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Cochlear Implant
Risk and Disadvantages?
Surgery, as with most medical procedures, involve calculated risks. With this procedure the following might occur:
With this procedure the following might occur: |
- the weakening of expressional muscles and worst case scenario disfiguring paralysis
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- damage to the middle and inner ear (vestibular system)
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- destruction of any residual hearing
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- onset of singing in the ear (tinnitus) and,
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- device failure, including where intervention did not heal properly
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- research shows that meningitis may be a high risk for recipients as reported by the FDA. The risk factors of children recipients are shown to be 30 times higher than those who did not receive the same to get pneumonia meningitis. There also seemed to be higher incidents of the same in adults as a UK report indicates, although, with timeously proper care and immunizations this risk can be minimized
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| Contributing agents is: |
- Temporarily reduced hearing may also occur when ear infection is contracted together with the build up of excessive fluids in the middle ear, interfering with the conveyance of the impulses.
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- Water and electricity normally do not comply :). Specifications from manufacturers caution to comply when showering or swimming. Excessive atmospheric pressure for instance, scuba diving is to be avoided.
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- As cochlear implants function electronically, strong magnetic fields may impair adversely with some of the devices and should be noted in relevance to certain working environments.
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- Excessive amounts of static electricity may also cause to reset the devices' memory. Excessive friction with plastic(slides) is to be avoided.
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| Inconveniences is: |
- A rechargeable device might be a disadvantage when traveling in foreign countries where AC power supplies do not match the specifications of the device or, where no power supply exists. Other devices are fitted with disposable batteries which will eliminate this shortcoming if extra batteries are taken with.
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Proper research should be done in advance to establish the medical condition of a possible receiver. Most of the reasons for the implant to be unsuccessful might be eliminated / minimized, e.g. auditory nerve deficiencies, etc.
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