Implantable and Semi-Implantable Hearing Aids
Implantable and semi-implantable hearing aids are surgically placed within the middle ear and affixed to the bone structure. This allows for direct transmission of sounds to the bones involved with hearing, leading straight to the cochlea and the nerves that send sound messages to the brain. Feedback is reduced and speech sounds are often much more clearly received and comprehended. Implantable and semi-implantable hearing aids are a good treatment option for patients with moderate to severe hearing loss who have been unhappy with traditional devices.
Implantable hearing aids are fully internal devices, with a processor implanted behind the outer ear and a transducer placed within the middle ear. Semi-implantable hearing aids consist of an implanted portion as well as a portion that remains outside the body. The external part of a semi-implantable hearing aid is very small and is designed to be worn behind the ear for concealment purposes.
The implantation procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthetic. It typically takes about 30 minutes to complete. The device will be customized to the patient's particular hearing needs and personal preferences will be taken into account as the hearing aid is programmed. Patients will be able to control and make adjustments to the implanted hearing aid as necessary.