Cochlear & Hearing Implants
Hearing implants are advanced devices designed for individuals who do not benefit enough from conventional hearing aids. They directly stimulate parts of the ear or auditory pathways to improve hearing.
1. Cochlear Implants (CI)
A cochlear implant is an electronic device that bypasses damaged hair cells in the cochlea and directly stimulates the auditory nerve.
Ideal Candidates
✅ Severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss
✅ Poor speech discrimination
✅ Limited benefit with hearing aids
2. Bone Conduction Implants (Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids – BAHA)
Devices that transmit sound through bone vibrations directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear.
Ideal For
✅ Conductive hearing loss
✅ Mixed hearing loss
✅ Single-sided deafness (SSD)
3. Middle Ear Implants (MEI)
Implants that mechanically vibrate the ossicles or the round window.
✅ Moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss
✅ Conductive or mixed hearing loss
✅ Patients who cannot wear conventional hearing aids
4. Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI)
A device that stimulates the cochlear nucleus in the brainstem, used when the cochlear nerve is absent or damaged.
✅ Neurofibromatosis type 2
✅ Non-functioning cochlear nerve
✅ Cochlear ossification
