Cochlear Implants for Senior Hearing Loss - Watch WebMD Video

Skip to content

Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Medical Dictionary

Find us on:

WebMD Home

50+: Live Better, Longer

Healthy Seniors Video

WebMD video

Channel: Aging Gracefully

Now Playing: Cochlear Implants for Seniors

Close

Cochlear Implants for Seniors

Reviewed By: Louise Chang,

SOURCES: 2009 Medical Reference from Medstar Television. Jung Kim, MD, Anesthesiologist, NYU School of Medicine, New York. Anil Lalwani, M.., Otolaryngologist, NYU School of Medicine, New York.

© 1999-2011 Medstar Television

For a better viewing experience you may wish to adjust the size and quality of your video stream:

High
Medium
Low

Apply

||

00:00/00:00

mute

CC light band

about this video send to a friend

rate this video

Narrator:

Cochlear implants are electronic devices that can actually help kids born deaf to hear.

Chatter.

Narrator:

But now they can also turn on sound for seniors with age-related hearing loss.

Roger Kane:

I was able to hear birds singing for the first time in many, many years and that was a very dramatic thing.

Narrator:

Roger Kane, a 73-year-old retired pediatrician, opted for a cochlear implant after his hearing aids lost their zing.

Roger Kane:

My hearing became increasingly poorer and they were decreasingly effective.

Narrator:

There are many seniors like him, but doctors often hesitate to refer them for the implants because of the surgery.

Anil Lalwani, M.D.:

There's this perception that the elderly are too frail. They can't undergo anesthesia, because they'll have complications where there's a heart attack or they'll die.

Narrator:

That's so not true say researchers at New York University School of Medicine. In a recent study, they found that most elderly patients handle anesthesia just fine.

Jung Kim, M.D.:

We found that, in general, the age didn't seem to be a factor in terms of complications inter-op or post-operative.

Narrator:

Pre-existing health problems are a bigger concern, but the findings suggest fewer of today's elderly have them.

Jung Kim, M.D.:

They're actually in good shape. And many of them have their health conditions well-controlled and they're living longer. They're more active, more energetic.

Narrator:

So it pays to stay in shape because, unlike hearing aids that make sound louder, cochlear implants make it clearer, more understandable.

Anil Lalwani, M.D.:

What it does is directly stimulates the hearing nerve. It bypasses the ear canal, the ear drum, the three hearing bones and most importantly bypasses the hair cells.

Narrator:

Hearing aids rely on those hair cells. Problem is, in age-related hearing loss, most are damaged.

Anil Lalwani, M.D.:

When you hear the beeps just raise your hand.

Narrator:

For Roger, a cochlear implant has been a sound investment.

Roger Kane:

I didn't believe I'd be able to hear anywhere as near as well with that ear as I've been able to.

Narrator:

And more good news. The device and the surgical procedure are covered by medicare. For WebMD, I'm Damon Meharg.

My Playlist: (empty)

1 - 3 of

Related Articles

Healthy Aging Newsletter

Sign Up

Search Videos

The Recipe for Success.

Get tips on healthy cooking for a healthier you!

Browse by Topic Most Viewed Explore More Videos Search Results

WebMD’s Weekly Top Viewed Videos

Back Pain Test

Exercise for Better Sex

Vinegar for Diabetes

Drink Your Way To Weight Loss

Pre-Diabetes

Gallbladder Basics

Weight Loss Secret Weapon

IBS Trigger Foods

Does Porn Hurt a Relationship?

Male Orgasms: How They Change

Cholesterol-Busting Exercise

What's Your Sleep Personality?

Herpes Vaccine Study

Truth about Passing Gas

Are You Using a Condom Correctly?

Snoring Cure

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Diarrhea Causes and Treatments

Acupuncture for Back Pain

Common Constipation Treatments

Dirty Truth About Hand Washing

4-D Ultrasound

ED Exercise

Sex Advice for Single Women

Cholesterol Guidelines

Diagnosing Yeast Infections

Truth About Coffee

Healing Heel Pain

Snacks for Diabetics

Best Butt Exercises

Pregnancy and Vitamin D

Best Back Exercises

Minority Skin Problems

Love Scents

Vaporizing the Signs of HPV

Soy for High Blood Pressure

What is Fecal Incontinence?

Sudden Neck Pain

Identifying Early Knee Osteoarthritis

Cardio or Weights?

Stress and Digestive Problems

What is IBS?

When Dizzy Equals Danger

What Is Normal Vaginal Discharge?

Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy

Battling Bladder Infections

Diagnosing Back Pain

Foods That Trigger Migraines

Truth About Shampoo and Conditioner

Vitamin D Deficiency

1 - 10 of 50

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Featured Videos

Staff Picks

Explore More Videos

Ask the Pharmacist

Allergy TV

How to Prepare Veggies

Pets Community TV

Ask the Dentist

America Asks WebMD

Healthy Skin TV

Ask the Dermatologist

Healthy Aging TV

Rheumatoid Arthritis TV

1 - 10 of 10

Search Results for: "search term" ( videos found)

Search Videos

To perform a video search, please enter a term in the search box located to the right of the video player above.

of

Transcript Print this transcript

Not Available.

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

In-depth coverage:

Is Your Psoriasis Treatment on Target?|Your Guide to a Healthy Mouth|Rheumatoid Arthritis Health Check| Teen Girls and Puberty|Diabetes and Your Body

Find us on:

We're updating our privacy policy.

URAC: Accredited Health Web Site

TRUSTe online privacy certification

HonCode: Health on the Net Foundation

About WebMD|Terms of Use|Privacy Policy|Sponsor Policy|Site Map|Careers| Contact Us

Advertise With Us|WebMD Corporate|Medscape Reference|eMedicineHealth|RxList|Medscape|MedicineNet|BootsWebMD

First Aid|WebMD the Magazine|WebMD Health Record|WebMD Mobile|Newsletters

©2005-2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.