{"id":11006,"date":"2024-03-25T17:12:12","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T17:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/?p=11006"},"modified":"2024-03-25T17:12:12","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T17:12:12","slug":"hearing-beyond-silence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/2024\/03\/25\/hearing-beyond-silence\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Beyond Silence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"337\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-11017\" alt=\"This image shows a person with a fitted cochlear implant.\" src=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/image-4.jpeg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/image-4.jpeg 474w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/image-4-300x213.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><em>&#8220;Blindness separates us from things, but deafness separates us from people.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/topics\/womens-history\/helen-keller\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/topics\/womens-history\/helen-keller\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Helen keller<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Hearing loss currently affects approximately 9 million individuals in England. Projections indicate that by 2035, this number is <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng98\/chapter\/Context\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng98\/chapter\/Context\" target=\"_blank\">expected to rise to around 13 million<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Journey into the World of Cochlear Implants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Attending <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/people\/5x27tf\/professor-nicci-campbell\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.southampton.ac.uk\/people\/5x27tf\/professor-nicci-campbell\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Campbell&#8217;s<\/a> workshop on cochlear implants was eye-opening. With a father who battles deafness and relies on hearing aids, I was intrigued to find out more about the candidacy for cochlear implants. Before the workshop, I had a limited understanding of cochlear implants. I mistakenly viewed them as upgraded hearing aids. However, the workshop shattered this misconception. This got me thinking about the gap in public awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Mechanics of Hearing with a Cochlear Implant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"893\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/diagrame.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11032 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/diagrame.jpg 893w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/diagrame-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/diagrame-768x461.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 893px) 100vw, 893px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JiFC41ZTR3c&amp;t=23s\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JiFC41ZTR3c&amp;t=23s\" target=\"_blank\">Cochlear implants<\/a> consist of an external sound processor and an internal implant. The sound processor captures environmental sounds, processes them, and transmits the signal to the implant. Surgically placed under the skin, the implant\u2019s electrodes stimulate the auditory nerve directly, bypassing damaged sensory hair cells in the cochlea. Through auditory training, users learn to interpret the electrical signals.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are You a Candidate for Cochlear Implants? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cochlear implants are considered for candidates with <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ta566\/chapter\/1-Recommendations\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ta566\/chapter\/1-Recommendations\" target=\"_blank\">severe\/profound hearing loss<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>hearing only sounds that are lounder than 80dB HL at two or move frequencies (500Hz, 1,000Hz, 2,000Hz, 3,000Hz and 4,000Hz) bilaterally<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AB words test &lt; 50% (for adults)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The day after attending the workshop, my father had a hearing test, eager to delve deeper, I asked him for his audiology reports to review. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/grouped-audio-reports-1024x391.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/grouped-audio-reports-1024x391.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/grouped-audio-reports-300x114.jpg 300w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/grouped-audio-reports-768x293.jpg 768w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/grouped-audio-reports-1536x586.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/grouped-audio-reports-2048x781.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This shows my father&#8217;s audiograms from 23\/02\/2024 compared to 20\/11\/2023 (shown in grey). I compared his audiology report to the degree of hearing loss (displayed on the left). Seeing this made me feel a lot of sympathy for him, despite not qualifying for cochlear implants, his hearing challenges are significant. Specifically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Right Ear<\/strong>: He falls into the severely deaf category for frequencies 3,000Hz and above, and 4,000Hz and above in the<strong> <\/strong>profoundly deaf<strong> <\/strong>category. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Left Ear:<\/strong> Although his overall hearing levels are better, he still experiences severe hearing loss for frequencies 4,000Hz and above. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clip From a Cochlear Implant User<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Clip for CI Module (Asgar)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pkIX2vkEPpA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The workshop featured this video clip of Asgar explaining his experiences. I found that it deeply resonated with me. Asgar&#8217;s heartfelt account of his children avoiding conversation with him to evade repeating themselves reminded me of my own childhood -my sister and I would employ the same tactic. I think it&#8217;s crucial to recognise that hearing loss not only has a physical impact, but it also effects relationships.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-11093\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/sign-1024x576.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/sign-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/sign-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/sign-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/sign-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/sign.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">\u201c<em>If I were offered a cochlear implant today, I would prefer not to have one. But that\u2019s not a statement about hearing aids or cochlear implants. It\u2019s about who you are.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/why-cochlear-implants-are-bad\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/why-cochlear-implants-are-bad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Anonymous<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Embracing Silence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Discovering that cochlear implants are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/why-cochlear-implants-are-bad\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/why-cochlear-implants-are-bad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">not universally embraced initially <\/a>surprised me. Yet, as I delved deeper, I recognised the profound impact of individual differences. What proves effective for one person may not necessarily be the optimal solution for another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Complex Adjustment Process<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Cochlear implants don&#8217;t immediately restore hearing, users must learn to interpret the signals. This adjustment takes time and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Loss of Residual Hearing<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For people with partial hearing loss, cochlear implants can sometimes cause any remaining hearing to be lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Health Risks<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a small risk of infection with the surgery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lifestyle Considerations <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people may have other strategies for coping, such as <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.british-sign.co.uk\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.british-sign.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">sign language<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lipreading.org\/beginners-guide-to-lipreading\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.lipreading.org\/beginners-guide-to-lipreading\" target=\"_blank\">lip reading. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Music<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While cochlear implants can significantly improve speech, they are not suitable for transmitting the structural features of music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pop song:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignright\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/pop_music_simu.wav\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio alignleft\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/music.wav\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ugr.es\/%7Eatv\/web_ci_SIM\/en\/ci_sim_en.htm\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.ugr.es\/%7Eatv\/web_ci_SIM\/en\/ci_sim_en.htm\" target=\"_blank\">cochlear implant simulation<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter is-light\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-11143\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/cochlear-talking.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/cochlear-talking.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/cochlear-talking-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/481\/2024\/03\/cochlear-talking-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><em>&#8220;The cochlear implant is not just a device; it&#8217;s a key to a new world of sound and communication&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/graemeclarkfoundation.org\/about-graeme-clark\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/graemeclarkfoundation.org\/about-graeme-clark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Graeme Clark<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Awareness <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Public awareness of cochlear implants varies widely. Generally, there&#8217;s a growing awareness due to increased media coverage and education initiatives. However, misconceptions and stigmas still exist, such as the belief that they &#8220;cure&#8221; deafness or that they are appropriate for all individuals with hearing loss. Organisations like <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/rnid.org.uk\/information-and-support\/hearing-loss\/hearing-implants\/cochlear-implants\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/rnid.org.uk\/information-and-support\/hearing-loss\/hearing-implants\/cochlear-implants\/\" target=\"_blank\">RNID<\/a> work on research and public awareness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hearing loss currently affects approximately 9 million individuals in England. Projections indicate that by 2035, this number is expected to rise to around 13 million. A Journey into the World of Cochlear Implants Attending Nicci Campbell&#8217;s workshop on cochlear implants was eye-opening. With a father who battles deafness and relies on hearing aids, I was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6154,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[51],"class_list":["post-11006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-assessed-item-1","tag-cochlear-implants"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6154"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11006"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11156,"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11006\/revisions\/11156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2024\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}