Pros And Cons Cochlear Implant
Brenna Weaver
25 September 2014
Fred Palchick
ALS I
Risks and Benefits of Cochlear Implants
Whether a cochlear implant will be beneficial to a person depends on that individual altogether. Age, compatibility, and funding are all important factors that help decide if a cochlear implant will be beneficial or even available. Age is very critical because in human development there is a sensitive period with hearing. A sensitive period is a certain amount of time that is given for a person to be exposed to an experience for it to develop normally. With hearing, this sensitive period is restricted to the age of six. If someone is exposed to sounds by this time there will be very little trouble adjusting to this new experience. However, if this person is exposed to sounds after the age of six, development and success in this new experience may be hindered. Compatibility plays an important part because some people are not able to receive a cochlear implant at all. Typically, the people who may benefit from a cochlear implant have hearing disabilities because the small hairs in the inner ear that detect sound waves are either missing or damaged. A cochlear implant may not be an option if someone’s hearing disability has been a result of a different issue within their ear, the nerve that sends electrical impulses to the brain, or an issue with that portion of their brain altogether. About ninety percent of insurance companies cover cochlear implants for people who have partial to total hearing loss, but for the approximately ten percent who do not have those insurance companies, a decision would have to be made on how the cost of a cochlear implant will be covered. In the United States the cost of a cochlear implant for someone without insurance could cost anywhere from fifty thousand to one hundred thousand dollars. Even with insurance the out of pocket price could be anywhere from one thousand to fifty thousand dollars. After the initial cost of a brand new
25 September 2014
Fred Palchick
ALS I
Risks and Benefits of Cochlear Implants
Whether a cochlear implant will be beneficial to a person depends on that individual altogether. Age, compatibility, and funding are all important factors that help decide if a cochlear implant will be beneficial or even available. Age is very critical because in human development there is a sensitive period with hearing. A sensitive period is a certain amount of time that is given for a person to be exposed to an experience for it to develop normally. With hearing, this sensitive period is restricted to the age of six. If someone is exposed to sounds by this time there will be very little trouble adjusting to this new experience. However, if this person is exposed to sounds after the age of six, development and success in this new experience may be hindered. Compatibility plays an important part because some people are not able to receive a cochlear implant at all. Typically, the people who may benefit from a cochlear implant have hearing disabilities because the small hairs in the inner ear that detect sound waves are either missing or damaged. A cochlear implant may not be an option if someone’s hearing disability has been a result of a different issue within their ear, the nerve that sends electrical impulses to the brain, or an issue with that portion of their brain altogether. About ninety percent of insurance companies cover cochlear implants for people who have partial to total hearing loss, but for the approximately ten percent who do not have those insurance companies, a decision would have to be made on how the cost of a cochlear implant will be covered. In the United States the cost of a cochlear implant for someone without insurance could cost anywhere from fifty thousand to one hundred thousand dollars. Even with insurance the out of pocket price could be anywhere from one thousand to fifty thousand dollars. After the initial cost of a brand new
Cited: “Are Cochlear Implants Right for You?” Advanced Bionics. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://www.citationmachine.net/mla/cite-a-website/manual>. “Benefits and Risks of Cochlear Implants.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 6 June 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. <http://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/implantsand prosthetics/cochlearimplants/ucm062843.htm>. “Cochlear Implant Cost.” Costhelper Health. Web. 20 Sept. 2014. <http://health.costhelper.com/cochlear-implant.html>.