A cochlear implant is a medical option for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. They can be used effectively by both prelingually and postlingually deafened children and adults. By stimulating the sensory cells in the cochlea, cochlear implants allow recipients to perceive environmental sounds and speech.
A Cochlear Implant is only adequate for individuals with a severe or profound hearing loss, in which the cochlea is involved.
If conventional hearing aids in individuals with severe or profound hearing loss has not rendered sufficient understanding of the spoken language, they will be considered a possible candidate for a cochlear implant.
Cochlear Implants are useful in children and adults, wether the deafness is from birth or if it occurred afterwards.
It is not possible to predict who will benefit from a cochlear implant, but in general it is a known fact that: the longer the period of severe or profound deafness exist, the benefits will decrease.
Children who are born deaf, will obtain greater benefit if the cochlear implant is performed as early as possible between a year to three years.
The Cochlear Implant Institute was founded by Dr. Cynthia Guy to coordinate and integrate the services of a multidisciplinary team in the identification, surgical planning, and the respective rehabilitation of their patients with auditory problems.
The team consists of qualified professionals in various fields: otorhinolaryngologists, audiologists, psychologists and social workers.
Additionally the IICSA relies on the experience, the know-how and the support of the maker of cochlear implants Medel, which has formally made on agreement to assist in the development of an international community linked to auditory problems to be recognized in Latin America.
The Institute's affiliation with the City of Knowledge and its alliance with Medel strives to utilize this great potential to consolidate an international program unique in its class not only in Panama, but in the entire region of Latin America.
MISSION Introduce and consolidate in Panama, the interdisciplinary technological and professional expertise to perform cochlear implants and the corresponding post-implantation therapy, in order to provide the sense of sound to deaf infants and children, and to adults suffering from severe or profound hearing loss.
VISION: Establish ourselves in the Panamanian and Central American communities as a recognized center of excellence in the attention to the hearing impaired, employing state of the art technology and the corresponding specialized post-implantation therapy.
The Advantages of Cochlear Implants:
Everyday sounds: Nearly all cochlear implant users hear environmental sounds, helping them keep in touch with their surroundings, for example traffic sounds, doorbells, alarms, etc. Most recipients also report hearing a wide variety of everyday sounds, such as birds chirping, leaves rustling, water trickling, and many more.
Speech understanding: The majority of cochlear implant users hear speech sounds with their cochlear implant. With an effective follow-up program, speech understanding is learned and gradually becomes easier with time and experience. Many cochlear implant recipients go on to understand speech very well, without relying on lip-reading. Improved speaking line By hearing other people speak as well as their own voice, cochlear implant users can make great improvements in their speaking abilities.
Telephone use: Many cochlear implant users successfully use standard and mobile phones.
Listening to music: Today\rquote s technology has made it possible for many cochlear implant users to enjoy listening to music. As with speech understanding, music listening skills can be developed and improved through practice
A cochlear implant is a medical option for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. They can be used effectively by both prelingually and postlingually deafened children and adults. By stimulating the sensory cells in the cochlea, cochlear implants allow recipients to perceive environmental sounds and speech.