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Cochlear Implants: How well do they work at an older age?
Looks like I might be a candidate for a cochlear implant. I'm 81 and wondering how well people have done with the implant at an older age. Is it easier to adjust to hearing as having had good hearing for most of my life? Any suggestions/information appreciated.
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@billchitwood
I understand completely and your Audi should be able to mute some of that noise and balance out the area where speech is still audible but background noise doesn’t interfere too much. That is a challenging adjustment and my Audi has done that for me. And it has little to do with volume.
There will always be overwhelming venues but you should be comfortable in your own home and in your daily routine coming and going. Go back and keep going back for adjustments until your everyday environment is more comfortable. Tell the Audi you don’t need to hear the fridge or even the AC. She can do that adjustment without compromising speech intelligibility too much.
Also have your molds checked for proper fitting if you wear BTEs.
There should be no leakage of sound. Phonak does not make good molds in my opinion. My Audi switched to Westone and I am wearing a new mold from them with a better seal and softer material and that goes up the concha a bit to keep it in place. I have never had a vent in my molds. Molds make all the difference in the world and not enough emphasis is put on their importance to optimal hearing. For my profound loss I need a full seal around the main piece and an extra long piece that goes into the canal.
Go get em…..Aids are too expensive to settle for anything but the best.
FL Mary
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2 ReactionsRight on FL Mary! I might also mention that ear molds that are custom cast and custom fit are often better than the domes they are using in many of the hearing aids today. Domes don't need custom fitting, but come in a few different sizes. I'm always amazed/amused....whatever....when I see people with hearing aids on and the domes are hanging out of their ears, not in the ear canal. They are not working that way. Reality is that it's difficult for many people to keep those domes inserted. Domes don't require skilled casting/fitting, so are much easier and less time consuming to promote than the good old fashioned ear molds are. Earmolds are cast like dental inlays, and are custom fit, which takes a skilled provider.
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2 ReactionsBillchitwood Please go to a cochlear audiologist who works with your brand of hearing aid. They need to retest your hearing and make big adjustments to your processor! Don’t delay. Cochlear set ups are amazing, living without proper adjustment is terrible!
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1 ReactionI have an appointment (Mayo) next Friday. Looks like we will switch to CI - at least one ear. Many thanks everyone.
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2 ReactionsWhen I researched my Phonak hearing aid model on-line, I saw that they came with telecoil but at my final audiologist visit I wanted to verify it with her. To my surprise, she said that telecoil is an *option* with my HAs but **I needed to ask for it up front**. She acted like there aren't many venues around here using the technology, which may explain why she didn't mention it initially, but she also said I can exchange mine for the same Phonak HAs with telecoil and my trial period will be extended as well. I just want to echo what Julie said here - ask your audiologist!
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2 ReactionsThat is amazing, alarming and very upsetting! Seriously, a patient is supposed to know what to ask for when getting a new hearing aid???? The audiologists are supposed to be the experts; the teachers, the counselors. They should know that we want to hear in every possible situation. "Communication Access' is our right. Very few of us use sign language, but if we asked for it they would have to provide it. Hard of hearing people who use hearing aids and cochlear implants get left out in the cold, but we have the same rights. Telling someone that venues in the area aren't using the technology is a close out. If they cared very deeply, they would be out there advocating for this kind of connectivity for their clientele.
Another side of this is the frustration we hear about when places install the necessary technology and wonder why people don't use it. But you have to know it's there to try it. You also have to know what it is and what it does. The telcoil in a hearing aid is the key to connecting to all of it. Sadly, stigmas about hearing loss also add to the confusion.
Here is a link that explains the 3 types of hearing assistive technology available to meet the mandates of the American's with Disabilities Act. https://www.hearingloss.org/hearing-help/technology/hat/ To connect your hearing aids to these systems, they must have telecoils. Unless you want to remove your hearing devices and put on a pair of headphones that connect to a receiver. If you're in a 'looped' venue, all you have to do is click the telecoil button on your personal hearing device and you are connected to the sound system. .
Keep in mind, that telecoils can also connect you to personal devices like computers, iPads, iPods, radios, etc.There are personal microphones one can use in noisy settings with telecoils. Problem is they show when you use them. Realistically, it shows that you are doing everything you can to hear and make conversation go smoothly. Telecoils can make a difference everywhere.
What part of the country do you live in? There are also a few websites that list the locations of installed hearing assistive technology. You may be surprised to learn about places in your area that have this tech.
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5 ReactionsThanks for this, Julie, your passion shines through in this post and I appreciate all the details!! I live in the capital region of New York between Albany and Saratoga Springs.
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3 ReactionsThank you,Julie, for saying everything I wanted to say after reading Christy’s post. Wow- the audacity of the audiologist’s response is terribly alarming. There are some states that have laws requiring AuDs to inform their patients about telecoils. Even if your community does not have many looped spaces, for anyone who travels, both through the US and Europe, hearing loops are everywhere, and awareness of their effectiveness is well know to many HOH people. I hope Christy’s AuD is reading this thread.
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1 ReactionChristyJ, there is an HLAA chapter in Albany NY. You may want to connect with them. HLAA is the consumer organization that is making a difference for hard of hearing people through education, information sharing, advocacy and peer support. Everything I know about hearing loss has come from my being involved in this wonderful organization. Here is the chapter's website address: https://hearinglossalbany.wordpress.com/ Rochester and NYC also have very active chapters. Since most chapters are meeting on Zoom videoconferencing, at least part time, you can connect from anywhere if you know when the meetings are held. Lots of good info at: http://www.hearingloss.org
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1 ReactionHi, Julie, yes, I already connected with the Albany chapter because of our earlier conversations, thank you! They do have Zoom meetings and I plan to attend some. 🙂
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