Healthy Blog

Implanted hearing aids amplify sound and transmit the vibrations through the ear. They are a good option for people who are hard of hearing (who do not have a profound hearing loss) and cannot use hearing aids. They are also useful for people who prefer not to have a visible hearing device outside their ear.

The two types of implantable hearing aids are either surgically implanted or non-surgically implanted. The surgically implanted hearing aid is a device which is implanted either in the bone or in the middle ear. Most implantable middle-ear devices almost completely eliminate feedback, one of the most annoying problems with conventional hearing devices. Some devices may allow the patient to continue “hearing” while swimming or bathing.

Cochlear implants provide sound perception by using an electrode which is surgically implanted into the cochlea (the spiral cavity of the inner ear). Patients must meet strict criteria in order to qualify for a cochlear implant.

Auditory brainstem implants are designed for patients who have hearing loss because of tumors. Often the tumor is removed in the same procedure where the ABIs (auditory brainstem implants) are implanted. These implants can be used on patients 12 years of age or older, and no hearing criteria is required. A study of 61 patients receiving the ABI showed that the device is effective and safe in most patients. It helped to improve the lip-reading abilities in most patients and a few were able to understand speech.

Bone-anchored hearing devices have been used in Europe since 1977, and more recently here in the United States. A microphone in the processor vibrates the bone in the skull and the sound is transmitted to the inner ear. The FDA has approved this device for children 5 years of age or older; but in Europe, younger children have used it successfully.

Some non-surgically implanted aids are implanted under the skin and others are inserted into the ear canal. When inserted into the canal, they can be worn for months and then removed or replaced when the batteries wear out. Some people find these to be uncomfortable simply because they do not like having an object in their ear canals.

Implantable hearing aids provide sound which is more natural and clearer than traditional hearing devices. Speech is more easily recognized, and a remote control makes the device convenient to use. Implanted hearing aids give patients the freedom to swim, shower, and live a more active lifestyle.