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Different between CI & HA

Hearing Aids vs Cochlear Implants

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are electronic devices placed either in or behind the ear. They capture sound and amplify it, making it louder.

Typically, hearing aids are a solution for individuals with mild to severe hearing loss who still have some healthy sensory cells in the inner ear capable of transmitting sound to the brain.

However, if you find that you can hear with a hearing aid but struggle to understand spoken words clearly, an alternative solution may be more appropriate. This alternative can provide the necessary clarity for understanding various sounds, including speech.

Cochlear Implants

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that can help individuals with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss to hear. The cochlear implant mimics the function of healthy hair cells in the hearing organ (cochlea), restoring access to sounds that would otherwise be missed. By using electrical impulses to transmit sound through the inner ear to the hearing nerve, cochlear implants enhance auditory perception.

While hearing aids amplify the sounds you hear, cochlear implants offer sound audibility and clarity. Choosing the most suitable hearing technology is crucial for achieving successful hearing outcomes.

For some individuals, hearing aids effectively address hearing loss. However, as hearing loss progresses, understanding conversations can remain challenging, even with powerful hearing aids. In such cases, a cochlear implant becomes a more effective solution, providing access to clearer sound.

Benefits of Cochlear Implant

Access to Sounds

The sample audiogram indicates sounds you may have access to with a cochlear implant.

  • In this example, sounds below the CI line, as indicated by the gray shaded area, can be heard with a cochlear implant.
  • The pictures represent sounds at typical volume and frequency levels.
  • Consonants and vowels are spoken at frequencies in the spectrum of sound that fall within the yellow highlighted area, also known as the “speech banana.”

Improved Health and Keeping Your Mind Sharp

You do not have to wait until you lose all your hearing to benefit from a cochlear implant. You can hear better sooner and experience the health benefits and improved hearing outcomes.

It is important that you have realistic expectations of the benefits of a cochlear implant. It will take commitment, patience, and support.

In fact, studies have shown that people with cochlear implants:

  • See improvements in overall health.
  • See improvements in verbal and memory functions.
  • Are less likely to experience social isolation.

Better Hearing Outcomes

Hearing your friends and family in noisy situations is especially difficult for those with hearing loss.

Now you don’t have to miss out on those important conversations. In fact, adult cochlear implant users demonstrated a significant improvement in hearing in noise when compared to their hearing aid performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my hearing deteriorates?

Hearing loss may affects people at different age. It can also impact your quality of life and thus it is never too late to come and book an appointment with our qualified audiologist at our nearest branch.

What causes a hearing loss?

Hearing loss can be cause by several factors. Most hearing loss is caused by ageing process and usually affect the elderly. However, exposure towards loud noises, illness and hereditary may also affect your hearing. As a result, you may find difficulty in understanding speeches in your daily life and hard to comprehend information relays by other speaker.

How do hearing aids work?

A hearing aid magnifies sound vibrations entering the ear. Surviving hair cells detect the larger vibrations and convert them into neural signals that are passed along to the brain. The greater the damage to a person’s hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss, and the greater the hearing aid amplification needed to make up the difference.

However, there are practical limits to the amount of amplification a hearing aid can provide. In addition, if the inner ear is too damaged, even large vibrations will not be converted into neural signals. In this situation, a hearing aid would be ineffective. A hearing aid has three basic parts: a microphone, amplifier, and speaker.

The hearing aid receives sound through a microphone, which converts the sound waves to electrical signals and sends them to an amplifier. The amplifier increases the power of the signals and then sends them to the ear through a speaker.

Can hearing aids treat my ringing in the ear sound (tinnitus)?

According to American Tinnitus Association, a 2007 survey found that approximately 60% of tinnitus sufferers found some relief with hearing aids. In addition to masking the sounds of tinnitus, hearing aids increase stimulation between the brain and the auditory pathways. This may cause a reduction in tinnitus symptoms.

How much do hearing aid costs?

As we want you to be satisfied with our service,we offer hearing aids to suit your hearing requirements and your budget as hearing aids vary in costs and the level of technology embedded in the device. It also depends on your level of hearing loss, the style of hearing aids.Talk to one of our audiologist and we recommend you to have your hearing tested first and our audiologist will provide the best options base on your hearing needs. Our hearing aids fees are all inclusive of lifetime fine tuning, annual hearing tests, clean and checks, fittings and consultation.

Can I buy my hearing aids online?

We would not advise our patient to buy hearing aids through online as you are not certain of their quality. Moreover, you won’t be getting any hearing evaluation and your hearing aids will alsos not be programmed base on your current hearing level. Additionally, these hearing aids are seldom backed by warranty like how Audiolab offers their customers.

How long does a hearing test take?

Our full consultation and hearing test usually takes up to one and a half hour. Do a free hearing test to screen your hearing.

Where can I go to meet the audiologist?

Find your closest Audiolab branch through our website. Click here to visit the nearest branch.