When discussing the pros and cons of cochlear implants, most people tend to focus on the obvious: it doesn’t cure deafness. This shouldn’t be the only factor you consider when deciding whether or not to use it, though. Here are some other important features of cochlear implants you should also be aware of.
Benefits of Wearing Cochlear Implants
Cochlear implants don’t heal ear problems, nor do they reverse hearing loss. This doesn’t mean that their benefits on the quality of life should be overlooked.
If you are debating the pros and cons of cochlear implants, you should know that a successful surgery can make a big difference. You could end up understanding speech without having to read lips. That’s certainly better than not being able to hear at all.
Some patients even gain the ability to enjoy music. But this is not a guaranteed outcome, as it depends on how severe your hearing loss is.
Most hearing-impaired people also develop speech impediments, but a successful cochlear implant operation can help prevent this. What’s more, in some cases it could also reverse it.
Drawbacks of Getting Cochlear Implants
As with any other surgical procedure, there are risks when implanting the device. For example, there’s a chance that the intervention could result in damage to the facial nerve.
Tinnitus can be managed with a special cochlear implant, but it can also be a side effect of implanting the device.
Another risk of undergoing the cochlear implant surgery is the effect of general anesthesia. The cases where complications occur are rare, but medically-induced sleep affects different people in different ways.
Children may have a harder time learning how to adapt to using a cochlear implant. There is a learning curve to operating one to its maximum potential. This is why discussing the pros and cons of cochlear implants for children is more important as the operation has a bigger impact on them than on adults.
