Middle Ear Implants, an Advanced Technique for the Traditional Use of Hearing Aids

 

Middle ear implants are medical devices designed for those suffering from mild to moderate conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. Middle ear implants are recommended for those suffering from collapsed or closed ear canals, ear infections, skin problems, earmould allergies, etc. Moreover, these implants can be used as an alternative to bone anchored hearing aid. The difference major between other hearing aids and middle ear implants is that they do not require a speaker.


 

Middle ear implants transmit the sound to the middle ear via a microphone placed behind the ear. The microphone then converts the sound into mechanical vibration and is sent to a floating mass transducer placed in the middle ear. These are broadly classified as electromagnetic and piezoelectric. Electromagnetic implants use an external microphone and send signals through the coil and converts to magnetic field, while piezoelectric ear implants use a piezoelectric crystal that generates electric charge that vibrates the ear bones.

Hearing loss or hearing impairment is a common health issue worldwide. In 2018, around 466 people suffered from hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is estimated that by 2050 over 900 million people will have disabling hearing loss. Around 38.2 million people in the United States report some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss may result from complications at birth, genetic causes, exposure to excessive noise, certain infectious diseases, the use of particular drugs, chronic ear infections, and ageing.

Conductive hearing loss involves damage to the middle ear, and can be treated through the use of implant, use of medication, or surgical intervention. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the structures in inner ear or auditory nerve, whereas mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural. Middle ear implants are recommended for patients with mixed, sensorineural, or conductive hearing impairment.

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