Cochlea implants and Hearing aids
Why are these effective?
Cochlea Implants
Where is it placed?These implants are surgically placed under the skin behind the ear.What type of enery transfer is involved?A microphone and speech processor receives sound energy, and sends it to a transmitter where it is converted to radio waves. They then get sent to a receiver/ stimulator which makes the final conversion to electrical impulses to be sent to the brain.
Advantages/ limitations of cochlea implants
Advantages: Useful once hair cell damage has occured, as they provide the function of hair cells in the conversion of sound energy into electrical energy. Young children with the implats can acquire language and social skills more rapidly.Limitations: About 80% effective as normal hearing, problems with staticcan occur, and there is some risk in the surgical implantation of the devices.
An example of a cochlea implant on a young boy
How it works.
The metal rod within the corti organ
Advantages and Limitations
Advantages: Improve comprehension, speech, and low frequency discrimination.Limitations: the individual must still have some residual hearing, aids limited assistance in high frequency ranges, batteries may run out, and noises and feedback can be annoying.
Where is the device placed? Fit to the outer ear.What type of energy transfer is involved? Convert sound energy into electrical energy, these impulses are sent to an amplifier where the energy is sent back in larger sound waves. These are then sent to to the sensory hair cells where they are converted to electrical impulses.