cochlear implants & tinnitus

Posted by awilst @awilst, Jun 28, 2022

Assuming you have severe tinnitus & have a cochlear implant. what hapens? Is the tinnitus effected? Is it possible to continue having tinnitus after the implant?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hearing Loss Support Group.

It appears there is no real answer to this question. Tinnitus remains a mystery. Some who have severe tinnitus say it lessens after having a cochlear implant. Others say it remains. Many say it remains but is lessened.

It would be interesting to know what your medical team says about this. Have you been evaluated for a cochlear implant, or advised to get one?

REPLY

@awilst, I agree with @julieo4. I do not have a CI but one of my HLAA chapter members had an increase in tinnitus after she received a CI. I hope that the researchers can find effective treatment for tinnitus.
Tony in Michigan

REPLY

gee, with all the people out there looking at this stuff, this is the only reply.
I guess the question never came up before. or no one has any personal experience with this???
perhaps no one has has ever had the CI procedure?
very curious??

REPLY

My tinnitus existed before I had a cochlear implant. It's still there at times, but I've learned to tolerate it.

I know hundreds of CI recipients personally due to my involvement in HLAA. They all feel that the CI trumps the alternative...as in doing nothing or struggling with hearing aids that no longer work well for them. And, the CIs have gotten better due to research & development. (Mine was done in 2005.)

Still, tinnitus is an issue for many people, especially those who have been exposed to intense noise through employment, recreation, accident, etc. It is the number 1 disability issue experienced by veterans who return from combat zones. We know that cause, but not the solution, so prevention is extremely important.

Even now, with the tinnitus that exists, it's important to protect your hearing with professional level ear protection if you know you'll be in a noisy setting. Do you do that?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.