Cochlear implant surgery
About cochlear implants
Cochlear implants are a highly effective solution for patients with congenital
hearing loss or significant hearing impairment who have not experienced
improvements with hearing aids. Cochlear implants restore the person’s ability to
absorb sound and enable speech recognition.
About the cochleas
The cochleas are primary organs in the auditory system that contain sensory
receptors (hair cells) that transmit sound.When these receptors fail to transmit
voice signals such as sounds or speech to the auditory nerve and the brain’s
auditory center, it impairs hearing. The more defective the receptors are, the worse
the patient’s hearing, until speech cannot be understood.
Damage to the cochleas can be caused by genetic malformations, meningitis, viral
diseases (mumps), or head injuries.
How do cochlear implants work?
The devices consist of two parts. The inner part, which has a coil electrode, is
surgically implanted in the inner ear and the temporal bone (which forms the side
and base of the skull). The outer part, attached to the skull,includes a speech
processor, microphone, and transmitter. The device gives the patient the sense of
hearing by providing direct electrical stimulation to the auditory bone fibers.
Cochlear implant surgery
Cochlear implant surgery at Assuta is performed under general anesthesia and is
done through an incision hidden behind the ear (pinna).
During operation, the surgeon implants the receiver and transmitter under the skin
behind the ear,and connects the electrode array, threading it into the cochlea.
Potential complications of cochlear implant surgery
The cochlear implant is a foreign body, which sometimes causes irritation and/or inflammation of the skin in the area of surgery, a condition that heals on its own or through antibiotic treatment.
In some instances, the implant or electrode may become displaced, and surgery may be needed to put it back in place.
A skilled clinician knows how to minimize the probability of these scenarios.