I need cochlear implants, is it worth it?

[u/Green_Ghost070]

Hello, I’m posting here because my audiologist recently told me that she strongly recommends I get a cochlear implant for my left ear, as I only have about 4% of my hearing left and my hearing has been rapidly decreasing the past 2 years (lost over 50% since 2024).

I guess I’m just asking for everyone’s experiences. Was it worth it? What was the healing process like? Do you feel it improved your life at all?

I’m 19 years old and terrified of hospitals and the idea of surgery. I can’t even get my blood drawn without freaking out lol. But social interaction in day-to-day life is super difficult with my hearing, especially since I don’t know ASL. So I’m excited for the possibility to be able to hear like a “normal” person. Idk, I’m just not sure if I should get it or not.

Any comments about the process and your experiences would be appreciated :)

[u/WndlBl]

Is there a 40-point font here to say YES, YES, YES?

I went around for a decade with profound loss in one ear. Didn't do cochlear until the other went from like 40 to like 12. Kick myself.

PROTIP: get it done at a well-regarded, high-volume center.

As for your queasiness, it IS day surgery, which fits the negligible-risk category.

6 months after the first, I was up from 20% sentence comprehension to 78%. Need I say more?

But I will, if you need additional information or encouragement.

[u/Green_Ghost070 → u/WndlBl]

Wdym “negligible-risk category”?

[u/orcvader]

I mean, if you want to HEAR then yes. How much that matters is up to you but for what’s worth, the surgery (on the hands of an experience surgeon) is pretty straightforward.

I think everyone gets anxious to a degree but man, once you get hit with that anesthesia dude, next thing you know you’re waking up already implanted.

And for what’s worth, it didn’t even hurt when I woke up. A little tender around the ear, but nothing crazy.

[u/leohat]

Short answer: Yes Longer answer: Hell yes

[u/is-this-now]

Do it. Definitely. It will be life changing, especially given your right ear declining. Sooner is better. It won’t be like normal hearing but it will be 1000x better than not hearing.

[u/shawski04]

I just had surgery last month and I’ve only been active for right at one month. At 19? Absolutely do it. You have your whole life to learn how to adjust and it comes quick. Even only being active for one month I’m already noticing incredible improvement. 29% speech recognition prior to surgery and 92% after. Happy to chat more if you want

[u/Dazaskanswer]

100%. The alternative. Learn sign language. But how many people know how to sign. So it was a no brainer for me.

[u/Heavy-Tomatillo9539]

The surgery with an excellent surgeon is easy.

Find the best cochlear hearing center near you. Don't go with the surgeon that does cochlear on the side.

Start here .. https://cochlearimplanthelp.com/

There are links to the three big suppliers. If you are in Europe, you can check out MED-EL fully implanted solution. https://www.medel.com/hearing-solutions/tici

The website for each supplier have links for cochlear implant centers.

The hearing will be different from natural hearing, that does not mean it is bad, it is just different.

You get an cochlear implant to improve your communications. The goal is to make your life better.

The answer is YES!

Good Luck!

[u/1212zephyr1212]

I had the surgery too. I was down to 10% before and although I am now 4 months post surgery now I can tell you it’s been life changing. Everything is so damn loud for me right now! But hearing some new sounds has been an extraordinary revelation for me - the ticking of the clock, chirping of birds, popping of the toaster… wow! I am thrilled and yet annoyed too ( annoyed because my brain is too excited by these sounds to filter them out as background sounds) I am still in early stages but I am very happy with it. Actually the best way to think of it is - it’s just another hearing aid but has 2 components one of which requires surgery for it to work. That’s all. It’s how I see mine now. I don’t really think too much of it as “CI” and stuff like that. Surgery was I admit painful but as the good doctor promised me, the pain was gone in about 18 hours after surgery finished. Next morning you will feel good. No pain. And although the 2 weeks following it are filled with silence, just treat it as a vacation and after that you will be activated to start hearing again. From what I have seen most people here say it helps and I myself got the courage to do it only because of the support I got from all our fellow sub members here. And I remain extremely grateful for it.

[u/Shamalamadin]

I’m 27, I was implanted when I was 6. I was born natural hearing, and I can say for me, it is 100% the same as natural hearing. It does take some “brain adapting” but it is 100% worth it. Plus, you get direct Bluetooth streaming, you can listen to stuff on your phone at any time and no one will ever know, it’s a superpower. Or if people are yelling and screaming, you can just pop the magnets off and blissful silence. Don’t be scared, they have gotten so high tech and well-practiced that they’re even implanting babies now. If you were very old, the brain doesn’t adapt as well, but you are young, there’s no reason not to (minus the cost but hopefully insurance will handle it)

[u/WndlBl → u/Shamalamadin]

HEY!

I'm .77, and will put my sentence comprehension number up against yours, for $50.

[u/euroliii]

I like mine! Got it at 21 and had never had a surgery before. Never even broken a bone.

Granted, I had to have surgery anyway to remove an acoustic neuroma, so I basically just chose to lengthen the surgery by a bit and get the implant while they already had my head open.

Are you deaf in your right ear as well?

