You're never too old to 'hear' results from a cochlear implant

It is normal for our hearing to decline as we get older. Hearing loss, especially progressive hearing loss, can affect many aspects of life, including mental wellbeing. When you factor this in with the other stresses and challenges of ageing, untreated hearing loss can be extremely detrimental to our quality of life.

Conventional hearing aids and assistive listening devices are used successfully by many people with hearing loss. However, for some people, the hearing loss progresses or declines so much further that hearing aids no longer provide any benefit. At this point, the effects on general health and mental wellbeing become more evident. This is when a cochlear implant can help.

Untreated hearing loss can cause social isolation and loneliness as it becomes harder to communicate with family members and friends.

Group conversations can be challenging.
It can also affect how someone enjoys their hobbies, such as music and film, and whether or not they can perform at their job.
Going out to family gatherings and restaurants is then avoided.
Active participation at meetings becomes difficult.
Picking up the phone can become a challenge.

When these things happen, a cochlear implant may be the solution.

Cochlear implants are just as valuable for adults as for children

Stories of cochlear implants often feature children. However, many adults, even those over 90 years of age, have restored their hearing with a cochlear implant. There is no evidence that the elderly will do worse than their younger counterparts. However, they will do far better with a cochlear implant than with a traditional hearing aid.

Cochlear surgery is safe

Surgery will be daunting for some people, especially the elderly. Extensive research has shown that it is a safe and effective way to restore hearing to those with severe to profound hearing loss.

Cochlear implants are not rare

In fact, since they were approved in the 1980s, over 750,000 people worldwide have received a cochlear implant.

Cochlear implants are also valuable to people who can still hear on one side. We need to hear with two ears for effective communication. Hearing with or without a hearing aid on one side when the other cannot hear at all is not a barrier to implantation. Furthermore, a large percentage of people with one cochlear implant get one for the other side.

Cochlear implants provide other benefits

The latest cochlear implants now provide people with options to change how they hear to suit the listening environment. Bluetooth can connect many implants to phones and other mobile devices. Some of the cochlear implants also come with a remote control that functions as a means for audiologists to fine–tune implants in remote telehealth appointments.

Hear from our clients

Ear Science Institute Australia has provided countless successful cochlear implant procedures to Western Australians of all ages.

I have been attending Lions Hearing Subiaco for almost seven years. In September I received my second set of hearing aids. Throughout these years Lions has provided first class services. Your audiologists Angela (2015) and Steffanie have impressed me enormously.

It’s made a big difference and it’s changed my life in big ways.

Sam

The cochlear implant is as close to a miracle that you will ever experience.

Shirley

“I had never heard water, splashing, underwater…anything. But that sound when you go under, it’s unreal. I almost cried.”

Jamie-Lee

After switch on, the feeling was brilliant. Being able to hear things from all directions was a new sensation. Hearing the seatbelt slide over my shoulder was something that I had never heard before. It was the little, subtle things that made the biggest impact. There is a mentor program in place to assist people with their decisions by speaking to previous recipients.

Peter

“I have found the bone anchored hearing aid truly life changing; it has profoundly altered my self-perception and allowed me to do so much more. I would strongly encourage anybody thinking about a bone anchored hearing aid to have the trial band fitted and take it from there.”

Polly Smith

“Professor Atlas has been wonderful with such a commitment to giving the gift of hearing and creating the Ear Science Institute. He said my surgery went well. He and his team noting Ms Steffanie Cowan were very thorough in their assessments and gave me information that I have never bern given in nearly fourteen years.”

Anne Marie Lopez

“It has made a huge positive difference to my life and has been a dramatic improvement from the hearing aids. Over the years, I have told many people the same thing, to go ahead and do something about it if you are using hearing aids and they just aren’t good enough. Go ahead and consider a cochlear implant because it makes a big positive difference.”

Professor Russell F. Waugh

“From 2014 – 2019 I really struggled with life and it was looking like I would need to retire. Not only was it affecting my work, but I couldn’t hear a word my grandchildren were saying to me. I had about 10% hearing in one ear and 46% in the other. The experience has been life-changing. I may now possibly be eligible for one in the left ear. I can hear my grandchildren now so it’s lovely.”

Cathy Day

I dropped a pen on my desk to my amazement I heard the pen hit the desk and roll-over! This may sound simple and maybe not even earth shaking but I heard it with the Cochlear! I am truly grateful for the help that you and everyone at Ear Science, Subiaco Gwelup and Joondalup have given to me.

LEARN MORE

If traditional hearing aids are no longer working adequately for you, enquire at one of our Lions Hearing Clinics today and see if you are a candidate for a Cochlear Implant. There is no age limit! So, if you were under the impression that you are too old for a Cochlear Implant, we are here to let you know that is not the case. Get your hearing back today with a Cochlear Implant.

Watch some testimonials from people whose life was changed with a cochlear implant.