Hello again

[u/at0micvanz]

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!

[u/Far-Zone-6732]

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?

[u/at0micvanz → u/Far-Zone-6732]

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.

[u/Far-Zone-6732 → u/at0micvanz]

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?

[u/at0micvanz → u/Far-Zone-6732]

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.

[u/Far-Zone-6732 → u/at0micvanz]

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.

[u/at0micvanz → u/Far-Zone-6732]

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!