Deaf children under 2 years old can hear you again

2002/12/02 Andonegi Beristain, Garazi - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Medikuntza

The University Clinic is a pioneer in cochlear implants. This technique involves replacing the ear with a system that electrically excites the auditory nerve.

The cochlear implant program began in 1989 and the first operation was performed a year later. The implant was implanted in an 11-year-old girl and in 1992 a 2-year-old boy for the first time. The implant is also applied to children aged 10 to 12 months, with very satisfactory results.

Since the program began, 356 implants have been implanted between 9 months and 82 years of age. Two thirds of them have been operations with children, since deafness is a disease that can be detected in 80% of cases since birth and the results are better the faster the implant. In addition, 80% of adults who lose their ear after studying the language recover the ability to recognize words without having to read their lips. In the case of children, the percentage reaches 95%, unless they have any other disease.

Technology

Implants of children younger than two years are different from those of other people. In addition to a different position, the size is much smaller. This turns the intervention into precision surgery. However, due to the improvement of the technique and the sagging of the infant bone tissue, the intervention lasts only 45 minutes.

After the procedure it is necessary to activate and schedule the implant since children, due to their age, cannot collaborate in the activation of the implant.

Other advances

Until recently, cochlear implants were only applied to people with severe hearing loss. Now, however, the University Clinic has extended implants to people who did not get good results with hearing aids. In this way, anyone who has limited his personal and social life by serious hearing loss can opt for a new treatment.

In addition, the Department of Otirronolaringology has launched a bilateral implant program to promote hearing normalization. Hearing quality is part of binaural perception. The two ears allow us to know where the sounds come from, improve hearing in noise zones and eliminate the shadow effect of the head. In addition, in the case of auditory neuronal plasticity, both ear implants can be very effective.

Link: http://www.basqueresearch.com/