Our Experiences
I hear this refrain over and over again, “I do well enough with one CI.”
The truth is, no person with a hearing loss can possibly know what they are missing. Doing “well enough” compared to what? I think it is an unanswerable question.
If you are qualified for a second CI or to receive bilateral CI surgery from the onset, don’t you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to be at the top of your game? R.P.
Everyone’s story & journey is both unique & universal. I began losing my hearing in my early 40’s, following a pretty bad virus. However, the virus may have kick-started a genetic predisposition for hearing loss. Who knows? I did well with HA’s for years but by my 60’s, I was really struggling. When my audiologist first mentioned CI’s would most likely be in my future, I totally freaked out…and then I started educating myself. I found a Facebook group that really helped me transition from OMG! to Yes, let’s get evaluated! This process took a year. I was evaluated, qualified & went for it. I had my surgeries at ages 66 & 67. The ability to hear/comprehend with CIs far surpasses HAs. Every one of my friends and family can’t get over the difference in my ability to engage in conversations. I basically was deaf without HAs (meaning that while I could hear sound, I didn’t understand it well at all) and I definitely am deaf without CIs but I wear them when I’m awake. If anything, I wish that I got the CIs years earlier than I did. I went from understanding words with HAs 14-18% to 93% with CIs. CIs have allowed me to rejoin the world! E.W.S.
Like you, my hearing slowly deteriorated since 1991. Hearing aids helped for a few years and then it became a struggle to hear again. I received my first CI with acoustic component in 2005 and what a wonderful change!! So wonderful to hear music and the birds sing once again!! But still sounds came only came from one side so I never knew where the sound really was! This drove me nuts!! My second CI/acoustic component was in 2017 and that was the icing on the cake!! Music is whole again!!! I now know where vehicles are coming from and where people are standing when they speak!! It is wonderful and while I wish I had done it sooner I thank God I have it now!! It has been a blessing to me and I often forget I am mostly deaf!! This has been my experience and I wish you well in your decision! D.R.
As I had one CI and one HA, I struggle to hear with 2 different ways. One natural but too low to catch/identify the high tones of the piano and digital with my first CI as that didn’t had clear tones before CI. I was and still am working on that ear. 2nd CI brought much into perspective that amazes that I enjoy music more now. (I will not say I’m good at playing but I still try.)
I was amazed to hear-pick out “Heart of Gold” playing on a film while I was busy reading elsewhere. Awesome. Right now I work with playing “Old Man” NY, on my guitar. It is challenging, but all good things are. S.S.
