategerardm.blogspot.com/2008/12/cochlear-implant.html
>>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_implant
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>>>
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