Connect
Single-Sided Hearing Loss
I'm a 60-year old male in good health, other than losing my hearing in my left ear approximately 10-years ago (Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). In addition to profound hearing loss in one of my ears, I have constant tinnitus. I've recently begun to investigate options for a cochlear transplant and hoped to garner your opinions. I not only would like to improve my hearing and reduce or eliminate my tinnitus, but I'd love to find an option that is as hidden as possible. Yes...I'm rather vain.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Thanks,
Dom
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hearing Loss Support Group.
Connect
You pose an interesting and thought-provoking question. Good that you are looking at options for better hearing. Cochlear implants have come a long way in the last decade, and are a remarkable solution for many people with hearing loss. They are internal devices that are activated by external devices. Yes, they are visible unless you are able to cover them with hair or head coverings. Often tinnitus diminishes with CIs, but that is not guaranteed.
Is the visibility of a cochlear implant processor important enough to you to eliminate the possibility of better hearing?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThe tinnitus is the worst! How much better is the hearing?
Dom
I would try hearing aids first. Having had SSNHL for years, I tried the hearing aid on one ear with a microphone that relays the sounds from the “dead” ear over to the good ear. (Both are pretty well hidden). Maybe someone can explain this better? In any case you can see if that helps you 1- hear better and 2- alleviate some tinnitus, before you try the CI?
Don't know how visible it all is....but I too was upset for my first hearing aid (only one ear, otosclerosis). I was still working.
NOW? I had surgery and a device which fixed the osteosclerosis problem and now just have hearing aids for usual hearing loss. I would want my hearing aids even if I was not hard of hearing! I love them and everybody is walking around with something in their ears these days. I can talk hands free, and I can answer and hang up calls by just tapping my hearing aids. Young people envy me.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsA cochlear implant will not guarantee diminished tinnitus. I had a CI last Friday and tinnitus is all over the place at the moment. In the night it is horrible, in the day sometimes goes back to where it was. Just hoping it stabilises. However most people do say that once the CI is activated the tinnitus is much less noticeable. My fingers are crossed. The equipment may well be covered by your hair and so may be no more noticeable than a hearing aid. Frankly, if I can hear people can look all they want and maybe get educated along the way.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionCongratulations on getting a cochlear implant. I hope that in time your tinnitus will diminish. Mine did and I hardly notice it now. I agree that hearing is precious. It's also very helpful to let people know you are doing all you can to hear as well as you can. Letting it show does that.
It takes time for the brain to adjust to a CI. Please be patient and do the rehab suggested by your CI surgery specialists. I wish you the best!
You are talking about bi-cross hearing aids. A transmitter is worn on the 'deaf' side. It sends sound to the receiver that is worn on the good or better ear. It works well for many people.
Yes, thank you! And while it didn’t eliminate tinnitus by a long shot, it did alleviate it. Tinnitus is different for everyone though so I imagine the effect of the hearing aids would also be different for everyone.