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

Yes, it is true that you won't hear w/o your CI processor in most instances. However, they have advanced to where it's possible to save some residual hearing in some cases. I don't know the statistics. When I take off my processor and hearing aid I hear virtually nothing, so yes, this is an issue,, especially if you live alone. Service dogs are wonderful, but there is a lot of technology that can alert you. Some use vibrating devices under the pillow or mattress, or provided by a wrist watch. Some use strobe lights to alert them. These technologies are available as alarm clocks or alerting systems for fire alarms, door bells, baby cry, telephones, etc. Check out Diglo.com for a variety of devices available.

Saturday Joined family at park for great grandson's first birthday. You have to love Arizona in November! Talk about perfect weather. Since it was outside I had an easier time of hearing with the one 'limping along' HA. Everyone (even friends of the family) had been clued into my hearting problem so everyone really good about facing me and standing close and speaking clearly - which made life much easier. Quite a few questions about my soon to be bionic ear. Turns out that a lot of people are not aware of Cochlear Implants (including me until Robin brought it to my attention from her friend Heidi). Turns out that a lot of their friends had grandparents with hearing loss that HAs haven't helped much. The few that had heard of them thought you had to be deaf and young in order to get one.

They also commented on my 'black eye' that was turning green colored. I've been having some pain that didn't appear to have anything to do with the incision area, More jaw, neck and side of face. What I'm guessing is that it is related to the Facial Nerve Monitoring. I had small bloody area at both the edge of the mouth and right eye. From what I've read they insert needles so that the nerve can be monitored during the surgery. Since the eye area is still slightly swollen and bruised (although healing) I'm guessing that is the cause of my pain (handled easily with allowed aspirin).

In the meantime, the other night for the first time I slept on my right side! Progress!

Since I'm still not supposed to lift things over 10 pounds (until check up with doctor) I got to sit and hold Owen as he is over the 10 pound limit. I loved that assignment. And at family's request I have taken things a little easier than normal, especially since it has only been a little over a week. Giving the body a break. Which means I get to ignore the vacuum cleaner. Last Friday my husband, Bill, fell. Fortunately he landed on the ottoman and didn't break anything. He is 88 and has health issues. It was very hard not to jump in immediately and try to help him up (the blind leading the blind) but I used my head, followed doctor's orders, and figured out a safer way to get him up. Which worked. Following doctor's orders is a good thing to help a faster, better recovery time. Now if Bill would only listen about using his walker!

Wishing everyone and their family a wonderful Thanksgiving!

@awilst, it looks like your question about a possible "correlation between geting an implant and tinnitus" got lost in the discussion. Perhaps @julieo4 has some information to share about Cochlear implants causing tinnitus or worsening tinnitus or improving tinnitus.

Just was notified by Mayo that my ear mold for the Phonak hearing aid (that 'talks' to the Advanced Bionics CI) has arrived and now sitting on a shelf with my CI processor for my arrival next Wednesday (Dec 1). Hope those puppies are as excited as I am for them to get to work!

Odd shoots of pain are much lessened as I approach the two week mark from surgery. One aspirin twice a day has been sufficient to keeping it under control and lately only used one at night.

Using the phone is a major challenge with only the one working hearing aid (and not the control one at that). As I move from room to room, away for the one not in use, the one in my ear keeps 'adjusting'. Not sure if this is just mine or everyone goes through something like this as they await bionic activation. The weird odd loud noises I heard the first few days are gone but I do have my tinnitus remaining. Someone mentioned that it might lessen once I've been activated. When talking with the family they had to keep reminding me that they can actually hear (except for husband Bill) and I really don't need to shout. The one limping along hearing aid isn't helping a lot with conversations and/or TV.

One more week!

How exciting. I can't wait to read about your experience with it!
Sue

@billchitwood You may want to try the phone app called Innocaption to help you during phone calls. You will get a new phone number. For outgoing calls, the app can display your normal number when you dial out using the app so that the people you're calling do not get confused when they see your number on their phones. For incoming calls, you can set call forwarding to your innocaption number so that those calls can be captioned. The procedure for setting up forwarding is cell phone carrier specific. You can also give people your innocaption number if you want. Personally, I did not like the forwarding so if I'm having trouble, I tell people I'll call them back. Captions default to use ASR or Automatic Speech Recognition, but you can press a button in the app to switch to a real person to provide the transcript.
Tony in Michigan

Thank you for the information. I should be ok with the phone (I hope) in a week and I get very few calls other than robo calls. Kids all texting and/or emailing at present as aware of the problem. But if after activation I still have a problem (HA will be streaming again at that point) I will check it out. It sounds like it would be a good option for anyone with hearing problem. Some calls, especially those where a heavy accent is involved, are so difficult even with streaming.

Excited for you! It may take a while to get used to hearing in a new way, but will be worth every minute of adjustment! I hope you'll share more of your experiences with us.

Activation Day! - I'm Bionic! In rush hour morning traffic I made my way from west South Mountain across town to 1st, Mayo Clinic Phoenix, and after the okay from Dr W headed from Mayo Scottsdale and activation. Dr W appeared pleased at how well I had done and was doing. That was good to know.
Then I got hooked up by Dr Le - first she programed the HA. Then she went to work on the CI. After getting it mapped she asked me words. First session I think I got about 50%, especially when she gave me a clue of subject matter. I whipped those days of the week right off. The second time she mixed the days up so I couldn't cheat and I got them. Also no problem with colors when she wrote the word 'color' down to clue my brain. No chipmunk voices with the CI - some weird noises. It was a shorter session than tomorrow will be. Hardest was getting the CI processor set between a lot of hair getting in the way and the dreaded mask. She went over all the Advanced Bionic equipment (got a pack back to carry everything in).
On the way home I got a major boost. What had triggered my journey into getting a CI was I no longer heard sirens when driving - all of a sudden a firetruck or ambulance would appear in my back or side window with lights flashing (my only clue). Dangerous. Well, driving home I suddenly heard a loud siren coming from my left - sounded just like they used to and I knew where the sound was coming from! Then another one came from the right side. I had more than enough time to get out of their way! If the CI provided nothing else this alone could be a life safer.
Then to add the cherry on top my daughter, Robin, called. Used speaker phone as I don't get hooked up to my iphone until tomorrow. I not only could hear her clearly but her voice was back to the way I remember it. The same with my husband Bill.

Dr Le said to just keep them both on today and take it easy (no lessons). I'm to try and keep them on all day which doesn't seem like it is going to be a problem. I need to find some bobby pins for tomorrow to try and keep my hair out of the way for putting them on and off. She said it can take up to about 2 weeks to get comfortable with doing that. Of course the HA is no problem.

In an hour and a half I'm venturing back out to do a Fry's grocery pickup (First Wednesday of the month senior discount - I do love a bargain lol). It will be interesting to see if I can actually hear the carryout person - normally I have a major problem trying to make out what they are saying.

At the moment Fox News is on and coming in very clear. On the CI side I'm getting the tendinitis sounds that I'm used to hearing. Hopefully they will lessen, or even better, go away as my brain takes over.

So excited for you! Sharing our personal stories can be such helpful information to others. I look forward to hearing more! 🙂