Guest guest Posted March 15, 2000 Report Share Posted March 15, 2000 : There are two different implantable technologies for deafness. First, if the auditory nerve is viable, meaning that it has not be surgically removed, or entirely severed due to injury, a cochlear implant is indicated. For the "rare of the rare" who have no functioning auditory nerve, there is a technology called an Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI). The cochlear implant provides tremendous hearing results for its recipients, The Auditory Brainstem Implants provide rudimentary sound detection -- at this time. ABI's are in their relative infancy as a technology and will improve dramatically over time. For patients who use them, the find that having auditory input is of significant value -- even if the input is supplementary. The cochlear implant is specifically designed to treat "nerve deafness" or what is referred to as sensorineural deafness. Knowing the RP and other disorders have the ability to attach such a wide variety of systems and locations, I can't in a 100% blanket state that anyone who has RP and has lost their hearing will be a candidate for the device. However, the most typical presentation of the disease process in the inner ear is to the delicate hair cells within the human cochlea. These, thankfully can be "replaced" with electrodes. Regardless, , I always feel it is our responsibility, as people managing difficult medical conditions, to seek out treatments for all our ailments. The cochlear implant, or even the ABI might be suitable to offer you a higher quality of life -- a sort of reconnecting to the world of sound. -Doug P. Lynch Director, Marketing Communications Advanced Bionics Corporation www.advancedbionics.com www.cochlearimplant.com dougl@... -----Original Message-----From: drutledge Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 7:08 AMTo: RpolychondritisonelistSubject: implants Doug, Thank you for the information on the implants. Although the hearing loss is from the autoimmune disease. It created a lesions in the nerve bundle that is aprox. 10 mm. long. Would this implant be able to still work with that kind of challenge. I've been told it couldn't. But I'm open to better ideas and information. Thank You Love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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