Hearing aids and the brain: What's the connection?
I certainly am. But first, how about a quick review? At Fort Wayne Audiology The term “auditory plasticity” is sometimes used to describe the brain's capacity to change. We typically think of hearing as it relates to the ear, but sound travels along many nerve fibers and through many nuclei before reaching the auditory cortex. Along these pathways, the acoustic content of the signal (i.e., frequency, intensity, and timing information) is coded by highly organized neural systems. Even though we are typically born with the capacity to code this acoustic information, our brain—specifically the central auditory system—“changes” as a function of auditory deprivation and stimulation. It reorganizes itself throughout our lifespan according to the auditory input that it receives. What do you mean when you talk about “deprivation” and “stimulation”? Think of the saying “Use it or lose it.” The central auditory system of a person who has been diagnosed with a conductive or sensorin...
