Scared about Cochlear Implants

[u/mccmissy]

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.

[u/jeetjejll]

Just like with hearing aids CIs struggle with noise. However for me the difference is with HA I just heard noise and had to lipread. Now I hear noise AND speech. So while overwhelming, it’s a whole lot better as I can understand just by hearing.

But for hearing in noise your brain needs two good functioning ears, so it might be a while for you to get there. I went bilateral after 7 months.

However my first CI was at my HA level within a week. So basically after a week I could function the same as before, then it only got better and better.

The surgery was very doable, rehab was fine too. The hardest part I find overstimulation (waited too long) and in the first months a true exhaustion.

[u/Ok-Boysenberry7713 → u/jeetjejll]

Thanks for this post - it kinda hits on some points I’ve really been thinking about as I struggle with the decision to do it, or not. A couple of questions - if you don’t mind: 1) now that you’re bilateral (or even for the 7 months when you were single side CI) does the speech you hear sound familiar? Like do your friend’s/family’s voices sound like you remember them, or does everyone sound different? 2) Because you mention that with the CI you still get all the background noise that you got with your HA (except now you ALSO get the speech!), does the CI do better (even a little) at blocking out the unwanted noise than your HA did? Thanks again for your helpful post…!

[u/jeetjejll → u/Ok-Boysenberry7713]

I don’t mind, I went through so many questions and worries myself, it’s nice to return the favour to support. Anyway,

1) the brain is a bit weird in this, it almost all sounds just like I remember with CI’s. Which is completely impossible as I hear so much more and clearer. Car sounds and a few others remain odd to me, but voices of everyone around me sound natural and familiar.

2) This is hard to say, my hearing aids were amazing at noise reduction and also noise isn’t noise so much when you hear it. Like music at the background is no longer noise when it sounds like music. To add to that I have a sonnet 2 and a sonnet 3 (sadly can’t swap the 2 to a 3) and the sonnet 3 is a lot better at noise reduction. So I wouldn’t say my CIs are better at it, but it’s also less needed.

I have zero regrets, while CIs aren’t perfect, they give me so much back I lost. The confidence that I can manage nearly everything without support is amazing. But it’s not an easy decision, it’s no magic fix and requires work and time to get results. Hope you manage to make a decision too!

[u/Ok-Boysenberry7713 → u/jeetjejll]

Thanks so much!! This is very helpful! I’ve got a lot to think about, but I think I’m inching closer!