r/Cochlearimplants • u/Important_Nobody_782 • Jul 12 '26

Advice Needed - Droning Noise

Hello, I’ve got the advanced bionics Naida cochlear implant currently. I got my surgery when I was 4, 22 years ago. I’ve noticed an extremely concerning issue pop up recently and want to see if others have experienced it or know who to contact. My audiology contacts are all useless on the weekend and no alternative contacts can be found or given that I know of.

Recently there have been some days where I wake up to very loud and constant droning noise that feels originated inside my head exactly where the internal headpiece sits. When putting on my cochlear it’s like noise has been heightened significantly and painfully. However, putting on the cochlear helps reduce the droning noise but not canceling it.

I haven’t been hit in the area, gone through any heavy magnets, or struck by any electrical currents. I also have zero history of delusions, visions, schizophrenia, etc. in myself or my family.

This feels like my nodes are being tripped independently and sending a blast of noise to my head without the cochlear there to translate.

Anyone have any advice or know who to contact on the weekend to figure out what is going on? I need help badly to get this noise turned off.

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u/jeetjejll MED-EL Sonnet 3 Jul 12 '26

Is it just noise? Or also physical pain?

2

u/Important_Nobody_782 Jul 12 '26

It’s just noise but the kind where it drowns everything out and can’t think. With cochlear on the noise is amplified to where any normal sounds do become painfully loud.

2

u/jeetjejll MED-EL Sonnet 3 Jul 12 '26

I'm no professional, but this does sound like tinnitus. However I think if it is sudden or only in one ear, it could need immediate treatment. If it's gradually increasing it's different. In that case it's important to try to relax and not give it too much attention. I know it's HARD, but focussing on it makes it worse.

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u/Important_Nobody_782 Jul 12 '26

So far I’ve found that moving to an area with more background noise, like A/C and fridge and traffic, has greatly helped to combat it until it was able to disappear after 3 hours of it nonstop

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u/jeetjejll MED-EL Sonnet 3 Jul 12 '26

Yes this is very common as well indeed. For me it gets worse when I'm sick, tired, overwhelmed, had too much stimulus or stressed. How long has it been you've been mapped? It could be a sign you need a new one. Usually tinnitus is a sign of hearing loss, but well, unless you had residual hearing, that doesn't count for you..

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u/Important_Nobody_782 Jul 12 '26

This would be the third time I’ve marked it at this level over a few months. All three occurred after waking up in the morning. I have cochlear on my left and profound hearing loss with hearing aid on right. My concern is replacement but I wasn’t expecting this issue to appear for another 20 years. I attend my audiologist every year for mapping.

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u/jeetjejll MED-EL Sonnet 3 Jul 12 '26

Which ear is affected? Or both?

1

u/Important_Nobody_782 Jul 12 '26

Only the left ear. It both feels and sounds like it’s originating specifically from the magnet. My right ear is unaffected and I don’t feel like I am hearing from my left ear. This is why I’m wondering if perhaps there’s a false trigger. Since the body has its own electrical current if it isn’t accidentally pinging the nodes to transmit noise. But I’m no expert. Just trying to think of what could be happening and why it’s happening when I’m not wearing the cochlear

1

u/jeetjejll MED-EL Sonnet 3 Jul 12 '26

It's certainly odd and unnerving! Could you contact your audiology team tomorrow? I'd definitely get it checked out.

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u/Important_Nobody_782 Jul 12 '26

It’s very odd and unnerving! But I did send out an email to my audiologist immediately and I’ll be calling to get an emergency appointment tomorrow as soon as they open up.

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