My audiologist has suggested that I consider Cochlear implants based on my recent that I have updated on my profile. I will get in contact with Cochlear for an evaluation but thought that someone with more experience can comment on this based on my audiogram. My word recognition is very poor at 28% for right and 18% for left ear. Any input about word recognition improvement with Cochlear from people on this group with experience will be very helpful.
I presently use Oticon More’s for 6 years and doing well but lately I’m having more problems. We have decided that in addition to the Cochlear evaluation I will trial Widex and Oticon’s latest ’s. Then based on the trial I will make a decision but and added information from this group will be very helpful.
I was 4% and 8% word understanding before getting bilateral ’s. I am now in the mid 90% range on each ear separately. I really don’t think I am anything special about those percentages either. Most CI people do great but there are a few that struggle. Many reasons why they didn’t do well, usually something to do with rehabilitation. I read more and more about people that have some sort of word understanding at activation. That’s pretty special IMO.
My is very similar to yours. My R ear was 26%. At the end of the 12 month post implantation my WRS was 94%. I could understand speech at activation not every word that was said. By my first mapping a week later I could understand most everything that was being said. That being said not everyone can understand speech at activation. A lot only hear scratchy noises, and it can be a frustratingly slow process for others. Patience and rehab IMO is the key to success There are many forms of rehab, you find the one you enjoy doing. Once you have had your evaluation there’s absolutely no pressure to be implanted I say on the fence for a further 18 months, before moving forward.
The theory today about getting a is the sooner the better. Good luck to you on your new hearing journey. Come back and let us know how your evaluation went.
In recent weeks, I’ve started to notice that I’m picking up more and more English words spontaneously while streaming to you only without subtitles and watching faces like Dr. Cliff’s.
Of course, I still miss meaning of the whole sentences, but that not undermine the progress.
I have never thought that would be possible - hearing spontaneously without closed captions or looking at someones mouth. It’s 0.65× speed, but Dr. Cliff speaks pretty fast at 1×.
On the plus side, there is nothing new on the horizon to replace a . So, no need to wait since I’m guessing five years from now, medical science will still be offering a CI for those who have lost all their hearing or a good majority. On the negative side, there have not been any real improvements in CI’s for several years, and it will take a while for you to get up and running once you’re implanted. I might suggest you look into specialized robots that are now used for some cochlear implants. Specifically for the delicate insertion of the electrode array, a robot arm allows for a slower, more precise, and steadier placement than a human hand, which helps minimize damage to the inner ear and potentially preserve residual hearing. You want to preserve as much of your limited hearing (inner ear nerves) as possible. Good Luck
On the negative side, there have not been any real improvements in CI’s for several years, and it will take a while for you to get up and running once you’re implanted.
Not sure where this statement comes from but it’s incorrect. Your lack of experience. Why so negative?
On the negative side, there have not been any real improvements in CI’s for several years, and it will take a while for you to get up and running once you’re implanted.
That’s not necessarily fully true. Yes, over a dozen years there was no new encoding strategy, but there is FMS strategy with SPACE on the way, but still tested. The newest Nucleus Nexa internal device is adapted for this purpose.
Even minor improvements, like Bluetooth streaming without an intermediary device, greatly influenced my rehabilitation in a positive way because it became easier and less of a hassle. So I can have more hours of rehab ==> better outcomes.
And it still didn’t say the last word, because we’re still waiting for Bluetooth and , which will be accessible after firmware update.
There is also improvement in speech in noise management, like SCAN2, ForwardFocus…
Yes! By the way, IIRC, some time ago you wrote that you’re interested to test Music program, because it provides the least processed sound, have you tested it?
And have you tested the SCAN 2 in noisy situations?
I can share my experience. Your word recognition is about the same I had. Furthermore, having Hyperacusis (when everything is too loud, even one’s own voice), my audiologist and I concluded that hearing aids were no longer going to improve my hearing, regardless how much high tech and the industry advertises. Also, I am a lover of classical music which in the previous several years sounded increasingly distorted. I could not understand a word while watching a TV program. I could only understand while on the phone using a pair of headphones directly connected to by iPhone. Like so many other hearing impaired, I could not understand anyone talking to me in a noisy restaurant.
(My audiologist does not work in the office of an . She is a clinical audiologist and is part of the staff at the Dallas Ear Institute).
I went through extensive hearing tests and qualified for a cochlear implant and Medicare insurance coverage. On October 3, 2025 I had the implant surgery, the activation was on October 10 when I was able for the first time to hear again on that ear.
You need to be aware that at activation what you are going to hear will not sound like you used to when your hearing was good. It takes time for the brain to adjust to hearing the sounds transmitted by the implant. It requires some self determination and willingness. Being aware of it in advance, I was determined to learn to hear with the implant the sooner the better.
I am a lover of classical music and 3 weeks after the activation my wife and I where at a symphony orchestra concert. It was the first time in years that I was able to distinguish each instrument and instrument group in the orchestra and enjoy the full sound without any distortions!
On my other ear, I continue to wear my hearing aid. Sooner than later I will have to decide whether or not to get a cochlear implant for that ear, too.
I suggest your audiologist provides you with contact names of each of the 3 approved cochlear implant manufacturers - Med-El, Cochlear and -Advanced Bionics for you to get plenty of information, and for you to be invited to attend online Webex group meetings. I consider this important because ultimately you might be or will be the one deciding from which brand to get the implant. The more you know in advance the lesser difficult it will be for you. Good luck and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me through this forum.
I am a lover of classical music and 3 weeks after the activation of my wife and I where at a symphony orchestra concert. It was the first time in years that I was able to distinguish each instrument and instrument group in the orchestra and enjoy the full sound without any distortions!
Wow, quite a thing, rare, but possible. I make a notice just for knowledge for users who may be interested about info regarding music with : @Deaf_piper@BobbyBoomer, @MDB, @OKCharlie, @Michau, @glucas (I will add others if I remember who was interested in it)
@deberh I’m a lover of most genres of music also. While I understood speech at activation day, it took me an awful lot longer to even start to appreciate music again. I went through the god damn awful screeching phase. I persisted with rehab listening to music from my generation from Spotify via a speaker. I didn’t stream music just listened aurally. It took most of the year before music fell into place. I’m going to Brisbane in a couple of weeks to see the Edinburgh Tattoo. This will be a true challenge, as the pitch of the pipes is high.
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