Cochlear Implant

[Jim Armstrong]

Y'all are always a wealth of information, so, hopefully, there will be somebody here who can speak from experience on this issue. Due to a virus about 5 years ago, I lost most of my hearing and have been using Bone Anchor Hearing Aids since that time, and have been quite satisfied. However, at my most recent audiologist's appointment, testing revealed that I had lost significantly more hearing in one ear to the point that I am now a candidate for a cochlear implant. I have been told that these alter the sound of music considerably and that it takes some time to adjust. Does anyone out there have any experience related to this situation? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks and y'all have a great weekend.

[grassrootphilosopher]

I have absolutely no clue about this... but...

David McLaughlin suffered an allmost total hearing loss which he fought with some special hearing devices. There´s a thread on mandolincafe. There was also this on bluegrasstoday: https://bluegrasstoday.com/david-mcl...-hearing-loss/
Maybe this can help you some or get you in contact with David, as you´re in the same boat and I am sure he will be well willing to share his travels concerning to retain whatever´s left of his hearing.

All the best, and God bless.

[FredK]

I've considered bone anchor conductive hearing aids but I can still live with OTE hearing aids. I could see where the cochlear implants might alter sound. Even the electronic hearing I've had for over a decade is "different" from natural hearing. Adjusting to hearing aids took me a lot longer than what I thought, too. Following this

[Jonathan Ward]

I have a friend who was born deaf, and who had a cochlear implant installed about ten years ago. The surgery has allowed her to become a big music fan, which is major since she had never heard music prior to having the device installed. It's been truly life-changing for her.

I've since done some further research on the procedure for a couple of elderly family members who have serious hearing loss. My understanding is that the actual procedure takes about four hours, and that Medicare (and presumably some other insurance programs) will cover it. (Otherwise it costs about $100K.)

[John Cadd]

Just 2 days ago I had a cochlear implant fitted . My hearing aids were not enough to follow conversations in a quiet room with my family . The operation worked perfectly No affect on face muscles or food taste. No pain or dizziness at all .He was a class surgeon . Hearing will decline even if you have aids . The last week before my operation I could tell my hearing was still declining within one week . It`s a continuous process .I hear new strange sounds now before the implant is activated . Last night it sounded like I was in a tin shed with a hailstorm battering on the roof.Continuous as I went to sleep and six hours later it carried on . After an hour when I got up it died away to quieter white noise and now back to normal . In a week I will have the stitches out and they might fit the magnetic connection to make it all work . The operation is odd because you have to wear a backless cotton gown .Underwear is replaced with a mesh pair of budgie smugglers .That`s a bit comical . Most nurses and doctors find it hard to cope with deaf people that can still speak ,even if you can`t hear your own voice. I bought a small board that you write on and press a button to clear the screen .All questions can be written down for me to read and say the answer . People struggle if you do not help them like that . It`s the hardest part---comunucating .

[Charles E.]

"Budgie smugglers" Had to look that one up.

Thanks for the report, let us know how are doing in the future.