A hearing aid is a non-invasive device that does not require any type of intervention. It is inserted when needed and can be removed when necessary. A hearing aid also processes and amplifies sound, leveraging the function of the middle and inner ear and the patient's residual hearing.
A cochlear implant is an electronic device that requires surgery to be insterted. In this procedure, a multi-electrode terminal is placed inside the cochlea to directly stimulate the auditory nerve and enable a wider perception of sounds.
Cochlear implants are ideal for people who do not benefit sufficiently from hearing aids, It is most commonly recommended to:
Anyone with sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss or mixed hearing loss may benefit from a middle ear implant.
Hearing aids amplify sounds to make them audible to people with hearing loss These aids do not act directly on the nervous system. They are suitable for anyone who does not suffer from severe hearing loss and does not have a damaged inner ear or damage to the cochlea.
Many factors can influence the success of a cochlear implant procedure. However, thanks to technological advances in the field of audiology, it can be an excellent remedy for profound and moderate to severe hearing loss. The most common risk factors are:
When the implant is placed in one ear only, it is referred to as a unilateral cochlear implant; conversely, it is referred to as a bilateral cochlear implant. In either case, the decision will be made based on whether the hearing loss is unilateral or bilateral, and based on the patient’s daily needs.
A bimodal hearing solution involves having both a hearing aid and a cochlear implant. This type of solution often helps people understand speech in noisy conditions and allows them to better understand where the sound is coming from.
In recent years, scientific research has focused on the design of an under-the-skin cochlear implant that is completely invisible and, in addition, capable of recharging itself with body movements. This type of implant is part of the next generation technologies for all those suffering from hearing impairments.
There are several types of cochlear implants, suitable for patients with different types of hearing loss. The most common implants are
Before proceeding with your cochlear implant surgery, you must undergo a preliminary clinical tests to assess your eligibility. The tests to be performed are:
Book an appointment and come and visit us at one of our Amplifon centers, our hearing care professionals will be ready to answer any of your curiosities about the world of hearing and to show you our range of Amplifon hearing aids.
![]([{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.320.320.jpeg","width":320,"height":213},{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.480.480.jpeg","width":480,"height":320},{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.640.640.jpeg","width":640,"height":426},{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.800.800.jpeg","width":800,"height":533},{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.960.960.jpeg","width":960,"height":640},{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1120.1120.jpeg","width":1120,"height":746},{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg","width":1280,"height":853},{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1440.1440.jpeg","width":1440,"height":960},{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1600.1600.jpeg","width":1600,"height":1066},{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1920.1920.jpeg","width":1920,"height":1280},{"url":"/content/dam/content-factory/photos/Store/shooting/unbranded/_DSC9558.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.2048.2048.jpeg","width":2048,"height":1365}])
