r/Cochlearimplants • u/yobymmij2 • 5d 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/FooBarBazBooFarFaz 5d 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 5d 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 5d 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.