Cochlear Implants

Free Medical Device Case Review

Device for Hearing Loss – Use Caution

Medical science is an industry and a worldwide effort to improve the lives of millions.  Researchers around the world are constantly coming up with new treatments for diseases in the form of medications, surgical techniques, therapeutic strategies and medical devices.  One of the innovations that’s helped droves of people gain a higher quality of life is the cochlear implant.

This device has helped people either regain their hearing or even experience the sense of hearing for the first time in children who are born with a substantial impairment of their ability to notice and process sound.  These devices have shown an extremely high degree of promise in their relatively short time on the market.

However, as is the case with many innovations, there are cautionary tales that need to be communicated to the general public in regards to these implants.  Below is a brief look at the product at issue and the underlying issue that’s causing the problem with so many people around the country.

What is a Cochlear Implant device?

The product in question is a Cochlear Implant device that’s primarily used in profoundly deaf or extremely hard-of-hearing patients.  These implants are placed inside of the ear, and they have been used on patients of all ages.  They have shown to successfully re-open the ear’s mechanisms that process sound waves, and until recently, no known problems have been associated with these devices other than complications during their implantation. 

The Risk of Streptococcus pneumonia:

The problem with these implants is not necessarily the product structure itself, but rather with a tendency to lead to what many would consider unrelated problems.  Basically, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that patients, and children in particular, face a highly increased risk of developing bacterial meningitis that’s caused by Streptococcus pneumonia.  Within the past year, two children under the age of 12 have died as a result of this issue.

The Solution - pneumococcal vaccinations
The best way to protect patients from this condition is to make sure that he or she is fully immunized against this disease.  The CDC recommends that all patients who are about to receive this implant complete the pneumococcal vaccinations.  Unfortunately, neither of the children who died as a result of this issue were fully immunized. 

Your Next Step
If you or someone you love has suffered as a result of this problem, you do have legal rights to evaluate and consider.  Contact a defective medical device attorney immediately to schedule an initial consultation.

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