hearing loss. It is a device designed to be implanted in the middle ear for bypassing external ear, tympanum & a portion of the trio bones making up the middle ear’s ossicles.

Adults eighteen years or more having moderate to acute hearing loss who seek a totally obscured answer to their problem are targeted candidates for Carina Fully Implantable Hearing Device. Disparate to traditionally used hearing aids that are directing sounds post-amplifying to the drum, the Carina can bypass the external ear & in its place be making contact directly with the middle ear make-up, thus permitting sound amplification in a more innate manner by improving the vibrations of ossicular chain & conveying the augmented sounds via a straight course to the snail-shaped tube, cochlea.

It is strongly advised that people who are deciding upon using the Carina must ideally have some experience with hearing aid. Also the Carina is devised for grown-ups having medium to acute hearing loss that are dissatisfied with or seek a substitute to hearing aid. Several people experiencing infection or severe irritations of the auditory canal that could not use hearing aid might also be benefited by opting for the Carina.

Otologics is the developer, manufacturer & responsible for implantation of middle ear implants since the last 7 years. The Carina has cleared meticulous European studies & bears the CE-marking. Scientific studies are ongoing in the U.S.

Carina vs. conventional Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are to be donned in the auditory canal devised for detecting sound from the surroundings & amplifying them as per the auditory requirements of individuals which is then passed on to the ear drum which causes its inward-outward movement & stimulating middle ear ossicles. The absence of parts in Carina which need direct insertion into the auditory canal leaves it open and proffers a rather innate & straightforward path of conveying sounds to the cochlea.

Carina is lesser restricting as compared to hearing aids and undetectable which is well-matched with active lifestyles.

Downsides of hearing aids

Occlusion effect is a prevalent bother to those who wear hearing aids wherein their voices would be sounding hollow as though emanating from the base of barrels. In majority of the individuals mild-ranging occlusion is experienced when suffering from colds wherein plugging up of the ear occurs making their voices sounding more loud and non-natural.

Hearing aids at times even produce feedback which is high-pitch screeching/ whistle sounds occurring when sounds already augmented via the hearing aids leak from the auditory canal back to the microphones of the hearing aids. This could arise due to incorrect positioning of hearing aids or when they are not fitting in a secure manner in the auditory canal for maintaining a total sealing which creates undesirable gap amid the hearing aid & auditory canal.

Carina vs. Cochlear Implant

Cochlear implant needs implantation of an electrode in the cochlea of the patient which would then stimulate the auditory nerve in a direct manner through electric stimulation. Following electrode insertion in the cochlea, the regular inner ear functioning (receive & process) innate sounds would be limited.

While the Carina offers mechanical stimulus directly to the cochlea though without the need to invade or open the inner ear. Cochlear implants patients would require learning how to interpret electrical stimulation that represent sound whereas in case of Carina the patient would be offered innate sound which doesn’t need any learning.

Carina – Components & Manner of Working

The Carina fully implantable Hearing device has trio components – a pod housing the electronic, mid-ear transducer and microphone whose implantation is done subdermally underneath the ear skin.

Microphone would be picking up the sounds, processing them & sending it to the mid-ear transducer which has a motor driving a tip which makes contact with the middle ear components. Tip movements against the inner make-up would cause the mid ear bone in moving, similar to sound wave causing drum vibration & moving bone make-up of inner ear. Sound processing from this stage onwards is similar to when one hears usually.

During sound-signalling caused activation, the Carina’s tip would move in an in-&-out manner for vibrating ossicles (around one to two micrometer).

The Carina is devised for improving communication & enhancing quality of existence though it wouldn’t be restoring the person’s hearing to a totally innate, non-aided status. It is crucial to bear in mind that outcomes differ & a number of people might experience limited gains.

After implantation of Carina, one does not have to restrict any everyday activities though scenarios like direct contact-sports, some precautionary measures must be taken. Any activity that involves the head being hit must be evaded. In other situations, it might be apt to don headgears for added shielding. Participating in contact-less sport like golfing, sprinting or tennis is allowed after Carina implantation.