It’s estimated that between 36 and 50 million Americans have hearing loss. Most hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids, although only 25%-30% currently use them.
According to statistics provided by the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), here are some facts about hearing loss:
A cochlear implant is a tiny two-part device that helps deaf or hard-of-hearing people hear. One part is placed behind the ear and a second half is surgically placed under the skin near the ear.
The implant consists of a microphone, a transmitter/receiver, a speech processor and an electrode ray.
Unlike a hearing aid, which simply amplifies sounds, a cochlear implant bypasses the parts of the ear that are damaged and instead stimulates the auditory nerve. The brain interprets the signals as sounds.