[NFB-DB] Cochlear Implants Response

[Penny Leclair]

My experience is almost the same as this, and I am very pleased with the idea that the hearing I have now will never change like with hearing aids your hearing declines, most people this is true, and you have to go through the loss of what ever that hearing decline will bring.
Penny

Sent from Mail for Windows

From: Sara Coleman via NFB-DB
Sent: April 27, 2022 10:28 AM
To: nfb-db at nfbnet.org
Cc: Sara Coleman
Subject: [NFB-DB] Cochlear Implants Response

Hello!

I became eligible for cochlear implants in 2016 and had the first done in 2016 and the 2nd one done in 2020.  Life changing for me as I have Ushers 2A with hearing impairment as a child and now legally blind becoming progressively worse.

I received the Kanso from Cochlear. They are an oval unit which sit up and back from my ears.  Since they come in different colors I have a set which matches my hair color so not that noticeable so I’m told.

Once I got used to the first implant I find them to be incredibly better than hearing aids. Cochlear implants are more successful for people who had hearing and good language development.  Hence the need for a complete evaluation to understand your personal circumstance. The ability to understand speech because I can hear the higher ranges of speech is very much improved for me. 

Recovery from the surgery itself was about a week. Minimal pain, mostly from the incision behind the ear.

Once the unit was activated it took me about 3 months to feel like sounds were more normal from the first highly digital, robotic sounds. I found listening to my favorite shows and lots of NPR, audiobooks and magazines helped accelerate learning how to hear using the cochlear.  My directional hearing also improved once I got the second unit.  I’m 5 years out from my first implant and my hearing improves with each 6 months “tune up” visit.

I couldn’t be happier.

Sara Coleman

Subject: [NFB-DB] Iplants
Hi everyon,
I?m thinking about implants and I wanted to ask some questions.
Howvisible are the implants?
Are they totally better then hearing aids?
Do you like them versus hearing aid? How long was the recovery process?
Thanks, 

Sent from my iPad


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