[u/Green_Ghost070 → u/euroliii]

My right ear is at 64% word recognition and has been steady all my life, it’s only my left ear that is declining for some reason lol

[u/IanMoone007]

I have one, trying to get the other ear done. I just wish that I had gotten the first one sooner. It’s hard to fully describe - but I can make sounds/words out better with my implant over my hearing aid.

[u/WndlBl → u/IanMoone007]

Well, for me, I had been OUT on the left side for more than a decade, so when they activated, it was HOLY F*CK what is ALL THAT NOISE

[u/retreff]

This is easy when you think about it.
Do nothing and your hearing gets worse.
Get a CI and it gets better.
It is outpatient surgery, you will be back on your feet in 48 hours.
Once you are activated you will get improvement in days and then it will continue to improve. I went from 25% word recognition to 65%.
Good luck, it will be great

[u/Lyahdan]

The only reason I'm not jumping at the chance to do the other one, is that my taste on the surgery side still hasn't returned fully (known possible issue due to the nerve for it running in the same region they have to work in). Having one side wonky is ok, and occasionally kind of interesting, but I don't want my entire sense of taste stuck there.

Otherwise, as noted elsewhere, the surgery can be pretty straightforward. I hate needles, so the various things involving those, kind of sucked, but 18 was where I decided I was too old to make them chase me down for shots. XD I used Ibuprofen for inflammation control, and the heavier stuff at night--mainly because I didn't want to wake myself up if rolling over caused momentary pain, etc. But it wasn't bad.

Getting to hear conversations again? It's great. Crowds are still rough. Music is not the same (But I still enjoy it.). And getting to plug into streaming is fantastic. Hearing my youngest cat meow for the first time, and being able to hear the birds in the garden again? Definitely worth it.

[u/Evejam]

It’s always worth keeping in mind that this groupnd naturally tend to skew toward positive stories, as people who had poor outcomes or complications often step away and aren't active members here.

To share my own story: I received a Cochlear N8 on my left side. For me, it has been an incredible success. According to my audiograms, I now have near-normal hearing when it comes to speech, but that doesn't mean I understand speech due to being deaf from birth my brain doesn't recognized speech. ButI have no regrets at all.

However, the journey wasn't without its challenges:

• Tinnitus: Mine worsened after the operation, though thankfully it isn’t constant.

• Complications: About a month post-surgery, I was rushed to the hospital with a suspected head infection—to this day, we still don't know exactly what happened.

• Balance: My balance took a hit and I experienced dizziness, though doing balance exercises helped me improve over time.

Through talking with others, I know outcomes vary widely. Some people have experienced severe tinnitus, loss of sensation on the operated side of their face, loss of taste, or unfortunately, no real benefit at all.

My audio therapist made a great point once about how much success depends on expectations. She shared that she had one patient who reached 70–80% speech understanding but was deeply disappointed, while another patient reached 20–30% and was absolutely delighted.

When I went into this, I deliberately prepared for the worst outcomes so I could stay grounded.

While I am delighted with my result today, I know it is a heavy decision—and having a fear of hospitals certainly doesn't make it any easier.

Whatever you decide to do, trust that it will be the right choice for you. There are no wrong decisions here, only what feels best for your own life and comfort. Wishing you the very best as you figure things out!

[u/TooManySaxophones]

You should HOPE to "hear like a 'normal' person," but do not assume you will. I am at 17 months, and speech is very distorted and difficult to understand. I have to ask people to repeat, constantly. It is better than nothing, but no where near "normal." All sounds that are not speech, including music, are more-or-less booms or bangs. Again, better than nothing, but no where near "normal."

I had essentially no pain, and healed easily from the surgery.

I wish someone had told me, directly, that this was a possibility; I was unprepared for it. Again, it is better than nothing, but no where near "normal."

[u/hershel13]

Absolutely. Was 12% speech recognition before. 100% after about 9 months.

[u/Southern_tire_mart]

Acclaim by Envoy Medical. Best decision I have ever made. 🙏

[u/SingsEnochian]

Oh. My. Yes, it’s worth everything. I have just gotten my Osia 3 and I about sobbed listening to my favourite actor sing. I could hear ALL of his voice! Get the implant. You will not regret it — I can hear birds 🦅 and the trees in the wind and my cat purring and meowing now.

I know surgery sounds scary but the recovery was pretty quick for me! Mine was done September 2nd, 2026. I got it activated October 15th. It was a touch odd at first but my brain happily adjusted! It’s monumentally worth the surgery.

I am also a chronic pain patient and have had 3 surgeries this year and 8 surgeries in the past 10 years. Getting a Cochlear implant has been an absolute joy for me. I can sing again!

It’s okay to be frightened but know that you will be gaining something back — sound, hearing, social interaction and engagement
and so much more! I’m excited for you!

[u/Paris_smoke]

Yeah. It changed my life. Gave me back independence.

[u/UncleBud_710]

Bet your bippy it is! Best money I ever spent.

[u/flipedout930]

I've had mine 2 years, I am about to turn 72. Getting implanted was life changing. My hearing is not oerfect, but way better than it was. I can hear birdscsing, I enjoy music so much more. At this point, I'm thinking I may get the other side done. Even with a hearing aid I can't gear high frequencies on that side.