DON’T LET HEARING LOSS ADVERSELY AFFECT YOU
Adults living with hearing loss can become socially isolated and withdrawn, while hearing loss in children can significantly affect the child’s development including their speech and language, which can lead to problem behaviour and poor performance at school.
If hearing loss or impairment is suspected, it is always advisable to seek professional advice.
Treatment for hearing loss depends on the cause of the hearing impairment.
If there is damage or a structural problem with the eardrum, surgery may be indicated.
If the problem is with the hearing nerve, a hearing aid or cochlear implant may be recommended.
There are various types of hearing aids and generally they work by making sounds louder.
An audiologist adjusts the device so that the person can hear the sounds more clearly.
Sometimes the hearing loss is so severe that the most powerful hearing aids cannot amplify the sound enough. In these cases, a cochlear implant may be recommended.
However, there are individuals who do not benefit from conventional hearing aids and who are not candidates for cochlear implants.
For this group of people, Toowoomba ENT surgeon Dr Suresh Mahandran is now offering VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE middle ear implants — a unique middle ear implant system that has opened a world of new hearing possibilities for individuals who have not experienced an improvement with conventional hearing aids or cannot use them for medical reasons.
The VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE system is also the only middle ear implant that can be used by children as well as adults. Its unique design means that children as young as five years can experience natural sound quality, which helps them to develop just like their peers.
The SOUNDBRIDGE System consists of two main parts.
The externally worn audio processor (about the size of a 20-cent piece), picks up sounds and sends them to the internal implant, which is placed just under the skin behind the ear (this is about a quarter of the size of a standard grain of rice).
The SOUNDBRIDGE implant then takes these sound waves and turns them into mechanical vibrations that set the structures of the middle ear in motion.
These motions stimulate the cochlea similar to a normal functioning ear, which leads to a great natural sound quality.
The SOUNDBRIDGE device is switched on a few weeks after the implant procedures.
VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE is the first and only middle ear implant available on the prosthesis list, which means that private health insurance is able to fund the cost of the implant and audio processor, for eligible patients.
For more information, please contact Dr Suresh Mahendran at the Downs Specialist Centre, 146 Mackenzie Street, Toowoomba or call 4646 2525.