Living with a cochlear implant
How they work: Cochlear implants do not cure hearing loss. Instead, a receiver turns sounds into electronic impulses that are sent to the brain, which results in changes to perceived sounds. As of December 2012, about 324,200 people worldwide had received cochlear implants, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Charged up: Every night before bed, Perry makes sure the batteries for his cochlear implant are charging because they must be changed every eight hours throughout his day. These aren't the kind you buy at a convenience store, averaging $200 or more to replace.
Staying on time: To be more comfortable, he sleeps without his cochlear implant or hearing aid. Because of this, Perry has an alarm clock that is connected to a vibrator. When the timer goes off, the vibrator shakes the front of his bed and wakes him up. He also has a vibrating watch with the same features.
Ellis L. Williams
