Cochlear Implants: How well do they work at an older age?

Not new to hearing loss but contemplating a cochlear implant. I’m struggling mentally with moving forward. First I see a CI as the “final option” in my hearing loss journey. I’m 65 and been struggling and wearing hearing aids for 25 years. What if it doesn’t work? What are my options then? It’s my understanding that I would essentially be deaf and frankly, that scares me. Do I continue to seriously struggle or take the plunge? My rational mind tells me my concerns are overblown. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

cmkellner23 - Fortunately, I think your worries are needless. I used a hearing aid until my hearing went down too far and in 12/2018, got a CI. (My other ear became deaf earlier.) If my CI didn't work, I had more to lose, since I did not have another hearing ear. And yes, before the surgery, I worried as you are doing about the results. I think the sooner you get a CI the better. Rather than see the CI as your last option, I would see it as a potentially exciting option which it turned out to be for me. You do have 2 ears don't you? So you would get 1 CI at a time. Why not consult with a neurosurgeon and discuss your concerns and questions? (I did that.) I probably did that about 3 times before I was ready to leap!

Thanks. I appreciate your perspective and support. Unfortunately I too am totally deaf in my right ear. However, I really am frustrated with my hearing right now and feel like I’m missing so much. I know the CI is the way to go. I just have to get up the nerve. I am speaking to the ent dr who would perform the surgery next week. I truly do appreciate your support.

I have had a CI since 2005. IT was the best decision I could have made. I'm chiming in here to say that I had the CI done in the ear I had very little residual hearing in. I chose to do that rather than 'disturb' the ear I heard a bit better out of. Like many others, I had been told years ago that my auditory nerve was non functional. CIs have proven that not to be the case as the damage is in the cochlea. Because of that damage, the cells in the cochlea cannot transmit sound to the auditory nerve. The CI bypasses the cochlea and stimulates the auditory nerve, which is just sitting there waiting for sound it doesn't receive. It does take a while for that nerve to start managing the sound so the brain can interpret it.

I'm mentioning this because you say you have one ear that doesn't hear. That might be the ear to have the CI done on. Do discuss this with the surgeon.

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.

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.

I just received a notice from Mayo that it looks like I'm a go for CI surgery on November 12th. Indicated they would be setting me up for some preop tests plus the dreaded nasal Covid-19 test. Mouth is so much easier and less 'ouchy' than the nasal.

Does anyone have an idea what the pre operation tests will be? I had the CT done a few weeks ago - and to the amazement of family passed as I do have a brain lol. Doubts were raised when, as a child, I was found hugging and petting a mountain lion (hey, a big kitty in a cage) and swinging up onto the back of a wild black stallion (they never could figure why he let me get that close to him). Hey, my favorite book was The Black Stallion! So maybe their skepticism on the 'brain' part was partially justified.

Just filled up the panty, freezer and refrigerator. And increased the stock of Lady Gray's Temptations. That kitty probably keeps that company in the 'Black'.

I'm so excited as well as terrified and nervous. I know I'm going to have a lot of learning and adjusting in front of me but at least it gives me hope. I so want to hear latest grandson, who is almost ready to talk, to say 'Grams'!

Busy day as scheduling has started. Tomorrow I get a phone visit with Mayo. I'm supposed to have a list of all prescriptions (don't take any so that is easy) and vitamins, etc (I do take a couple of those like D3; calcium plus D). And a list of doctors, tests, surgeries in the past 3 years (had tear duct surgery in 2019) - trying to gather all those records is a pain. Then on the 10th I have a pre op visit of about 90 minutes and they decide if they want any more tests run. Plus I have to have the 'ouchy' nasal Covid-19 test.

They also set me up for post op visit and activation and programing. Looks like I will be very busy for the rest of November and into the beginning of January at least. I'm going to have to actually visit gas stations more then my every six month schedule (as you can tell I'm not into driving much).

Mayo is being very helpful and nice about answering all my questions. They obviously have a very efficient system setup. But getting out of the house by 4:30AM on the 12th is going to take some doing. Poor daughter Robin! Take a day off to spending it in waiting rooms and driving in the middle of the night.

One interesting thing in the instructions is not to let anyone shave my head unless the doctor okays it. Gather the razor can cause infections. So looks like I won't have a bald spot! No washing hair for a week. And I get to be lazy for a few days after the surgery (I'm so good at that). Then in about two weeks after the surgery (Dec 1) I get activated if all goes well.

@billchitwood, I'm so glad that you are in good hands at Mayo Clinic and that they are answering all your questions. Please send a big "Thank you!" to your daughter Robin for her role in making this all possible, especially getting up at dark o'clock and hanging out in waiting areas.

I know that you have official permission to be lazy post surgery. But I hope you'll continue to keep us updated about your journey, including the preparatory steps leading up to Nov 12. Gives us something to cheer about from the sidelines.

I was supposed to have a phone visit this morning (required before pro op visit) - hasn't happened yet as they called my daughter rather than me. So I'm still waiting.

I told my family that the post op instructions (I'm sure I read them correctly) instruct the family to spoil me and keep me supplied with See's dark chocolate creams.

In the meantime I helped my son and grandson load up a Uhaul - with my bad hearing it was easy to maintain that I didn't hear them when they said to stop carrying boxes. Then they warned me that once I had the cochlear implant I could no long use that excuse. But I'm good at ignoring instructions I don't want to heed.