Has anybody liked their CIs?

[HOH2000]

hi!

The majority of us have CIs. A lot have HAs. Several don't use them at all.

In my left ear, I have a moderately severe hearing loss, so I'm not qualified for a CI, I have a powerful Phonak Naida Q RIC hearing aid.

In my right, I was officially diagnosed with a severe hearing loss at 3 1/2. At 6, it was severe-profound. At almost 8, I had almost no hearing. Hearing aids weren't much help for me anymore. So at 8 years old, I had a CI surgery done.

I remember getting the processor and everything a few weeks later (I think, may have been shorter or longer). My doctor put it on. I was shocked by this awful background noise and how everything sounded so different compared to no hearing and previously hearing aids.

Now the CI served me well. My speech improved. My hearing improved. I wasn't in special Ed anymore, put in a general Ed classroom 50% of the time, etc.

But I never liked it even after years of speech and hearing and listening and training and all. Last year, I convinced my parents, hearing specialist, and audiologist if I could stop using the CI. With a lot of hesitation, they agreed.

I'm much happier now with just my HA.

Of course, I'm not against the CI. It's a great technology for the deaf. Just not for everybody, that's all.

Anybody else likes/dislikes their CI?

 

[ecp]

I love my cochlear implant.
I had progressive hearing loss that reached profound by the time I was 21.
I got a cochlear implant in my right ear almost 2 years ago.
I used to wear bilateral hearing aids that were more powerful than yours and maxed out and I only heard static.
I was supposed to keep wearing a hearing aid in my unimplanted ear (and I might once I get the hearing aid programmed to work with and not against my CI).

Now, with just one CI ear, I can have conversations from a room away, appreciate music, etc.

The other day I heard the sound a leaf makes when it falls to the ground.
So, I guess you can say I like my cochlear implant.

(It takes hours each day of working and listening. The thing isn't magic. CI recipients have to put in work and get regular updates to fully benefit from the technology. We don't learn to walk in an hour. It takes practice and falling and more practice. Nothing in life is as easy as some people thnk cochlear implants are (don't say your doctor said it would be instant, no good doctor or audiologist would promise results without requiring practice on your part).)

Try getting a new MAP for your CI and wearing it for a week without your hearing aid. The brain needs time to adjust.

 

[Angel1989]

I love my Cochlear Implants...went bilateral this last July. I had zero hearing remaining so hearing aids were not an option for me. You have to work hard, keep all mapping appointments, do the exercises to stimulate your brain etc.

 

[HOH-ME]

Bilateral user here..I am THRILLED with my CI's!!!

 

[shel90]

Some days I like it and other days I dont.

 

[sonocativo]

I am a recent Bi-lateral ( 1 year ) and its a Love/Hate relationship. I love that I can hear but I hate that I can hear what I dont want to hear.... its getting better as you learn to block out the background noises,,, but it takes time, lots of time.
Just went to my high school reunion last night and I was able to carry a conversation until the band got so loud that it just drowned out voices completely.... they arent the same as hearing aids and they take a lot more work to get used to.... But in all, you can carry on with life in a normal way.

 

[everlastingstorm]

I was born with normal hearing in both ears and was early in my speech & language development.

At almost 3 years old, I lost my hearing completely in my left ear to the point where it did not respond to any sound, and in my right I was left with a severe profound hearing loss, with most frequencies registering between 70 and 85 decibels on the audiogram. I wore one hearing aid until I was 32 years old.

When I was 31, I experienced a sudden hearing loss and roaring nonstop tinnitus in my only useable ear and was using the second to most powerful hearing aid on the market. I had a number of fluctuations in that ear despite the use of oral and intratympanic steroids, first with my high frequency hearing going, then with my low frequency hearing going. During that time I heard differently depending on the configuration of each fluctuation, which ranged from a sound quality that was muffled/underwater, distorted, flattened, static, white noise, to almost nothing at all with the most powerful hearing aid on the market.

Fast forward two years, and at 33 I'm bilaterally implanted. I never dreamed that I would ever hear better, let alone hear with both ears.

Last night I was watching movies with my weaker, newer ear alone without captions. Never mind the fact that it's 30 years behind my right ear and progressing steadily, although more slowly like step by step. The high frequencies are set too high on that side so that messed with the clarity somewhat and that side of my brain is still learning to tune the non-important stuff out. But so what, it's really starting to go places now.

Right this minute, I'm listening to music through 100% ComPilot bilaterally on an airline flight as I fly back home...with each ear having its own strengths that contribute to a beautiful whole.

Yeah, I think it's safe to say that I love my implants and don't know what I would do without them- and love that my bionic ears have become best friends and help each other out.

 

[Limited02]

I am on day 5 of my CI and I am very happy (left ear). Hearing a lot of sounds that I have been missing for the last 28 years. I still have a ways to go, but I look forward to what the future holds!!!

 

[HOH2000]

Wow, that's a lot of CI-lovers!

I did have my CI mapped several times and I did try to stimulate and excercise with my brain and CI. But 6 years, it didn't work much for me. I'm happier with my hearing aid.

 

[ambrosia]

I've had my CI for almost 4 months. I freaking loooooooooove it!!!! Worlds better than my hearing aids but my loss was so profound they were useless so really there was no comparison. When my loss was severe hearing aids were fine, but some losses are unaidable.

 

[sonocativo]

I've had my CI for almost 4 months. I freaking loooooooooove it!!!! Worlds better than my hearing aids but my loss was so profound they were useless so really there was no comparison. When my loss was severe hearing aids were fine, but some losses are unaidable.

Exactly, same with me.... its like day and night compared to hearing aids.

