# What was attached to this guy's head (medical)?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-attached-to-this-guys-head-medical/759832>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 13, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-attached-to-this-guys-head-medical/759832 "2016-07-13T18:57:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-attached-to-this-guys-head-medical/759832/1 "2016-07-13T18:57:44Z")

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An older fella gave a tour the other day for the Park Service. He had hearing aids in both ears, worn externally. The one on the right had what looked to be a wire coming off of it, which was attached to a disc about 1" in diameter, which in turn appeared to be actually attached to his head, up and slightly toward the back of his head. Curiosity makes me ask what that might be: something to do with his balance?

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**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-attached-to-this-guys-head-medical/759832/2 "2016-07-13T19:03:43Z")

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[Cochlear impant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_implant)

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**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-attached-to-this-guys-head-medical/759832/3 "2016-07-13T19:13:30Z")

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This. They’re getting quite common.

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**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-attached-to-this-guys-head-medical/759832/4 "2016-07-13T19:40:32Z")

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> [@Pasta](#):
>
> [Cochlear impant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_implant)

Obviously, “impant” –\> “implant”

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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-attached-to-this-guys-head-medical/759832/5 "2016-07-13T19:50:49Z")

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> [@Pasta](#):
>
> Obviously, “impant” –\> “implant”

The cord is excessively long and the placement uncomfortable for the Cochlear In-Pants.

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**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-attached-to-this-guys-head-medical/759832/6 "2016-07-13T20:11:17Z")

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> [@Atamasama](#):
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> The cord is excessively long and the placement uncomfortable for the Cochlear In-Pants.

Not to mention the potential noise interference.

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**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-attached-to-this-guys-head-medical/759832/7 "2016-07-13T20:26:23Z")

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> [@Atamasama](#):
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> The cord is excessively long and the placement uncomfortable for the Cochlear In-Pants.

Well, an inpant would be a very different kind of implant.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-attached-to-this-guys-head-medical/759832/8 "2016-07-13T21:21:04Z")

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> [@Pasta](#):
>
> [Cochlear impant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_implant)

Thanks. I’d never seen one before.