Do cochlear implants really help deaf and severely hard of hearing?
What do you think about cochlear implants, devices which deaf and severely hard of hearing people get in order to hear better? Do cochlear implants really help deaf and severely hard of hearing?
@gentleSun78
Good question. First it depends on the medical conditions, the reasons for being hard hearing or deaf.
Second it depends on personal circumstances and beliefs.
Those implants need surgery and there are risks that have to be taken.
At the moment cochlear implants aren't perfect. The background noises and the sound quality can be draining and it can create fatigue and headaches.
@gentleSun78
They can be enormously helpful, or only somewhat helpful. A lot of it depends on the amount of effort the recipient (the person getting implanted) puts toward rehabilitation. It's not as though you have the surgery, get the processor (the external part) and it's turned on and instantly you can hear like "normal." You have to re-learn to hear all over again.
I know this because I was implanted 10 years ago on my left/dominant ear and 8 years ago in my non-dom right ear. :)
Any other questions, please feel free to ask.
@InquireWithin I'm glad it worked for you! :) It's great you are willing to share your experience. :)
Talking to someone with first hand experience can be helpful. Still it's good to keep in mind the own experience can be somewhat different sometimes, despite the efforts you are doing.
I wear hearing aids and often address an audiologist, especially when I need to buy something at a hearing aid shop. I've already thought about cochlear implants and ask a doctor about them. So, cochlear implants can restore hearing in people with severe hearing loss who are no longer helped by using hearing aids, which means that these devices can improve people's communication and quality of life. Though there is also a disadvantage. Inserting a cochlear implant destroys any residual hearing in the operated ear. Thus, one can not turn back.
@BesYar thanks for sharing :)
I think, it depends on your individual conditions. I know people for whom these implants were really helpful. You need to consult with experts and I can recommend you staten island audiological for this. They help my father to find an ideal hearing aids for him.
