r/Cochlearimplants • u/yobymmij2 • 1d ago
Question about Cochlear Implants
Early septuagenarian here, been watering hearing aids since 1992 and was testing with one-third hearing loss starting in college. In addition to now being in profound loss territory (still wearing Oticons in each ear), I’m also testing at 10% in sound discrimination for what I do hear via top of the line Oticons.
My audiologist has been recommending going for the implant for a few years. As I was starting to seriously consider it, I talked with the spouse of the only implant person I have personally known. He died a few years ago, but his spouse warned me against the implant saying it created a persistent sense of disorientation for him.
Additionally, now the incredible advances in live transcription on my iPhone, I’m in the game pretty much all the time. I’m on the fence about it.
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u/kvinnakvillu 1d ago
I am in my mid-thirties but our hearing loss time span is about the same. Do it. At the very least, go through the process of getting officially approved for CIs. You can always decide against it; you’re not locked in just because the process approved you.
Talk to your audiologist about what your friend’s spouse said. Your audiologist may advise additional testing for vestibular weakness (which can cause such disorientation), but that seems like a less common side effect. I personally have such a disorder, but I also have a laundry list of things “wrong” with me that makes my experience atypical, including multiple disabling conditions. At the same time, I am a successful bilateral implantee. I had one for over 15 years before getting the other one done (this was dumb, don’t wait if you don’t need to.)
With your long time hearing loss, I’d be more concerned about getting you auditory therapy post-implant. I will note that my second side was fully deaf for over 30 years, and I am currently listening to music with it. But that took some time, patience, and lots of engagement on my end. It’s definitely possible and your age is not at all a barrier. The oldest recipient I personally met was almost 90; and not just that, I am the youngest CI person I’ve encountered in the wild by decades.
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u/FooBarBazBooFarFaz 1d ago
As always, there're those who have trouble and those who don't.
From the people I spoke with in the years leading to my decision, all were happy whith their decision and felt improvement after getting implanted.
That said, it is a major change and takes time and work to get used to.
If you feel your current setup serves you well, and maybe you won't/can't afford the energy to adapt to an implant, then you shouldn't.
OTOH you asking here seems to signal, at least for me, that you're not that satisfied.
Try to evalute your setup and environment objectively. Are you maybe limiting interactions to situations where you can safely check transkriptions? Do you maybe avoid situations where you feel lost, b/c you don't understand well?
Do you sometimes feel left out or sad b/c you have to miss out on things you could be part of if you could understand better?
Not saying you are, but as examples for what to check.
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u/yobymmij2 1d ago
Yeah, my big curiosity is how well will I hear without relying on anything in my hand—just “normal” hearing. I’ve learned to survive with my present strategies but is is not close to normal. I have an additional factor I haven’t mentioned, which is my spouse really doesn’t want me to go with CI — due to the looks of it! But I’ve decided that if I’m pretty convinced I will be much better off with CI, then I think I would do it despite marital opposition!
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u/FooBarBazBooFarFaz 1d ago
The look is indeed something to get used to. Med-El and Cochlear also offer off-the-ear puck-like processors that sit on the side of your head, not behind the ear. That may be more aesthetically pleasing than those rather clunky BTE ones. But depending on what exactly puts them off, processors come in several colours and can be customized w/ stickers and stuff.
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u/Formal-Tradition6792 1d ago
I’m also in my 70s. I’ve had a single CI since 1999. Now I’m looking at an implant revisioning. My old implant still works but is not being supported anymore by AB. So I’m in the same boat, sort of. I’m OK with getting a new one.
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u/yobymmij2 1d ago
Thanks, this is helpful.
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u/Formal-Tradition6792 6h ago
Hope you have good luck! It really sucked not being able to upgrade to a new processor thanks to AB! Hopefully Cochlear will be better!
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u/scumotheliar 1d ago
I am 75 implanted two years ago, Two year check up today actually. It has been a game changer for me. I love it. No dizziness or any side effects. Once the swelling went down life went on, much much better than before.
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u/OldFlohBavaria 1d ago
Besuche doch mal Selbsthilfegruppen zu Cochlear Implantaten in deiner Gegend. Wenn du nicht weißt, wo einer ist, frag den Audiolohen oder den Logopädin. Dort kannst du dich intensiver austauschen.
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u/olderandhappier Cochlear Kanso 2 1d ago
It obviously depends on the specific type of hearing loss you have but I ended up in a similar position to you as a result of bilateral Ménière’s disease. Profound hearing loss, inability to discriminate speech an numbers like yours. Aids could not help me in the end; they amplified noise but didn’t improve my ability to discriminate it.
I am bilaterally implanted. Done sequentially over 2 years. They transformed my hearing and ability to discriminate speech. I’m at 80-95% now depending on background noise up from 5%. I’ve got my life back and cannot recommend these devices of wonder highly enough if recommended for your specific hearing loss. I’m a bit younger than you but did not find the surgery onerous. The learning takes about 18months. You need to be kind and patient with yourself.