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 ...