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.
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.