Pros and Cons of a Cochlear Implant

A cochlear implant is designed to help someone with significant hearing loss experience better hearing. Here’s a closer look at the advantages: 

 

1. Better Connection to the World Around You 

A CI offers the ability to hear every day sounds you may be missing — birds chirping, music playing, or a loved one’s laughter. A CI can also give you more awareness of things happening around you (e.g., an oncoming car when you’re crossing the street, someone calling you from across the room, the microwave beep indicating that a snack is ready for you to enjoy). Hearing the sounds that you are currently missing can help you navigate the world more safely, experience an improved quality of life, and develop stronger connections with others. 

 

2. Improved Hearing in Noisy Environments 

Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds louder, a CI bypasses damaged parts of the inner ear to directly stimulate the auditory nerve. This difference is important for people with severe to profound hearing loss who typically have damage or dysfunction in the inner ear. For these people, even when sounds are amplified by the hearing aids, the amplified sound may not be enough to allow them to hear clearly, especially in noisy places.  

If you receive a CI, it sends sound signals directly to the auditory nerve and can allow you to hear and participate in conversations in busy or noisy settings, like restaurants or large gatherings. 

 

3. Improved Speech Understanding 

For many people, a CI will help them hear and understand speech better. For adults, many people who get them can hear and talk much more clearly than they could with hearing aids. This means it’s easier to have conversations, even when there’s background noise. For children, getting a CI early helps them learn to talk like other kids their age and can make it easier for them to do well in school and make friends. 

Everyone’s results can be a little different, but most people who get a CI notice a big improvement in how well they are able to communicate with others. 

 

4. Custom Fitting and Support 

Your CI is fit during appointments with your hearing care professional. This means your CI is tailored just for you! You'll undergo a thorough process to ensure the device is fine-tuned to your hearing needs. Plus, you'll have access to ongoing support and programming adjustments to continue improving your experience, and as technology gets better over time, upgrades are available to enhance your hearing journey.  

 

5. Option for Both Ears 

Some people choose to get a CI in both ears (bilateral implantation) for balanced hearing. This can enhance the ability to detect the direction of sounds and better understand speech. Additional options for both ears include a CI and a hearing aid or CI and a CROS (a device that collects sounds from one side and sends it to the sound processor on the other side).