Cochlear implants are an option for children with severe to profound hearing losses
In the routine of maternity hospitals, babies need to undergo some exams right after birth. This is because some diseases that do not usually present immediate symptoms need to be diagnosed early. One of the mandatory tests is the ear test, which allows detecting mild or severe hearing problems in newborns.
To better understand the levels of hearing loss, which is measured in decibels (dBHL), we can classify it as follows: above 25 dB is considered mild hearing loss; between 40 and 69 dBHL as moderate; between 71 and 90 dBHL as severe; and greater than 90 dBHL are deep losses. Depending on the degree and type of hearing loss of the baby or child, the most appropriate solution for the case will be defined.
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Today, I will explain a little about the solution through the cochlear implant, which is a surgically implanted device that captures sound from the environment, transforms this stimulus into electrical and which, through an electrode implanted in the Cochlea (hearing organ), directly stimulates the hearing nerve.
Babies and children learn to speak by listening to their parents and the world around them, so I often say that hearing is fundamental to language development.
When a child is born with hearing loss and receives a cochlear implant after diagnosis, it is very likely that their language skills will be stronger compared to those treated when they were already two years old. This shows that the sooner hearing loss is diagnosed and treated, the greater the chance your child will develop language equivalent to that of a child with normal hearing.
The cochlear implant is an option for the rehabilitation or rehabilitation of severe to profound hearing losses and is recommended for all ages depending on the type of loss, both for babies born deaf or even for people who develop deafness throughout their lives.
Although many people are still unaware of this information, the cochlear implant is a technology covered by both health plans (ANS) and the SUS. In relation to conventional hearing aids, these are more difficult for the population to access, even with government programs for this purpose. Health plans, in turn, are also not required to provide these devices, which means that many patients end up being left without help due to the high cost.
Many patient families ask me what life is like for a child after the implant. I often say that, with the necessary routine follow-ups, life is normal. They can run, play, swim, have fun like anyone else. The implants have state-of-the-art technology and quality, therefore, they are made to last a long time. In fact, the child’s growth does not affect the functioning of the implant.
It is worth mentioning that, if a child with an implant or a conventional device user begins to have communication difficulties or complains of difficulty hearing, parents should immediately seek specialized care from an ENT specialist or speech therapist. Periodic consultations are part of the agenda of all patients using hearing aid devices. Maintaining this discipline is the recipe for success for a common life for children or adults of any age.
Below I list some quick clarifications about cochlear technology and its use:
– Cochlear implants are for children with severe to profound hearing loss in one or both ears or for children who get limited benefit from hearing aids.
– After careful evaluation and detection of profound deafness, children from 6 months of age can now undergo the procedure, offered by the SUS and covered by private health plans.
– If surgery is performed between 6 months and 1 year of age, patients achieve the same auditory and language performance as hearing peers. Children over 7 years old who were born deaf do not usually have satisfactory results.
– The patient is usually discharged on the same day. The external part of the device is attached to the internal part 30 days after surgery and its physical appearance resembles that of a common hearing aid.
– Hearing recovery: hearing recovery and the beginning of speech vary according to the case and the time of sound deprivation and also involve the work of a speech therapist.
*Dr. Fernando Balsalobre is an otorhinolaryngologist (USP), member of the Brazilian Society of Otology (SBO).
Instagram @dr.fernandobalsalobre
