"I lost my laugh"
Jeff first got his first set of hearing aids in his early 30s after experiencing a hearing loss. Over time they no longer gave him the clarity he needed, and he progressed through life hard of hearing which impacted his quality of life.
I was miserable
Jeff has a very supportive wife who wrote everything down for him, but they stayed home all of the time because he couldn’t hear. In the beginning, they used to get plenty of invites to social occasions, but they eventually dropped off as they were constantly turned down.
One day Jeff was pulling up to Bunnings when he saw a man going into the store and noticed he was wearing a cochlear implant. Jeff quickly raced after him and managed to stop him to chat about his cochlear implant. The man gave Jeff enough information and confidence that a cochlear implant was something that could help his situation.
Jeff received his first cochlear implant in 2006, followed by his second in 2007. It made such a difference in his and his wife’s life. It was very emotional for both of them, “My wife no longer had to worry about finding a working biro”, says Jeff.
Jeff has worked as a cochlear implant mentor for many years and continues to offer his mentorship to those who might be considering a cochlear implant.
Now I have my cochlear implants, I am as happy as ever.
Here's what a typical cochlear implant journey looks like
At Ear Science Implant Clinic our dedicated team will support you each step of the way through your implant journey. You can self-refer and we will only offer you an implant assessment if you are a potential candidate. Our mission is to provide you with the best possible care and to find the best solution for you.
Making an appointment
You don’t need a referral for a hearing implant assessment. To book your first appointment call 1300 847 395 or request an appointment.
Your first appointment
As a potential candidate you will undergo an evidence-based assessment of your hearing thresholds and speech perception to make sure a hearing implant is the right solution for you. Your assessment results will be discussed with you and you will know if you are eligible for a hearing implant. Your audiologist will work with you to find the solution that best suits your hearing goals and your lifestyle.
We encourage you to bring a family member or friend to your first appointment and we will give you the information you need to make an informed decision. We will listen to your unique needs and answer all of your questions.
The next step
Following your assessment, your next step will be to see an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for a medical review of your implant candidacy, your GP can refer you to an ENT and our Implant Coordinator will help make all these arrangements for you.
Hearing implant activation
Your Audiologist will ‘switch-on’ your implant within two weeks of your surgery. Your audiologist will program your device to ensure you are comfortable with the new sound input.
You will see your Audiologist for follow up appointments to fine tune your settings, make any adjustments to optimise your hearing. This is an exciting time for implant recipients and their families.
Follow-up and after-care
Our team forms long term relationships with our clients, providing the best possible care to you. We offer frequent services within the first year of receiving your implant to optimise your outcomes and will provide you with long term-care as you need.
We use evidence-based device programming and therapy approaches to maximise your hearing outcomes and meet your hearing goals.
Myth Busting Cochlear Implants: Rare and radical or routine treatment for severe hearing loss?
Senior Implant Audiologist Ronel Chester-Browne will share with us her knowledge and insights into Cochlear Implants.
This miraculous Australian invention was once considered quite a rare and radical intervention, these days Cochlear Implants are routinely recommended for clients who Audiologists identify would benefit from one.
