Speech Language Pathology: Cochlear Implant Discussion

Cochlear Implant Discussion

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Cochlear Implant Discussion

Response about the Deaf Community

            It is evident that the deaf community has had different views on cochlear implants (CIs), sparking debates about their technological benefits and cultural concerns. Some deaf individuals view CIs as a tool to improve their hearing and communication abilities. For example, a young woman with a cochlear implant describes how it has improved her ability to participate in academic and social environments (SJC tv. , 2012). Through this, CIs enable deaf people to engage more fully in both hearing and Deaf worlds (Schow & Nerbonne, 2021).

            However, some of the Deaf community show their concerns that CIs could undermine their culture. According to Schow and Nerbonne (2021), the use of CIs in young children can be seen as a s form of assimilation into the hearing world at the expense of learning sign language and Deaf cultural heritage, leading to a reduction in the use of sign language.

Personal Opinion on Cis

            My view on CIs is that they represent an advancement of technology capable of improving the quality of life among hearing loss individuals. Anyone using CIs receives an alternative means of hearing to enhance their communication and hearing sound.

            However, I believe it is also essential to respect the cultural values of the Deaf individuals and their community. Therefore, any decisions regarding the CIs should be made in collaboration, considering everyone’s needs and the potential benefits or harm of the technological device.

What is a Cochlear Implant?

            A Cochlear Implant (CI) is a device that is set to provide a sense of sound to people with severe hearing loss, consisting of an external portion that sits behind the ear and an internal part that is implanted surgically under the skin (Schow & Nerbonne, 2021).

            External soundwaves are picked up by a microphone in the external processor and converted into electrical signals, which are transferred to the internal implant and sent to the auditory nerve through an electrode array in the cochlear. The auditory nerve then sends the signals to the brain directly (Schow & Nerbonne, 2021).

Cochlear Implant Candidacy Criteria

            According to Schow and Nerbonne (2021), candidates usually have severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears and receive little benefit from regular hearing aids. Key criteria for candidacy include the degree of hearing loss, which is severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss and age, where children as young as 12 months can be candidates. It is noted that earlier implantation reveals a better outcome (Holt & Svirsky, 2008). Others include lack of benefits from hearing aids where there is limited to no improvement in speech understanding with hearing aids, motivation in that candidates and their families must have the motivation and set realistic expectations on the outcome and medical considerations where there are no underlying medical conditions that would hinder surgery.

Factors Influencing CI success

            Some factors that influence Cochlear Implant success include the age of implantation, where earlier implantation has revealed a better outcome regarding speech and language development (Schow & Nerbonne, 2021). Another factor is the duration of deafness in that shorter period of auditory deprivation before having the CI surgically implanted, which has been linked to successful adaptation of the CI (Schow & Nerbonne, 2021).

Other factors influencing CI success are post-implantation rehabilitation support, including auditory training and speech therapy, device technology where advancements in sound processors and electrode arrays lead to better outcomes and user’s cognitive abilities such as memory and attention since they can influence the ability to process and understand auditory information from the CI.

References

Holt, R. F., & Svirsky, M. A. (2008). An exploratory look at pediatric cochlear implantation: is earliest always best? Ear and hearing, 29(4), 492-511.

Schow, R., & Nerbonne, M. (2021). Introduction to Audiologic Rehabilitation (Pearson+) (7th ed.). Pearson+. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9780137411955

SJC tv. (2012, October 7). Hearing but not as you know it. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icPsm9RnO2E