Cochlear Implants For Children

Cochlear implants are a medical device that is implanted at any age to help people with severe hearing loss. Cochlear implants are referred to as CIs by users and doctors. CIs consist of two parts: The exterior and interior parts. The exterior has a magnet and microphone, the magnet connects to the interior portion and transmits the electrical signals that are converted from the sound waves picked-up by the microphone. The interior piece is a magnet with two wires that coil through the cochlea and directly stimulate the hearing nerve. There are three views on implanting a child: Yes, implant the child now; No, don't implant the child at all; and Yes, implant the child but let them choose if they want the implant. All three views will be described in more detail with articles. By: Jessica Hall, Alli Bodenschatz, and Anne Katherine Andersen