Communication Disorders and The Benefits of Cochlear Implants

Communication Disorders and The Benefits of Cochlear Implants

Introduction

A communication disorder causes problems in communication and is associated with speech and language. It is caused by impaired oral motor functions. The disorders can cause the inability to understand or talk. Communications disorders refer to inability to speak, that interferes with a person's achievement or quality of life. Hearing loss or deafness is also considered as communication disorder as it interferes with the person's ability to understand the speech. In children, deafness may be congenital or caused by frequent ear infections. Deafness during language development may cause language problems. Children who suffer from repeated middle or inner ear infections may develop hearing loss. It should also be noted that some of the above communication disorders can occur with people who use sign language. The inability to listen is not a communication disorder; rather it refers to inability to communicate with others. There are many types of communication disorders. Other examples of communication disorders are:

Autism spectrum disorder

Expressive language disorder

Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder

Semantic pragmatic disorder

Specific language impairment (Beer, 2012).

Discussion

Communication Disorders Related To Hearing Loss

Congenital sensorineural deafness affects children as one per 1000 live births. The early identification in children and early intervention ensures speech development. The untreated hearing loss affects schooling and employment opportunities. The neonatal hearing screening results in early detection of hearing loss and earlier intervention with respect to cochlear implantation. Normal hearing is essential for speech development and therefore early identification and treatment of hearing loss is important to get an optimal outcome.

Cochlear implantation is useful in the treatment of children with unilateral or bilateral hearing loss. It provides the only real hearing rehabilitation. Its results are much better than hearing aids. Early diagnosis, intervention, and treatment support children in achieving higher educational and occupational levels. This results in reducing the hearing disability (Beer, 2012).

Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is caused by interference in sound transmission from the outer ear to inner ear, which is known as conductive deafness, if the hearing loss is caused by damage of cochlea, the auditory nerve or brain parts involved in hearing, is known as sensorineural hearing loss. Presbycusis is the most common reason of sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by the damage of hair cells (Edwards, Hill, & Mahon, 2012).

Excessive noise, ototoxic drugs, infections, or congenital factors also cause hearing loss. Severe hearing loss in children is associated with prenatal or perinatal causes. The neonatal infections can also cause hearing loss, such as meningitis and infections of the inner ear. Congenital infections and premature birth may also cause hearing loss. Hearing loss that occurs before language development is called prelingual, and hearing loss that occurs after the language development is called postlingual. Hearing loss is not associated with mortality and morbidity. People, who are deaf use sign language and may not consider deafness to have a significant impact on their life. Children are the ideal candidates for cochlear implants, and can ...