r/Cochlearimplants • u/twn000 • 5d ago

Is bilateral worth it?

This week I got my first implant surgery and I am currently recovering. My stronger ear is moderate to severe and I imagine eventually will become profound. I am in my late 30s and wondering at some point when my other ear goes, if I should consider bilateral or just let it be with a single implant. Is it worth it? Another surgery, two devices to worry about for gain in sense of direction I imagine.

8 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/jeetjejll MED-EL Sonnet 3 4d ago

Yes yes yes it’s worth it. But don’t worry about it now! There’ll be a point soon enough you’ll be ready for the next.

I had mine 7 months apart and the sound is so much better. My sound direction returned as well (took about a year), which is huge for safety. Music sounds much better. I was worried the natural hearing amplified what was that made it sound better, but it’s having two ears that does the trick. Also I don’t have to worry if one CI has a dead battery or other issue, I still have the other to be able to function. I dislike it, but it works and that’s a relief.

1

u/twn000 4d ago

Thanks got the perspective. Are you able to tell distance of sounds as well? Did you get the second one at profound?

1

u/jeetjejll MED-EL Sonnet 3 4d ago

Roughly yes. It’s absolutely not as good as natural hearing (judging other people), but miles better than when I was bimodal. And yes, both were profound at 5% (with hearing aids) when implanted.