 

[sonocativo]

I've had my CI for almost 4 months. I freaking loooooooooove it!!!! Worlds better than my hearing aids but my loss was so profound they were useless so really there was no comparison. When my loss was severe hearing aids were fine, but some losses are unaidable.

And HI !!!! havent seen you around in awhile Amber. Hope all is doing well.

 

[shel90]

I am a recent Bi-lateral ( 1 year ) and its a Love/Hate relationship. I love that I can hear but I hate that I can hear what I dont want to hear.... its getting better as you learn to block out the background noises,,, but it takes time, lots of time.
Just went to my high school reunion last night and I was able to carry a conversation until the band got so loud that it just drowned out voices completely.... they arent the same as hearing aids and they take a lot more work to get used to.... But in all, you can carry on with life in a normal way.

My love for it that yes, it sounds better than hearing aides and that I a understanding people better (still lip read). My hates are that by the end of the day, my incision area gets so irritated, it gets so loud at times, and I can't run my hands through my hair on that one side like I used to. That's tough because I forget often and it would fall off constantly.

 

[sonocativo]

My love for it that yes, it sounds better than hearing aides and that I a understanding people better (still lip read). My hates are that by the end of the day, my incision area gets so irritated, it gets so loud at times, and I can't run my hands through my hair on that one side like I used to. That's tough because I forget often and it would fall off constantly.

Ive been doing that also since my hair has grown out, when summer comes Ill have short hair again.

 

[miki]

hi!

The majority of us have CIs. A lot have HAs. Several don't use them at all.

In my left ear, I have a moderately severe hearing loss, so I'm not qualified for a CI, I have a powerful Phonak Naida Q RIC hearing aid.

In my right, I was officially diagnosed with a severe hearing loss at 3 1/2. At 6, it was severe-profound. At almost 8, I had almost no hearing. Hearing aids weren't much help for me anymore. So at 8 years old, I had a CI surgery done.

I remember getting the processor and everything a few weeks later (I think, may have been shorter or longer). My doctor put it on. I was shocked by this awful background noise and how everything sounded so different compared to no hearing and previously hearing aids.

Now the CI served me well. My speech improved. My hearing improved. I wasn't in special Ed anymore, put in a general Ed classroom 50% of the time, etc.

But I never liked it even after years of speech and hearing and listening and training and all. Last year, I convinced my parents, hearing specialist, and audiologist if I could stop using the CI. With a lot of hesitation, they agreed.

I'm much happier now with just my HA.

Of course, I'm not against the CI. It's a great technology for the deaf. Just not for everybody, that's all.

Anybody else likes/dislikes their CI?

Whats you reasoning on why you stopped using CI? other thing than "you just didnt like it".

Im interested because ill get a CI soon!

Ty for answer.

 

[NaidaUP]

I love my cochlear implant.
I had progressive hearing loss that reached profound by the time I was 21.
I got a cochlear implant in my right ear almost 2 years ago.
I used to wear bilateral hearing aids that were more powerful than yours and maxed out and I only heard static.
I was supposed to keep wearing a hearing aid in my unimplanted ear (and I might once I get the hearing aid programmed to work with and not against my CI).

Now, with just one CI ear, I can have conversations from a room away, appreciate music, etc.

The other day I heard the sound a leaf makes when it falls to the ground.
So, I guess you can say I like my cochlear implant.

(It takes hours each day of working and listening. The thing isn't magic. CI recipients have to put in work and get regular updates to fully benefit from the technology. We don't learn to walk in an hour. It takes practice and falling and more practice. Nothing in life is as easy as some people thnk cochlear implants are (don't say your doctor said it would be instant, no good doctor or audiologist would promise results without requiring practice on your part).)

Try getting a new MAP for your CI and wearing it for a week without your hearing aid. The brain needs time to adjust.

Actually your Phonak Naida SP hearing aids are equal in terms of power to the Phonak Naida RIC hearing aids. The Phonak Naida UP hearing aids are more powerful.

 

[Ri Sol]

I absolutely love my CI and I wish I could get second one.
Hearing in HA is now sounds so poor!

 

[Hockey94]

I love mine. It took me a couple of years for my first C.I to be mapped to the point where it hasnt been changed in a while. The second one is getting there but it's nice not having to go to the audiologist as much anymore.

Though I still prefer my silence in mornings/late evenings... even when watching Netflix.

 

[ecp]

Actually your Phonak Naida SP hearing aids are equal in terms of power to the Phonak Naida RIC hearing aids. The Phonak Naida UP hearing aids are more powerful.

Actually, you are wrong.
The difference between the SP and UP is very slight but the RIC is much less powerful and since it doesn't have a real earmold, it isn't able to provide as much gain.

It doesn't really matter since my hearing loss started at 90dB and dropped off the chart to undetectable by 2kHz. So for me, I wore the Naidas because my state bought them for me. They ordered the wrong kind but it wouldn't have made a difference.
At some point hearing loss is unaidable. I never realized that until I got a cochlear implant and could finally hear and understand sounds without looking despite being 27 and having been hard of hearing or deaf most my life.

That is a real life changer. To clearly hear a voice, to hear music, birds. With my fancy ass Naida hearing aids all I heard was distorted noise. I don't have enough hair cells to make sense of sound.

 

[soutthpaw]

I love that mine are facilitating my ability to go back to school and get a good career. I will have to use them all the time at work after I graduate and get a job, BUT I hate them otherwise and only use them when I have to when stuck in a hearing work/school world. I will be taking them off at every one of my breaks, lunch and as soon as my shifts end. YES I have interpreters at school so I don't need CI very often, but sometimes it helps with difficult classes and lots of technical vocabulary and such.