Cochlear implant in Hennigsdorf: hope back for the deaf!

Cochlear implant in Hennigsdorf: hope back for the deaf!

The world of hearing is becoming more and more diverse, and not least thanks to modern technologies, people with hearing loss can once again take part in the acoustic events. An excellent example of this is Dr. Thien An Duong Dinh, who has been working as chief physician in the department of otolaryngology at the Oberhavel Clinics in Hennigsdorf since October 2024. He has now successfully used a cochlear implant for the first time, giving a 51-year-old who was almost deaf the ability to hear again. The patient will come for a follow-up examination in just two weeks and also has a hearing aid on his left ear, which will also be fitted with a cochlear implant in the near future. maz-online.de reports that ...

Dr. Duong Dinh, who previously worked in Aachen, knows that in adults it is important to first have an ear implanted. This makes it possible to observe how the patient copes with the implant. Installing the cochlear implant is a fairly precise process: the electrical stimulation of the ear is fundamentally different from the function of a traditional hearing aid. The operation involves removing part of the skull to allow access to the cochlea. The implant is then inserted carefully, taking into account the patient's remaining hearing ability.

The cochlear implant in focus

Cochlear implants are a valuable solution for people with severe hearing impairment or deafness. Modern ear medicine aims to rehabilitate hearing as much as possible without technical aids. But in many cases, especially when sensorineural hearing is not preserved or after certain middle ear operations, the only option is implantable devices. The cochlear implant stimulates the intact auditory nerve through electrically responsive contacts in the inner ear, which has the same functionality as normal hearing. tirol-kliniken.at explains that...

Another noteworthy detail is the duration of the procedure: on average, the implantation takes one and a half hours and the hospital stay is around three to five days. The initial activation of the cochlear implant usually occurs two to four weeks after surgery, and an audiologist monitors the function of the electrodes. The cost of the entire procedure is approximately 40,000 euros and is covered by health insurance if certain conditions are met.

A look into the future

Getting cochlear implants isn't just life-changing for adults. Even newborns who have been diagnosed with deafness should ideally undergo implantation in the first year of life in order to create the conditions for natural language development. awmf.org affirms that... Cochlear implants pave the way for the hearing experience and thus promote participation in social communication. The appointment of a specialized team for the initial postoperative adjustment of the speech processor is essential.

In summary, this progress in hearing rehabilitation shows how diverse the possibilities of modern medicine are. With a cochlear implant, not only does the patient get a second chance at a fulfilling hearing experience, but those around them also benefit from the improved communication options. It remains exciting to see what developments lie ahead in this important medical area.