Q. What is a Cochlear Implant System?
A. A cochlear implant is a highly advanced medical device and the only technology that is capable of functionally restoring our sense of hearing. Cochlear implants provide an effective alternative to hearing aids because they don’t use amplification, but rather bypass the damaged part of the ear and use electrical stimulation to enable you to hear.
Q. What are the Components of a Cochlear Implant System?
A. There are two main components to a cochlear implant system. The internal component is the implant. The external component is the sound processor, which can be worn on or off the ear.
Q. How does a cochlear implant work?
A. A cochlear implant is designed to help you hear in noisy settings, from bustling restaurants to busy airports. Cochlear implants are also compatible with cell phones, MP3 players and other audio devices. You can finally talk on the phone or sing along to your favorite song! You’ll be glad to know that cochlear implants are easy to use; there’s no need to fumble with tiny batteries, dials, switches or remote controls. Cochlear implants are also flexible, with different wearing options to suit your needs, from a lightweight on-the-ear option to a discreet processor that can be concealed under clothing with nothing worn on the ear at all. Last but not least, cochlear implants are eco-friendly, with rechargeable batteries that are easy to operate and last for years.
Rest assured, our technical specialists at Sky Medical Equipment and Supplies will be able to assist and explain the use and benefits the cochlear implants to you in depth.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when something is blocking sound waves from passing to the inner ear, through the outer and middle ear. You can easily mimic conductive hearing loss by plugging your ear, that’s basically what it’s like.
Causes, Signs and Treatment of Conductive Hearing Loss
The causes that can lead to conductive hearing loss are varied and include conditions such as middle ear infections (otitis media), benign tumors (cholesteatomas), perforated eardrums, trauma and malformations of the middle or outer ear. With conductive hearing loss, speech tends to sound understandable, but only if it’s loud enough and there isn’t too much background noise. Hearing aids may help, but sometimes not enough.
For many people with conductive hearing loss, the first solution may be to get a hearing aid. This may be adequate if the hearing loss is mild, but if the hearing loss is moderate or worse a hearing aid is seldom the best solution. Our technical specialists will assess the degree of your hearing loss. There may also be other reasons why people aren’t able to use hearing aids (e.g. malformations that make using a hearing aid impossible), or just aren’t getting the benefits they expect. When our audiologists at Sky Medical install and test different hearing aids, you will notice that hearing aids will improve your hearing tremendously. Other causes of conductive hearing loss can be associated with ear infections, which may be further aggravated by using a hearing aid, making it difficult and uncomfortable to use. Our technical specialists will ensure that if this is the case, you will not feel such frustrations and have a better quality of life.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, meaning that there is damage in both the outer or middle ear and in the inner ear. This type of hearing loss ranges in severity from mild to profound. For people with mixed hearing loss, sounds can be both softer in volume and more difficult to understand.
Causes, Signs and Treatment of Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is caused by a combination of conductive damage in the outer or middle ear and sensorineural damage in the inner ear (cochlea) or hearing /auditory nerve. Genetic factors, overexposure to loud noise, certain medications and the normal ageing process can lead to sensorineural hearing loss. Birth defects, diseases, infections, tumors or masses and head injuries are all possible causes of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. If the hearing loss is mostly conductive, speech tends to sound understandable, but only if it’s loud enough and there isn’t too much background noise. If the hearing loss is mostly sensorineural, there may be difficulty understanding speech, even when it seems loud enough. Depending on the degree and make-up of mixed hearing loss, it may be treated with medications, surgery, hearing aids or an implantable bone conduction hearing system. At Sky Medical Equipment & Supplies, our audiologists can talk you through the options and help you make the most informed decision.
Tinnitus
Almost everyone’s experienced some type of ear noise, such as humming, buzzing, whistling, or hissing. They start suddenly, then continue uninterrupted or reoccur at certain intervals, and are extremely unpleasant. Most of the time, tinnitus disappears as quickly as it arrives. But this isn’t always the case.
Causes, Signs and Treatment of Tinnitus
It is estimated that 6 million people live with tinnitus on a permanent basis. Tinnitus isn’t a separate illness; it’s a symptom caused by a variety of very different disorders. There are now around 400 known conditions that can trigger these continuous, irritating noises in your ears.
The majority of people with tinnitus primarily suffer from the constant stress and mental strain it can cause. Where is the noise coming from? How loud is it? Is it a spoken word? And, if so, what does it mean? All these factors can be assessed by our technical specialists and audiologists at Sky Medical Equipment & Supplies. So contact us to find out how to be screened.
Even though we can’t close our ears the way we can close our eyes, our brain stems are capable of subconsciously filtering out individual signals it classifies as meaningless. This is why, for example, parents are able to hear their children crying at night, but rattling doors do not wake them up.
Ready to get help?
We understand the challenges that come with hearing loss. We can help you navigate the complex healthcare system and connect to the right resources. As a leading medical equipment and supplies company, we are dedicated to providing you with the best hearing solutions. Contact a cochlear implant specialist today!