Children with cochlear implant: corrective work and planning sessions

For children who were born deaf, cochlear implantation is the only way to hear and learn to speak. The earlier to carry out such an intervention, the higher the chances of the baby to avoid a development gap, as well as to master the perception of sounds and spoken language.

Cochlear implantation in children

This term means surgical intervention to restore hearing, which consists in placing a special electronic system in the ear snail. This provides electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve, which improves the perception of sounds.

Researches of scientists prove that the implementation of this procedure up to 2 years, allows the child to learn how to understand words and talk faster.

The system of cochlear implantation includes two components:

1. Internal component - cochlear implant. It is placed in the ear during the surgical procedure. After the operation, the device is located under the skin and is not noticeable for others.
2. The external element is a speech processor. He is put on the ear and removed before going to bed or bathing, like an ordinary hearing aid.
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The photo shows the operation of the hearing aid and the cochlear implant

Indications for the procedure

The main indications for the procedure include the following:

1. Deep sensorineural deafness of bilateral character.
2. No effect on the use of hearing aids.
3. No cognitive impairment.
4. Absence of psychological abnormalities.
5. Absence of severe somatic diseases.

Of great importance is the serious support of parents and readiness for a long period of rehabilitation of the baby. It is very important to provide the child with full-time classes with audiophiles and audiologists.

Principle of operation of the cochlear implant

See our video on how the cochlear implant transmits sounds:

Procedure for

Surgical intervention to implant a cochlear implant involves performing a number of steps:

1. Markup - to maximize the placement of the implant behind the ear.
2. Incision and the formation of special flaps from the skin - due to this it will be possible to close the device with soft tissues.
3. Opening the mastoid process and performing tympanotomy - due to this, access to the tympanic cavity is provided.
4. Cochleostomy overlapping is performed to insert the electrode.
5. The formation of the bone bed for the device and its fixation - due to this, immobility of the implant is achieved and the protrusion on the skin behind the ears decreases.
6. The placement of the active electrode in the cochlea and evaluation of the implant's operation - makes it possible to evaluate the functioning of the channels and to determine the acoustic reflexes of the stenosis muscle.
7. Closure of wound.

Recovery period

The cochlear implant system is connected and tested only one month after the surgical intervention. During the device setup, the audiologist uses the computer to transmit signals to the speech processor having different tonality and volume.

In this case, the patient usually determines a comfortable sensation. If the implantation was performed by a small child, one should take into account its reflex reactions. During the first month, the implant is set up every week. Then, the control setting is performed once a year.

Adaptation in the social environment

A month after the operative intervention, it is possible to start performing auditory rehabilitation. At this stage, audiological control and exercises with a speech therapist, psychologist, surdopedagogist are required.

When carrying out cochlear implantation in children, a key role is played by the parents' interest in the rehabilitation process. The duration of the recovery period increases if a long period of time has elapsed between hearing loss and implant implantation.

Positive dynamics of hearing and speech development in children after cochlear implantation

What parents should know about

It is important to know that a cochlear implant will not work if the deafness is caused not by damage to the hair cells but by a violation of the functions of the auditory nerve or analyzer. In addition, the device will not give results when calcification or ossification. These processes prevent the placement of electrodes in the cochlea, which increases the risk of an unsuccessful operation.

Parents need to know that after the procedure, special attention should be paid to the child's ability to perceive sounds. It should be planned and developed in such directions:

1. Natural conditions. The child should hear the communication of others, the speech addressed to him, and his own words. It is very important for the baby to stay in the speech environment all the time.
2. Special Occupations. They should be conducted by parents and specialists themselves. First, limited speech material is used. However, soon the child develops auditory memory, which allows him to distinguish and pronounce words.

Video of a child with a cochlear implant with a speech therapist:

Risks and possible complications of

In rare cases, cochlear implantation provokes undesirable consequences:

1. Paralysis or weakness of the facial nerve from the side of the intervention.
2. Disturbance of taste.
3. Violations in the work of the vestibular apparatus - nausea, vomiting, dizziness, unsteadiness of gait.
4. Noise in the ears.
5. Headaches.
6. Calcification and ossification of a cochlea with an inserted implant.

Contraindications

This procedure has certain limitations:

1. Complete or partial obliteration of the cochlea.
2. Complex somatic pathologies - chronic kidney failure, decompensated heart defects.
3. Negative result after performance of the promontory test.
4. Retrochlear disorders - defeats of the auditory nerve.
5. Mental disorders. Focal lesions of brain structures.
6. Lack of readiness for prolonged work with the guardian.

Of no small importance is the rehabilitation period. To adapt in the sociocultural environment, the child should engage in a long time with a speech therapist and a guardian.