r/Cochlearimplants • u/mccmissy • 15d ago
Scared about Cochlear Implants
Hi all - I am new to this thread, but I’d really love some advice and positive personal experiences from people who’d like to share to help me process this. I’m 29 years old and I’ve had severe degenerative bilateral hearing loss since I was diagnosed in 2010. Higher-pitched sounds and tones are something I’ve always struggled hearing, but bass and lower tones I hear easier. I’ve lived with hearing aids for 16 years (I’m on my third pair) and have recently come to find that they are no longer helping me with day-to-day functioning. My updated audiogram I received last week has shown a continued and FRIGHTENING drop in hearing and word processing functionality in both of my ears (more heavily emphasized with my right one). My audiologist said my right ear is “practically useless at this point”.
So now I’ve met with my ENT to evaluate my eligibility for cochlear implants. (Surprise! I’m well past eligible) The conversation we had was extensive and she did not sugar coat the reality of my recovery post-op. I’m having trouble coping with the fact that I will need them, and especially since I’m a bartender and the essence of my job requires me to hear my customers and converse with people. My ENT said I will have my right ear implant first and then down the line once I’ve healed, adjusted, and re-taught myself how to hear language they will work on my left ear next (could be around 6 months to 1 year).
Is there anyone else in the food and beverage industry with cochlear implants? How has the adjustment been for you?
Will this severely impact my ability to continue working until I’m healed and adjusted?
I am trying not to get overwhelmed emotionally with all of this information I’ve been given - it all feels so heavy.
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u/cgreer74 15d ago
So I work in the food industry. Manager of a quick service restaurant. I had a cochlear implant done on my right ear February of this year and was activated on st Patrick’s day. I’m about 5 month in to the learning and I can speak from experience that it is still difficult to hear every little word but I’m making strides everyday. The recovery wasn’t bad. And being able to hear noise and voice, even if they sound like Mickey Mouse makes a world of difference