My Cochlear Implant Story: Part 4 – Why I’m Getting a Cochlear Implant for Single-Sided Deafness

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

As I write this blog, it is November 30th, 2023, and I have been living with single-sided deafness (SSD) for over 7 years. Earlier this year, in May, I found out that I am a candidate for a cochlear implant (CI) and my name was added to the waiting list for the surgery, which could be up to a year’s wait. 

I live in Spain and feel incredibly grateful to have the option of getting a CI for my SSD, particularly since this option is not currently available in some countries. 

During the past few months, I’ve had numerous consultations with ENTs and lots of hearing tests. I had a CT scan and also 2 MRIs – one (with contrast dye) of my brain, and another (without contrast) of my ear. I also consulted with a psychiatrist to check that I understand the rehabilitation process and to make sure I have a strong support system in place. Since I have a history of balance issues, I have also been consulting with a vestibular specialist, and in January, I have various balance tests scheduled so that the doctors have a comprehensive understanding of my balance system before I begin the CI process. 

Some people have asked me about my decision to get a CI for my single-sided deafness, so I thought I’d share some of my reasons for taking this step. 

Here’s why the decision to get a CI, for me, was not a difficult decision to make:

1. A profound loss: I have no functional hearing in my left ear, so really have nothing to lose, regarding hearing in this ear. 
2. Sound localisation: Sound localisation is the job of two working ears, and having only one hearing ear means I am unable to identify where sound is coming from. This can mean I sometimes feel vulnerable and unsafe, for example, when crossing a road and being unable to hear a car approaching from my deaf side. A CI could help bring the experience of sound to my deaf side, and with time could help me understand better where sound is coming from, helping me to feel more comfortable and safer in my surroundings.
3. Social situations: Having only one hearing ear makes it difficult to filter out background noise, meaning conversing in noisy cafes and restaurants can be very challenging. A CI could help me hear better in social situations, meaning I feel less isolated and more able to join in conversations when out and about.
4. Meniere’s disease: Meniere’s is a disorder caused by a build-up of fluid in the chambers of the inner ear. It causes symptoms such as vertigo, nausea, balance issues, tinnitus, and hearing loss. I have been diagnosed with Meniere’s disease in both ears, which means I could also lose the hearing in my hearing (right) ear. Getting a CI will mean that I will have some access to sound regardless of what happens to the hearing in my right ear.
5. Increased risk of dementia: Studies show that untreated hearing loss can be linked to an increased chance of dementia. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, people with mild hearing loss have nearly twice the risk of developing dementia compared to those with normal hearing. This risk increased threefold for people with moderate loss and fivefold for those with severe loss. The good news: A recent study found that treating hearing loss with hearing aids can protect people from the risk of developing dementia associated with hearing loss. I have a family history of Alzheimer’s, and I will do all it takes to help reduce my risk of developing this devastating disease. 
6. Tinnitus: Did you know in 2008, when Professor van de Heyning and his team studied a group of adults with SSD and incapacitating tinnitus who underwent CI for tinnitus control, all patients reported decreased tinnitus burden postoperatively? Since then, there has been more data to suggest that CIs can help with tinnitus distress. This means, there is even a possibility a CI could help reduce my tinnitus!

Above all, I am looking forward to having some sense of sound in my left ear. I understand the sound will be difficult to tolerate and make sense of in the beginning, but I will be putting all my energy into the rehabilitation process to get the best outcome possible! 

Do you have CI for single-sided deafness? I’d love to connect! Please share in the comments below your own reasons for choosing to have the procedure, and also your experiences with the CI.