Hearing aids in but still not understanding words

It is important to understand that cochlear implants stimulate a 'functional' auditory nerve, not a damaged one. Cochlear implants bypass the cochlea where hair cells that determine sounds have been damaged. The electrodes are able to stimulate that nerve that sends sound signals to the brain for interpretation. For generations, the belief was that when hearing loss occurred, the auditory nerve was 'dead' or damaged. When researchers figured out that was not the case, it led to the possibility of and development of cochlea implants.

The auditory nerve can be damaged. In that event a CI will not work. Prior to receiving a CI, it is typical to have an MRI and brain scan to determine whether or not there is something that would make a CI ineffective. Acoustic neuroma tumors can be the cause. In most cases they affect one ear, not both. That causes single sided deafness. There are remedies for SSD that involve implanted devices. That is a whole different topic.

Most medical professionals who are practicing today do not use the term 'nerve deafness'. They understand that assumption is no longer true. However, because many people were told, years ago, that they had nerve deafness, this is still a common statement.

If anyone is considering a cochlear implant, it would be wise to be tested and examined in the audiology department of a university that is doing research in this area. There are many of them.

@daveshaw I agree with you on AARP. Hearing loss is found in 1 in 3 ages 65+ and 1 in 2 at 75+. AARP will do an article during National HL Month but that's it. They should have an article at least 4 times a year - How To Know You Have HL; Technology That Can Help You With HL; OTC; Mental Health and HL. Makes no sense.

My CI activation got delayed - got COVID the other day so have to wait. I've heard people get to 90% Word Recognition in 3 months and others it took a year. My understanding is it depends on how long you have been without hearing in that ear and also how dedicated you are on a daily basis doing the Aural Rehab exercises. I am prepared to do at least 2 hours a day. Can't wait to start!

We have got to get the millions of people suffering from hearing loss to speak up. There are millions of us that for whatever reason choose to remain silent.
AARP is the only organization that can help us and yet for some reason they are not aggressively advocating for us.
Hopefully people get this message and start pushing for the latest technology that is out there. The fact that Medicare does not pay for hearing aids is inexcusable. Hopefully everyone on this sites contacts AARP along their Senators and congressional representatives. We have the numbers and we vote. It is time to use that leverage.
The stigma over mental health has been lifted because people like Simone Biles and Michael Phelps have had the courage to speak up along with countless other celebrities and everyday people.
When are we going to let our millions of voices be heard. Only then will things begin to change and we will see the end of overpriced hearing aids and greater progress with CI technology.

@daveshaw The initial Inflation Recovery Act (IRA) 3 years ago included vision and hearing aid coverage under Medicare. It was a bipartisan issue. It was included because of the efforts of a lot of hearing advocates, in particular Lise Hamlin, the Policy Director of HLAA, who had been advocating for it for years. Unfortunately, in order to pass the legislation, the cost of the IRA had to be reduced and hearing coverage got cut out of the final law. There have been plenty of hearing advocates pushing for this issue for years. But Politics keeps getting in the way. Why AARP has not put its power behind the issue is beyond me. The other place this issue can be used is in the individual states. A few have gotten coverage for hearing aids of some amount, but not full coverage as I understand. In my state (PA) there has been bipartisan legislation for over a year to get coverage but it has trouble getting out of Committee, despite support from HLAA and the PA Academy of Audiologists. It is beyond me how hearing coverage is not considered medically necessary. It is one of our 5 senses that we all rely on to live fulfilling lives.

I have also been disappointed with the several audiologists I have seen and am glad you found a good one, and to learn they really do exist. I am interested in CI, but very hesitant.
Thanks for the reminder to look at university options.

Hi,
Where are you located?

I am in Denver and I plan on joining my local chapter for the meeting next month.
Unfortunately that is not enough. We have got to get AARP behind us like they are behind Social Security and Medicare. Make the Senate bring providing seniors with adequate and affordable help with hearing loss up for a vote. Let’s see where each of our senators stand on this issue.
We are talking about millions of seniors that vote and as we all know politicians only listen to those who make their voices heard.
Hopefully everyone reading this post will contact their senators and congressional leaders and most importantly contact AARP. For those of us with severe hearing loss this could be life changing.
Let’s push back the stigma and let our voices be heard. What are all of you waiting for. If not now when?

I am in Denver and I plan on joining my local chapter for the meeting next month.
Unfortunately that is not enough. We have got to get AARP behind us like they are behind Social Security and Medicare. Make the Senate bring providing seniors with adequate and affordable help with hearing loss up for a vote. Let’s see where each of our senators stand on this issue.
We are talking about millions of seniors that vote and as we all know politicians only listen to those who make their voices heard.
Hopefully everyone reading this post will contact their senators and congressional leaders and most importantly contact AARP. For those of us with severe hearing loss this could be life changing.
Let’s push back the stigma and let our voices be heard. What are all of you waiting for. If not now when?

@daveshaw The initial Inflation Recovery Act (IRA) 3 years ago included vision and hearing aid coverage under Medicare. It was a bipartisan issue. It was included because of the efforts of a lot of hearing advocates, in particular Lise Hamlin, the Policy Director of HLAA, who had been advocating for it for years. Unfortunately, in order to pass the legislation, the cost of the IRA had to be reduced and hearing coverage got cut out of the final law. There have been plenty of hearing advocates pushing for this issue for years. But Politics keeps getting in the way. Why AARP has not put its power behind the issue is beyond me. The other place this issue can be used is in the individual states. A few have gotten coverage for hearing aids of some amount, but not full coverage as I understand. In my state (PA) there has been bipartisan legislation for over a year to get coverage but it has trouble getting out of Committee, despite support from HLAA and the PA Academy of Audiologists. It is beyond me how hearing coverage is not considered medically necessary. It is one of our 5 senses that we all rely on to live fulfilling lives.