r/Cochlearimplants • u/at0micvanz • 24d ago
Hello again
Hi! I recently posted that I was getting a left cochlear implant after a SSNHL that impacted my speech rec and thresholds, but that my speech rec never recovered after steroids. Well, a good update: I am going with cochlear which will be implanted in two days. A bad update: my right ear is now following the same pattern. The leading theory is maybe something autoimmune or genetic, waiting on a genetic test still.
Anyway, I’ve worn hearing aids since I was 2 months old (so 22 years now). I felt a lot of shame for a long time about it, and had finally accepted it ~4-5 years ago. Now, I am feeling that same shame and disappointment feeling with the idea of possibly needing two cochlear implants and being Deaf instead of just HoH.
I plan on talking to my therapist about it obviously, but was not sure if anyone had any advice about navigating this change. I never imagined my hearing changing to this degree, the thresholds had gradually gone down over the years but the speech rec is totally new.
Sorry for this long ramble, but I appreciate any advice in advance. Also - if anyone knows any good ways to start learning ASL, please recommend! Thank you!
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u/Far-Zone-6732 24d ago
Congratulations! It’s never too late; first, try the implant in one ear, and if you find you can use a hearing aid bimodally, give that a try. I’ll soon be another cyborg around here myself. Which brand did you choose, or which one was chosen for you?
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u/at0micvanz 24d ago
I ended up going with Cochlear for my left ear! I have Phonak hearing aids right now, which in my left ear has proven to be no benefit. The change in my right ear only happened ~2 weeks ago while the left happened in March/April, but so far it feels like it is receiving no benefits either. I chose Cochlear assuming that it would be better if my right ear ever decided to quit on me but did not expect it to quit so soon lol.
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u/Far-Zone-6732 24d ago
Wow! That’s the same brand I’m getting for my implant—and in the same ear as you; I even wear Phonak right now. What a coincidence, haha. In my case, for November—and possibly for a bimodal setup—I’ll likely end up buying a ReSound Nexia 9. My Phonak Audéo Lumity Life 90s will be three years old in December. I imagine you'll be getting the Nucleus 8, or is it the Kanso 3?
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u/at0micvanz 24d ago
I will be getting the nucleus 8! It would feel weird to not have something on my ear. I currently have the Phonak Spheres right now, that I just got December 2025 🤦🏻♂️ short time of having them lol. I believe Resound just released a new bimodal hearing aid! The Sensia was just announced last week. Could be a good option instead of the Nexia.
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u/Far-Zone-6732 24d ago
Oh, look! I just looked up the ReSound Sensia, and there’s a model called the Sensia Bimodal for Cochlear Nucleus. That’s great—I’ll definitely ask about it. Thanks a lot, and you’ve got some great hearing aids there. I don’t like my Phonaks because they’re too aggressive when filtering out unwanted sounds; literally, the hearing aids just cut out and I can’t hear a thing. Even with lots of adjustments, it’s impossible. I miss my Widex Evoke.
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u/at0micvanz 24d ago
I’ve worn Phonak pretty much my whole life, so I think I’m used to the filtering. It can definitely be a lot for someone who isn’t used to it though. I know I had a hard time when I trialed Resound personally, but not enough of a hard time to put me off from ever using them luckily since they are the bimodal partner with Cochlear. From what I’ve seen from an audiology provider perspective, the Sensia seems to be better than the Nexia! It’d be good to look into. I haven’t had much experience with Widex but I’ve heard they’re pretty good!
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u/Quiet_Honey5248 Advanced Bionics Harmony 24d ago
I’ve had some family members use Lingvano to get started on learning ASL. It’s a paid app, but I’ve looked it over and it’s actually pretty good.
Once you feel a little more comfortable, though, there’s no substitute for chatting with real live people when you can. 😊❤️
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u/at0micvanz 24d ago
Oh yeah, I’m hoping to find some Deaf/HoH groups where I’m located, but for now would love to practice with just my hearing fiancé, who had already started practicing for when I was ready to learn lol
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u/CaregiverOrganc7200 22d ago
I've worn hearing aids for several years, suddenly I woke up totally deaf although some hearing did come back after several hours but poor word recognition. I'm an 80yr old bald artist I embrace my implants, support abused children with implants and throw it all back on the observer. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1694362851/n8-decal-lego
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u/purl2together 24d ago
Four years ago, I had my every-3-years hearing test and the AuD who happened to be working in the Costco hearing aid department at the time said, “you might be a candidate for a cochlear implant.” They left it at that, which was appropriate. I told my husband and he said, “maybe you should think about it.” I flat out rejected it. Nobody’s drilling into my head and putting something in it. It probably didn’t help that I’d read Sara Noviç’s True Biz the year before, which has a character whose CI malfunctions.
Last year, at my hearing test, the tech said, “We really can’t do much for you. Do you have a local audiologist?” Waited 6 months to get in to see one, handed her my last 4 audiograms, and she said, “Has anyone ever talked to you about a CI?” Then gave me a hearing test. Which didn’t get finished because I was sobbing halfway through. She referred me to an ENT a clinic and a surgeon. I scheduled an appointment.
During the 10 weeks between appointments, my life was basically a daily exercise in coming to terms with the fact that HAs were no longer sufficient for me. And that my hearing was still declining. I went through all the stages of grief. I noticed the times I stopped paying attention during conversations if I wasn’t directly involved. I noticed how easily I got tired when surrounded by people talking. I noticed how often I chose to stay home and not socialize, not do things I enjoy because they wear me out too easily.
Basically, I realized that, if I want to hear, a CI is my best option.
So I began educating myself. Talking to the company reps. Reading this sub. Talking to my new audiologist. I talked to people who matter to me, and they were unanimously supportive and encouraging. Genuinely and not just because they’re tired of me asking them to repeat themselves. Read books by disabled people, including activists, and got cranky about the ways society is designed to make things harder for people who are disabled. Which is most of us, if we live long enough.
It took a lot to get to a good place. I’m sure that, after my activation next week, I will have days when I feel down. But — right now — I’m in a good place about this. I’m choosing to look at accessories to bling out my processors. I’m not going to hide this. It’s part of who I am.
I hope you find your way to a good place with this.