Rehabilitation of deafness (耳聾的治療與康復)

Early diagnosis of the deafness is the key to successful auditory rehabilitation, particularly in children with congenital deafness. With early intensive auditory training most children will develop the ability to communicate orally. Lip reading is an adjunct to oral communication. Manual communication, as in sign language, may be applicable for severely deaf people.


Hearing aids
Hearing aids amplify and modify incoming sound. The most modern aids use digital technology to tailor the performance of the aid to individual patterns of hearing loss. The postaural aid is mostly widely used, although body-worn and in the ear alternatives exist. Aids to communication such as electromagnetic loop systems can enable hearing aids in function in a group environment such as a theatre or lecture hall.


Cochlear implants
Direct electrical stimulation of the cochlear portion of the inner ear in response to incoming sound waves has been investigated in the development of cochlear implants. Electrodes are either placed on the surface of the cochlear(extracochlear) or inserted into the lumen of the cochlear(intracochlear).

The use of cochlear implantation is now established in patients with both acquired and congenital severe sensorineural hearing loss. Profoundly deaf children ideally have implants fitted before primary school age.