A common hearing aid implant at surgery center facility in Maine includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Ear, nose, & throat doctor visit provider fee
First time visit
Standard
|
1 |
$140 |
Provider fee to insert conduction hearing device to temporal bone
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$1,316 |
Facility |
Surgery center fee to insert conduction hearing device to temporal bone
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$11,166 |
Imaging |
Radiology fee for CT scan of ear
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$297 |
Prescriptions |
HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN
Standard
Standard
|
30 |
$15 |
Anesthesia |
Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure
Level 3
Standard
|
1 |
$190 |
Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure
Per minute
Standard
|
284 |
$536 |
Total average cash price |
|
A common hearing aid implant at outpatient hospital facility in Maine includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Ear, nose, & throat doctor visit provider fee
First time visit
Standard
|
1 |
$140 |
Provider fee to insert conduction hearing device to temporal bone
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$1,316 |
Facility |
Outpatient Hospital fee to insert conduction hearing device to temporal bone
level 5
Standard
|
1 |
$14,049 |
Imaging |
Radiology fee for CT scan of ear
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$297 |
Prescriptions |
HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN
Standard
Standard
|
30 |
$15 |
Anesthesia |
Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure
Level 3
Standard
|
1 |
$190 |
Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure
Per minute
Standard
|
284 |
$536 |
Total average cash price |
|
A hearing implant is a hearing device that is typically implanted into the ear. These are recommended when hearing loss is so severe that hearing aids are not effective.
Hearing loss is the loss of hearing in one or both ears, ranging from mild to profound. There are many causes, and it can affect anyone at any age, but it's most common among people older than 60. There are even different types of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss involves the outer or middle ear. An example of this might be scarring of the eardrum from lots of childhood ear infections. The second type of hearing loss is sensorineural. This involves the inner ear. This type of hearing loss is usually experienced with age. People can also have a combination of the two.
The type of implant that is used depends on the type of hearing loss and how bad it is. Here are some of the most common types of hearing implants.
Bone-Anchored Hearing Systems
Bone converts sounds into vibrations that are sent directly into the inner ear via the bones in the head. Bone-anchored hearing systems bypass the outer ear and the middle ear. There are active and passive bone conduction devices. With an active device, the skin stays intact. The device has two parts: an external part (the processor) and a surgically implanted fixture placed in the bone behind the ear. There are two types of bone conduction implants. The first is a fixture that protrudes through the skin so that the processor can attach onto it. The second is fully implanted under the skin, with the processor attached using a small magnet inside the processor.
Bone-anchored hearing systems work best for people who have at least one inner ear that functions normally. They may have conductive hearing loss (their outer or middle ears do not transmit sound correctly) or complete hearing loss in one ear only.
Middle Ear Implant
A middle ear implant has two parts: an external part (the ‘processor’) and the surgically implanted internal part. The processor transmits sound to the internal part of the hearing implant. This consists of a receiver just below the skin to pick up the sound from the processor, together with the implant, which is attached to one of the bones in the middle ear, or attached near to the membrane window of the cochlea. It picks up sounds and converts them into vibrations which are sent to the middle ear and further into the inner ear.
Middle ear implants are suitable for those with a mild-moderate mixed or conductive hearing loss or a sensorineural hearing loss.
Cochlear Implant
A cochlear implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin. The implant has a microphone, which picks up sound from the environment. It also has a speech processor, which selects and arranges sounds picked up by the microphone. Next, it has a transmitter and receiver/stimulator, which receives signals from the speech processor and converts them into electric impulses. An electrode array collects the impulses from the stimulator and sends them to different regions of the auditory nerve. This allows sound vibrations to bypass damaged parts of the ear and go directly to the inner ear and the auditory nerve, and ultimately the brain.
Cochlear implants make it possible for people to hear and understand sounds even if they have damaged hair cells in the inner ear and have a severe or a profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Auditory Brainstem Implant
An auditory brainstem implant has two parts: an external part (the processor worn on the ear) and the surgically implanted internal part. A microphone on the processor picks up the sound around it, and turns it from a sound wave into an electrical signal. The processor then transmits the sound signal to the internal part of the hearing implant. This consists of a receiver just below the skin, together with the implant which is positioned within the brainstem. This means that the implant is bypassing both the cochlea and the hearing nerve, taking a short cut to the brainstem.
These are suitable for those with a severe sensorineural hearing loss, leading to near total loss of sound.
Advantages of Hearing Implants
- Improves ability to communicate with and enjoy the outside world
- Improved quality of life
- Lessened social isolation
- Decrease misunderstandings
- Decreased dropped conversations
Disadvantages (Considerations) of Hearing Implants
- Involves a surgical procedure.
- Most implants cannot fully restore hearing. They can only improve the ability to receive and process audio information.
- As with any mechanical device, there is ongoing maintenance that is involved.
- They may need to be removed for water and sports activities.
- Cosmetic implications
How long a hearing implant lasts depends on a couple of factors. The first thing is the quality of the implant material used to make the device. The better the quality of the device, the longer it will last. Some implants are permanent, others can be replaced by another device.
- In the case of cochlear implants, they are surgically implanted to last a lifetime. However, there are scenarios where the equipment fails and must be replaced. Also, as the technology for external processing continues to evolve, there will be a need to update the internal technology to be compatible with external technology.
- In the case of middle ear implants, generally the battery will need to be replaced every five years.
There are many personal stories that can be read on the internet about how hearing correction “gave me life back that I didn’t even know I was missing” or about hearing birds, running water, a car coming up from behind or children’s voices. There is joy in having in-depth conversations with loved ones, improved family relationships, and understanding conversations in noisy environments. Scientific research also shows that hearing implants are associated with statistically significant improvements in quality of life in the areas of communication, self-esteem, feelings of being a burden, and relationships to friends and family. There are also statistically significant reductions in depression and anxiety. Therefore, for most people, these benefits far outweigh any risks.
About the hearing aid implant Average Cash Prices
This procedure is most commonly performed at either a surgery center or an outpatient hospital.
Surgery centers, also known as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), are independent, licensed medical
facilities that are governed by distinct regulatory requirements compared with a hospital. Procedures
performed at an ASCs are often less expensive than when they are performed at an outpatient hospital,
but they typically offer fewer complimentary services, and may not have the full-range of support
services that a hospital provides.
Outpatient facilities are outpatient departments or clinics that may be within or next to a hospital,
but is owned and run by the affiliated hospital. These facilities can perform surgical treatments and
procedures that do not require an overnight stay. Procedures performed at an outpatient hospital are
often more expensive than when they are performed in an ambulatory surgery center, but outpatient
hospitals may offer more complimentary and support services for patients because they are connected to
the hospital system.
