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Cochlear Implants: How well do they work at an older age?
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Aug 7, 2022 | Replies (143)Comment receiving replies
My understanding is they try to pick the worse ear to do the implant in unless there is a reason it wouldn't work on that ear. If the ear has little hearing left it is almost 'what do I have to lose!' as you will still have a hearing aid in the 'good/better' ear? My right ear is my 'worse' and that is the one the surgeon is considering for the implant. At the moment the HAs seem to help half the time or less. Last night son and DIL were over and they had to almost shout into my ear for me to hear. HAs were almost useless although had been helping earlier in the day with just husband around (although he was hard to understand as slurring words now) - but he was loud enough. Frustrating. It is a scary decision and prayers your way.
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One thing that has truly amazed me in my situation is the way my brain has acclimated to being bimodal; using both technologies. I find that if I remove the hearing aid, the CI doesn't do as well. If I remove the CI processor, the HA doesn't do well at all. I need both technologies up and running for the best results. I also am totally deaf when not using either of them. When I use only the HA I can hear sounds, but cannot understand speech. With just the CI processor, I can understand speech IF I work at it and adjust the controls a bit. It seems that the HA provides depth and volume.
My message here is that the brain is most often capable of adjusting to this new way of hearing if the person will take time to work at it.
NO question. Hearing loss is extremely frustrating. Good luck with your decision.