Middle Ear Implant Hearing Aids

Due to bone abnormalities, chronic ear infections, or certain allergies, standard hearing aids are not a feasible option for some people with hearing loss. Fortunately, many such individuals are able to benefit from implantable hearing aids. This article will discuss one model known as a middle ear implant, or MEI.

If you are looking for information about hearing loss solutions, the hearing loss experts of HearingPlanet are here to help. Our staff of qualified audiologists and hearing aid specialists can guide you through every step of diagnosing and treating a hearing impairment. Call us today at 1-800-432-7669.

How Middle Ear Implants Work

When a person's hearing condition is associated with damage to the nerves of the inner ear, a middle ear implant can sometimes help. This is a kind of hearing aid in which the receiver (which picks up sounds and transmits them into the inner ear) is implanted directly on the ossicles (the small bones in the middle ear). In most MEI models, the microphone is worn outside the ear.

When the microphone picks up a sound, it passes to the receiver, which causes the ossicles to vibrate against the eardrum. This is the same basic design as a conventional hearing aid, except that the need for an earpiece is removed and the amount of feedback may be reduced. Additionally, researchers are working on designs that can be implanted entirely in the ear, with no need for external microphones.

Contact a Hearing Aid Specialist

If you or someone you love is suffering from hearing loss, there is an impressive array of technology available that may help. To learn more about your options, contact a hearing aid professional from HearingPlanet at 1-800-432-7669.