Google plans to apply artificial intelligence to this problem to better identify, categorize, and segregate sound sources. In simple terms, this should allow hearing aids and implants to reduce background noise, making speech and other sounds the person really wants to hear much clearer.
Another vital element is the hearing aid fitting and customization and implants. There is great variability in how well people with similar levels of hearing loss can hear when using the same technology, explains Jan Janssen, Cochlear’s chief technology officer. If we can better understand why the pathways that start in the ear and go to the brain vary so much from person to person, there is scope for better personalization to ensure people get the most benefit from hearing aid technologies.
New Cochlear Life Guidelines
Work has also started on international living guidelines to establish who should be tested and referred for a cochlear implant. As it stands, there is no standardized scale or test result that triggers a referral. This movement continues research that suggests that only three out of 100 people in the US who could benefit from cochlear implants actually receive one. Advice varies wildly, so people with severe hearing loss don’t always seek help, and sometimes get bad advice when they do.
“Many patients today who would benefit from cochlear implants, which would be paid for by their insurance, don’t have access to the technology,” says Brian Kaplan, chair of the department of otolaryngology and director of the Cochlear Implant Program at Greater New York Medical Center. Baltimore.
Many people worry about spending; the misconception that you must be completely deaf is another barrier. Kaplan says there is an average delay of 12 years between someone becoming a good candidate and actually receiving a cochlear implant. Many people battle hearing loss. While hearing aids can increase volume, a cochlear implant can also improve speech clarity.
The social costs of hearing loss and its links to dementiasocial isolation and depression are becoming clearer. A study which followed 639 adults for almost 12 years found that mild hearing loss doubled the risk of dementia, moderate hearing loss tripled it, and people with severe hearing loss were five times more likely to develop dementia. The hope is that the new guidelines will result in more referrals and allow those who could benefit to get cochlear implants much faster.
Fears about surgery can also put people off, but Kaplan says it’s not brain surgery. It’s an outpatient procedure that usually takes about an hour, can be done under local anesthesia, and should cause very little pain. they make a 2 inch incision behind the ear to place the implant. The success rate is very high (less than 0.2 percent reject implants), with most people reporting better hearing and voice recognition within three months of implantation. As with any surgery, there is some risk. Cochlear implants don’t work for everyone, the hearing improvement they offer varies, and problems may require additional surgery.
If you think you or someone you know could benefit, the first step is to visit an audiologist to get tested. Cochlear offers referral adviceand can help you find a hearing implant specialist.
Hearing technology is improving rapidly, with smaller, more efficient hearing aids, better cochlear implants, and better accessibility options in devices like phones and headsets. We have guides on how to stream audio to hearing aids and cochlear implants and How to use your smartphone to cope with hearing loss. You should also consider the best ear plugs to protect your hearing from damage.
—————————————————-
Source link