A cochlear implant is a surgical operation which helps give deaf people a sensation of hearing.
The device works through electrodes which sometimes can interact with each other and cause a disturbance for the patient. Here we explain in further detail what is channel interaction in cochlear implants.
What is channel interaction in cochlear implants?
In some cases, patients receive a multi-channel cochlear implant which will have more than one electrode implanted in the cochlea.
This is more frequency-specific and is aimed at giving the patient a better sensation of hearing, however the presence of several channels which stimulate hearing can cause increase the risk of interaction.
When these electrodes are stimulated all together, fields emitted from such electrodes can clash and create a disturbance.
One electrode will not be able to communicate with the other because of the clash of fields and so the signal from the electrode is not carried through the auditory nerve to the brain.
It can either not give the patient any sort of hearing sensations, or else it can give a very annoying noise in the ear.
In some cases, patients would be able to briefly listen to the sound around them but not clearly.
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How do cochlear implants work?
Cochlear implants work with an electronic system that stimulates the nerve of hearing in the cochlear, which then vibrates into nerve impulses which are then carried into the brain and one can hear.
The cochlear implant is made up of several parts which work together to help people who even used some of the most powerful hearing aids, finally get a hearing sensation.
The device has microphone clips go into the ear and pick up sound which is then converted into an electrical signal in the speech processor.
The signals pass through a coiled wire which is attached to the scalp through a magnet.
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The signals will then enter the skin into the receiver package which converts them into an electrical current which travels to an electrode implanted in the cochlear to stimulate auditory nerve.
The auditory nerve carries the signal to the brain and that gives the patient a sensation of hearing.
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