My Cochlear Implant Story: Part 5 – It’s a Date!

It’s finally happening! I have a date for my cochlear implant (CI) surgery. After 8 years and 2 months since my sudden hearing loss and 17 long months on the waiting list, the surgery is set for November 12th. It’s almost my time, and I’m filled with excitement mixed with a sprinkling of nerves.

I know to keep my expectations in check. Since my hearing loss happened 8 years ago, I’m not exactly the ideal candidate for a cochlear implant. Research shows that the sooner you get an implant, the better the outcome, as it helps prevent the auditory pathways from weakening over time. But, auditory rehabilitation results with cochlear implants can vary from person to person, and I’m staying optimistic for a positive experience. I’ve read many cochlear implant stories, which often reveal mixed results, but most share an underlying positivity. While I know rehabilitation will likely be a slow and frustrating journey, I’m ready for the challenge. I will be putting my all into getting the best outcome possible for me. 

So, what are my goals and hopes for getting a cochlear implant for my single-sided deafness? I hope to have a sensation of sound that gradually becomes more meaningful with time and rehabilitation. I hope to feel more whole. I don’t know how else to explain this, but since I lost half of my hearing, I’ve sensed a void on my left side, as if a part of me is missing out. I wonder if what I’m trying to describe is the sense of spatial awareness and feeling at ease in your environment that comes with having two working ears. Maybe, but this doesn’t quite cover it—it’s more of a feeling. A member of my Facebook support group described their experience of cochlear implant activation beautifully, which highlights more closely what I am trying to explain. They wrote, “The satisfaction I felt when they turned on the processor was something I didn’t expect. I felt like my brain was balanced again.” I am excited about having the feeling of sound again on my left side. After 8 years of living with just one ear working, that’s become my normal. But I’m excited at the prospect of a new type of normal, where perhaps with some ability to identify the location of sound sources, the world will feel more vibrant, and full. 

My hopes for the implant extend beyond regaining the ability to hear. With a diagnosis of bilateral Meniere’s disease which poses a risk of hearing loss in my functioning ear, I view the implant as ear insurance—”earsurance!” Regardless of what happens to my remaining hearing, I’ll still have access to sound.

Another encouraging aspect of getting the cochlear implant is its potential impact on my tinnitus. A 2008 study found that adults with single-sided deafness (SSD) and significant tinnitus experienced a reduction in their symptoms after receiving cochlear implants. This finding has been supported by further research suggesting that cochlear implants can alleviate tinnitus distress. This gives me hope that my implant might also help lessen my tinnitus—a welcome bonus!

With a family history of Alzheimer’s, and after recently visiting my gran who is gradually being consumed by this cruel illness, thoughts of dementia weigh heavily on my mind. Research indicates that untreated hearing loss is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that individuals with mild hearing loss are nearly twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those with normal hearing. For people with moderate hearing loss, the risk triples, and for those with severe loss, it increases fivefold. Though research findings vary, the encouraging news is that a recent study found that using hearing aids to treat hearing loss can help reduce this dementia risk. I’m committed to doing everything I can to lower my risk of developing this devastating disease, and I hope that getting a cochlear implant to treat my hearing loss will help by keeping my brain active in processing sound.

Above all, this implant symbolises hope. Hope for a richer and deeper audio experience. Hope for further progress along this path of living with hearing loss. Hope for a positive change and improved quality of life.

It’s almost my time, and I’m smiling with the hope that will spur me on to keep working toward hearing the best I can with my new digital ear.