The Cochlear Implant is an artificial cochlea that has considerable promise for adults and children.
A Temporary Threshold shift is, at best, a red flag warning that the sound level in the environment is unsafe.
A recent development in the treatment of a sensory neural loss is the Cochlear Implant. In essence, this is an artificial cochlea that is connected directly to the hearing nerve.
In its present stage, is would be to the cochlea what the Model-T-Ford is to the Space Shuttle. Yet the promise of things to come is impressive.
Even in its primitive state, I have seen it help a deafened adult, whose loss was severe enough to preclude any normal face to face conversation. With an implant, he was able to talk on the telephone! The quality of the sound is poor but useful. And, of course, each year brings improvements.
For deaf children who grow up with the Cochlear Implant, the capacity to develop listening skills may bring surprising results. I foresee a future in which deaf children can be truly bi-lingual, in both speech and Sign Language.
NOTES: More information on Cochlear Implants.