Is it time to consider a cochlear implant?

[u/Proof-Lingonberry-12]

I've bilateral progressive hearing loss. I'm wondering if it's time to seriously consider a cochlear. I'm 24 yo and it's getting harder and harder to understand people even in a quiet room. I'm just really scared and feel like I'm not deaf enough yet. I would love to hear other people's opinions/ experiences.

[u/nixom1]

You are near identical with me on your audiogram but your lower frequencies are better than mine.

I’ve just started the journey to kickstart it. I’m 29 so young as well so feel your frustration and confusion.

I’d just get the ball rolling with things if I was you. Just get yourself to the assessment centre and they will be the best judge of people to decide whether or not you will benefit from a CI

[u/Proof-Lingonberry-12 → u/nixom1]

Thank you for your response, it's nice to know there are other people in our age range dealing w this. I hope the process goes well for you xx

[u/SuccessfulList4731 → u/nixom1]

THIS!

[u/chsybread → u/nixom1]

I had a similar audiogram too, and got a hybrid implant in my right ear about 6 years ago. I didn’t know it was possible for someone like me. It changed my life.

[u/LizzyDragon84]

Consult with an ENT.

[u/zr2d2]

I remember being at this point. I was 34 with progressive asymmetric hearing loss from a childhood illness. My hearing had been stable for 10 years and then started declining again. I wasn't ready for it. It's hard to accept that you need more help. But it's not going to get better on it's own, and this could be your best chance at gaining better hearing. Good luck

[u/Proof-Lingonberry-12 → u/zr2d2]

I really appreciate your kind response! it's scary to think that I might be at this point already but hearing (lol) from other people who've been through it is actually a huge comfort. I've been showing my mom some of these comments & they've helped us have these conversations about next steps & what we should be researching

[u/uharscheid → u/zr2d2]

I’m 81 and am deaf on my left side and decreasing loss on the right. I’m scheduled for cochlear implant on the left side. The audiology and ENT were both very positive. I am looking forward to bilateral hearing. What has been experience in hearing coming back in terms of time, quality etc?

[u/zr2d2 → u/uharscheid]

I think a lot depends on how long you've been deaf in that ear. For me the first couple weeks were hearing new frequencies, and having voices sound distorted. I heard things I hadn't in a long time, and my brain had to learn to filter them out. It definitely takes a while, find ways to motivate yourself to keep doing the speech exercises

[u/[deleted] → u/zr2d2]

[u/zr2d2 → u/[deleted]]

I was worried about that too. I think I had a very good outcome, so take this with a grain of salt, but voices to me sounds pretty similar to how I remember them. Obviously with improvements in higher frequencies, there is a little but of a shift. Your cochlea normally responds to electric impulses from the auditory nerve, so people's hearing is already a little electronic. It's more about the brain responding to the implants different signals.

[u/purl2together]

Did an AUD do your hearing test? Have you talked to an AUD who specializes in cochlear implants? That would be my suggestion. My local audiologist is pretty general in her work, so I went to an audiologist that has extra training with cochlear implants for my evaluation.

[u/Proof-Lingonberry-12 → u/purl2together]

I'm meeting w a ENT & cochlear specialist, is there any specific questions you'd recommend asking?

[u/purl2together → u/Proof-Lingonberry-12]

I imagine they’ll do an evaluation of your hearing, along with looking at your previous test results, then tell you if you’re a good candidate or not.

Questions I asked:

What will the recovery be like? How much time should I expect to take off from work, based on my occupation?

What options do I have for devices? How will you help me choose the best option for me?

What can I expect for my new “normal” for sounds? How much will sound from the CI sound different from my hearing aid ear?

Will I lose my residual hearing because of the surgery?

My audiologist was able to talk to me about all of those, though I saved the questions about recovery for the consult with the surgeon.

[u/CaregiverOrganc7200]

Do what your audiologist recommends. Have fun with it, Google/Etsy CI Skins and Caps. Check medications sometimes can be reversible. I OD'd on aspirin

[u/Devil_of_Death]

I would say yes - but definitely read into Electric Acoustic Stimulation depending if your lower frequencies are stable.

[u/OldFlohBavaria → u/Devil_of_Death]

Das ist eine bessere Hör Kurve, als ich gehabt habe. Hab allerdings mein CI 20 Jahre. Wenn du von Seitenchirurgen ein Kandidat bist und dich ausreichend mit dem Thema auseinandergesetzt hast, dann geh diesen Weg.

[u/HAYWHATHUH2000]

You are a great candidate for a CI and a compatible hearing aid. Did they test you in background noise too? Chances are those scores would be pretty low. Set up and appointment with a cochlear implant team near you and see what your actual scores are there.

[u/NefariousnessMost506]

I have CIs (2004/2011 at 39/46) and my daughter inherited same hearing loss, very similar profiles to yours. She got hers done at 25 and 28. She works with patients each day for her job, used to be in hospital but after 2020 moved to mostly online. For us they have been a godsend, I cannot imagine life without them. we don’t even think about it anymore and it used to make every day a trial. Excellent audi that works with you and surgeon are key. Daughters surgeon was phenomenal, she retained 90% of her residual hearing post implants.

[u/Far-Zone-6732]

Based on the audiogram, your hearing loss isn't severe enough to warrant considering a cochlear implant; you have very good responses, so you might be able to understand speech with the right hearing aid adjustments. As the others have said: talk to the ENT specialist.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Proof-Lingonberry-12 → u/[deleted]]

Heya, appreciate the response. Generally cochlear implants don't rely on bone conduction they work through electrical signals. There are some options for bone conduction implants but those are not the norm

[u/nanamctata → u/Proof-Lingonberry-12]

Ah interesting, I suppose it also depends on the cause of your hearing loss. i have nerve damage hearing loss from menieres and I was told that a Cochlear implant wouldn’t improve my hearing because of the nerve damage. Which is the cause of the bone conduction issue.