aid for the disabled

Tue Dec 14, 2004 2:28 am by kimk

ok, mum has a friend who's son (20+) was born deaf, something like a hereditary cause. he is totally and absolutely deaf from what i hear. the doctors issued him a 'hearing-aid' or some such device that would let him hear sounds, but very faintly. he didn't want to wear it cause its... 'socially degrading' or if anyone can come up with a better term, please.

the mother of the unfortunate son says that she has come across a newpaper article before, that mentioned a device, inserted into the ear, by surgery or something, that could allow a totally deaf person to hear again. but she's lost the article. i've tried some places, like WHO for instance, but never having been medically literate, i dont know where else i can find help. so i turn to you lot

what i've written is all i know about the guy. i belive Recusant knows quite a bit of medical stuff, along with another forum member whose name escapes me atm. any help would be appreciated.

Tue Dec 14, 2004 2:34 am by Arania

Ive heard about those, from what i can tell, they insert Neural information directcly into the brain from a receptor. The sound isnt 100% quality though, its distorted, but with training, it becomes recognisable.
Original trials were originally done about 5-3 years ago, they were on a kids news show, and i found it quite interesting at the time...
Hope that helps

Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:43 am by Boscoe

From WebMd:

For patients with profound deafness, cochlear implants may provide some sound and often prove quite helpful. Though they can't restore natural hearing, cochlear implants -- tiny electrical devices that are surgically implanted in the part of the inner ear called the cochlea -- produce hearing sensations in the ear.

I think this is what you're referring to.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
The Next Thing I Say To You Will Be True
The Last Thing I Said Was False

Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:51 am by kimk

very possible, thanks alot boscoe. i'll try look into it. it'd be great if anyone finds contacts to hospitals in south east asia (malaysia would be best) where they offer this treatment.

Tue Dec 14, 2004 5:48 am by Locutov

Aye, the Cochlear Implant or CI, is essentially a receiver implanted into the inner ear, near that snail-like thingy (forgot the english name) that bypasses it, and sends certifiable signals to the brain, although the technology isn't as advanced that the guy will hear the full spectrum of sounds, the implant can only mimic certain sounds, not all. The implant goes outward, to a little magnetic receiver, on the skull, which is directed to a hearing aid as usual, the hearing aid, picks up the signals, sends them to the magnetic transmitter, which sends them to the receiver. Its a very cunning device, and its exopenisive last I heard.

How do I know this?? I used to go to a school for the hearing disabled and dyslexic. Where I learned all this.

Tue Dec 14, 2004 6:42 am by kimk

apparently he doesn't like people looking at him like he were mental, with the hearing aid box on his waist.

what he's looking for is that surgical implant thing that solves all problems

edit: in essence, the miracle cure

Edited by - kimk on 12/14/2004 6:42:41 AM

Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:11 pm by The Shroud (lurking)

why not have it take in the sounds and then send the patterns to the brain instead of mimicing them

Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:32 pm by freighter fighter

ever considered that its too technical at the moment

Tue Dec 14, 2004 2:38 pm by Locutov

@Chief,

Because that simply wouldn't help, all youd hear would be a background rush, that snaillike thingy codes the sounds you "hear" and sends that code to the specific area in the brain, which decode it, so you hear the sound you are actually hearing, compare it with computers if youd like, youd have the snaillike thingy as a sort of Compression program, Input comes in, is compressed and coded, and unzipped in the brain to its original status.

Tue Dec 14, 2004 2:57 pm by J Dawg

Thos implants are medical miracles, for lack of a better term. A close family friend of ours uses one, and it also allowed American radio host Rush Limbaugh to recover his hearing in an extremely short period of time.

Wed Dec 15, 2004 1:01 pm by Accushot

AFAIK, the implant can't help those who are 100% nerve deaf (as opposed to sensorineural hearing loss). Most people suffer hearing loss as a result of defects in the cochlea (snail-like-thing

), it's much rarer for people to become deaf due to nerve defects.

I think the reason is that the implant stimulates the remaining nerve cells, either way it's a great development.

Wed Dec 15, 2004 1:05 pm by The Shroud (lurking)

mm okay mabey once it;s develped they can use it in dads ear

Wed Dec 15, 2004 7:00 pm by kimk

he just can't hear anything significant. he used the hearing aid once i think, and managed to hear some faint stuff. so hes not 100% nerve deaf.

Wed Dec 15, 2004 7:42 pm by DeathSpike

Answer to the technological problem, I think microphones are d*** advanced enough, as well as audio players, Them doctors can work out a way.

Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:40 pm by J Dawg

Once of my teachers showed me a news article today from the local paper today. I didn't read it closely, but apparently the doctors have hooked up a computer to the brain of a man with epilepsy and he can now manipulate the computer (i.e. move the cursor across the screen) by thinking about it... freaky.

Important Message

You are browsing the archived Lancers Reactor forums. You cannot register or login.
The content may be outdated and links may not be functional.

To get the latest in Freelancer news, mods, modding and downloads, go to
The-Starport