cochlear implant pros and cons
WHAT ARE THE “CONS” OF COCHLEAR IMPLANTS?
Receiving cochlear implants is a fairly routine medical procedure, but surgery (of any kind) always carries certain medical risks. So, it’s important you discuss these risks with your healthcare provider before moving forward.
The sounds are unnatural sound.
While cochlear implant makes hearing possible, the sounds patient hear are not the same sound heard through normal hearing. Environmental noises and people’s voices just sound different when heard through the device.
The surgical procedure is risky.
A cochlear implant is a major procedure. Since the location of the operation is near the brain, general anesthesia is needed to put the patient to sleep (and we know that general anesthesia has negative side effects to some people). Injury to the facial nerve is also a serious risk. This nerve goes through the middle ear and is the one responsible for the movement of our facial muscles.
Loss of residual hearing.
Another risk presented by having the implant is that any remaining or residual hearing a person has maybe destroyed in the implanted ear.
Risk to infection requiring the implant to be removed.
A cochlear implant can cost thousands of dollars, and that money could just be easily wasted when a serious infection requiring the removal of the implant occurs.
Made some medical examinations and treatments not possible.
This hearing device is made of a combination rubber, plastic and metal. Certain medical examinations and treatments, such as MRI imaging, ion radiation therapy and electrical surgery, may dislodge the implant or demagnetized its internal magnet.
It is for a life time.
Children who have undergone the operation at a very young age may have to grow old with their cochlear implant on in order to retain their ability to hear. What is worse is that during a person’s lifetime, the manufacturer of the implant could go out of business. This makes getting a replacement part or customer service in the future very uncertain.
WHAT ARE THE “PROS” OF COCHLEAR IMPLANTS?
Hearing improvement: Cochlear implants can improve hearing and speech perception for your child. People with cochlear implants may still use lip reading and sign language to enhance speech perception and communication.
Speech Development: Cochlear implants help improve the clarity of the child’s speech and future development of listening and spoken language skills. Parents can take several steps to maximize outcomes for children with cochlear implants.
Future learning and career opportunities: Children with cochlear implants can hear better in the classroom, usually with the help of assistive technology. CI’s may also benefit children as they age and open doors to new career opportunities.
Safety: One of the most notable benefits of a cochlear implant is the ability to hear potential dangers or alerts such as sirens and other important sounds