Cochlear Implants: Pros and Cons

To understand how cochlear implants work, one should first get a glimpse into the functioning of the ear. Inside the ear, there is the cochlea which has vibrational hair. Many times, when individuals go through an accident, this vibrational hair gets damaged. As a result of this damage, they cannot send any audio information to the brain for processing.

Often hearing aids are confused with the cochlear implants procedure, but there is one major difference between the two. Cochlear implants come into play when there is damage to the ear’s infrastructure. Through these implants, the damaged spot of the ear is bypassed so that the brain can process audio signals. However, all procedures have pros and cons. Let’s take a look at the cochlear implant pros and cons

Benefits of Cochlear Implants

From the cochlear implant pros and cons, down below, we have discussed the pros.

• Known for efficiency and improved hearing, cochlear implantation is a renowned process. As of December 2019, there have been around 736,900 registered devices implanted worldwide. The success rate is high, and lesser than 0.2% of people reject these.
• The most obvious benefit of a cochlear implant is improved hearing. Through this procedure, people can easily be able to understand speech without having to lip-read.
• Cochlear implants are also useful in bringing more sound clarity. For individuals who are hard of hearing, wearing implants can make the sounds clear.
• If quick results are what one is looking for, then cochlear implants are the answer. Just a couple of months later, after the initial tuning sessions, the sound quality will start to improve.

Cons of Cochlear Implants

While cochlear implants have a huge success rate, it is crucial to remember that they will involve a medical procedure that can come with certain risks. From cochlear implant pros and cons, down below are the cons listed.

• There might be some side effects faced by the patient after the procedure. This includes ringing, swelling, and bleeding inside the ear. This issue is termed Tinnitus and is a pretty common problem affecting around 15% to 20% of people.
• Other than Tinnitus, there can be some other temporary side effects as well, such as dizziness, changes in taste, a dry mouth, or a risk of infection. However, it is crucial to note that the side effects will be based on the existing health conditions of the patient.
• Even though wearing these has a high success rate, it is important to note that it can never completely restoring hearing.
• There will be some maintenance required once getting the procedure is done.