Lipreading Practice

Considering a cochlear implant?

I have had a profound hearing loss in both my ears since about 1980. It took a little while to actually realise that it was my hearing not everyone mumbling but the impact it had on my life was pronounced. I was lucky to become a head teacher and also to have a wonderful year as an Advisory HeadTeacher with responsibility for newly Qualified Teachers.  This was a very rewarding opportunity and it was then that I bought my first hearing aids; one for each ear.  They cost a fortune - £200 for each ear. It was a lot of money but I knew if I was going to do this I had to have better hearing.  It was still difficult but I had a successful year.  since then I have always bought the best hearing aids that I could afford instead of having a new car or other things.  My hearing has always come first!!

Recently because my already poor hearing has deteriorated life became increasingly difficult. I used to dread the large gatherings and dinner parties.  My husband had the opportunity to become Master of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers – a London Livery Company and a great honour and responsibility. I needed to support him.  So aged 73 I decided to investigate Cochlear implants.   I did some research and asked a friend who had recently had one and set off on my journey to a better hearing world. You can read about my journey if you want to.  My right ear was so much more effective when I had the cochlear implant that I decided to have another implant in my left ear. This was even more successful.  Like everything else there have a few problems but even so the benefits far outweigh them.  My cochlear implants have changed my life and enabled me to do so much more than I did before.

Everyone is different!  You have to find out what is best for you and make up your own mind with the advice of your consultants. If you want to find out more about cochlear implants, your audiologist is a good place to start. 

You can also go online and look at the various websites of the cochlear implant manufacturers

And national associations for information:-

www.actiononhearlingloss.org.uk

Hearing Link - Cochlear Implants

A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device that provides a sense of sound to a person who has a severe or profound hearing loss. Find out more.

Hearing loss treatment - NHS

www.nciua.org - National Cochlear Implant Users Association

This has regional groups where you can meet people with Cochlear implants and chat to them about their experiences. Very useful to help inform your decision making