Hearing again at last with cochlear implants

Anyone who feels that their hearing is getting worse and worse should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Dr. Simone Graf from the Clinic for Hearing, Sensory and Speech Disorders in Innsbruck knows how to determine the type of hearing loss and classify its severity. The path to hearing again.

At her audiology center, the assessment of a hearing disorder is standardized and personalized. This means that the latest scientific knowledge is individually adapted to each patient in order to enable an optimal diagnostic procedure.

How the diagnosis works

When you come to the clinic, various audiological tests are carried out. If a hearing disorder or hearing loss is then detected, further examinations are carried out to determine the exact details. In the case of more severe hearing disorders, audiological and surgical-otological processes are combined in the ENT department, so the work is interdisciplinary.

Hearing again - does a hearing implant make sense?

If a severe hearing impairment is detected, it must first be clarified whether conventional hearing aids can help. If these are no longer sufficient and hearing is still difficult, there is the option of being fitted with a cochlear implant.

Each case is presented and discussed individually at a hearing implant board. Otologists, audiologists, speech therapists and psychologists jointly discuss the aspects of the hearing loss and then make a recommendation.

Good information - the be-all and end-all

If the board decides that a cochlear implant is appropriate, implantation takes place. This is a minimally invasive operation lasting around one to three hours. Beforehand, there is also a thorough medical explanation of the treatment as well as psychological and technical counseling to clarify any questions in advance. The aim is to send users into the operation as well-informed as possible.

Hearing again at last

After successful surgery, the fitting process follows. The technical settings of the audio processors are made individually, while accompanying training with speech therapists supports hearing and speech comprehension. The fitting period until the best possible hearing result is achieved takes several months and requires sufficient practice.

Finally, Dr. Graf recommends going for a check-up about once a year to ensure the best possible hearing.