- Hearing
When retired health researcher and data analyst Barbara started exploring the option of a cochlear implant for her hearing loss, she did what came naturally: she turned to the evidence.
Initially, Barbara was reluctant to consider a cochlear implant, because it requires surgery to stimulate the hearing nerve to provide access to high-quality, more detailed sound. But, after bumping into an old friend who had a positive experience with her implant, she began doing her own research into whether this path was right for her type of hearing loss and what it would involve.
‘I was also aware of the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline so that was a factor too. I think things would have been quite bleak for me if I had lost the hearing in my good ear – that was the motivation.’
Research evidence is mounting on the impact of hearing loss on cognitive decline such as dementia. It also shows cochlear implants are associated with improvements in speech perception and recognition as well as improved quality of life and cognition, with adult recipients able to understand sentences on average almost eight times better than they could previously with hearing aids.
Barbara had progressive hearing loss for a long time. But she was finding it harder to understand people, particularly in social situations.
‘It just crept up on me,’ she says. ‘I was concerned that if I lost hearing in my good ear, what would the future look like?’
Once she had fully researched her options, she had her surgery through NextSense, and spent one night in hospital.
But she knew the real work was just beginning.
— BarbaraI knew I would have a lot of work to do after receiving the implant. At first everything sounded like beeping and buzzing because I had to learn to hear again. At first you hear snippets… but if you work at it, things become clearer.
Barbara worked with her NextSense audiologist Janet to optimise her hearing, and with a speech pathologist to help her listen in noisy environments. She also joined a NextSense acute listening group.
This program, run across five sessions, provides support for adults who have recently received cochlear implants to share their experiences and challenges related to hearing loss. The sessions cover topics such as technology and listening skills, as well as providing an opportunity to discuss how hearing loss has affected their overall wellbeing.
Barbara says her cochlear implant has given her confidence a big boost.
— BarbaraSix months after my implant, I was doing well. A year down the track, it was just fantastic.
‘It’s the best thing since sliced bread. It is a gift that has been life-changing for me.’
Now, Barbara has a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other. And she is eager to help others and share her experiences.
She now facilitates a social listening group for cochlear recipients keen to further extend their listening skills over cake and coffee.
The group meets monthly at the NextSense in Deakin, ACT, to discuss new research and developments in cochlear implants and share tips and tricks. This group also talks about forthcoming events such as Canberra Symphony Orchestra Rediscovering Music (for those with hearing loss) and the Deafness Resource Centre for specific items to assist such as fire alarms for those with hearing loss as well as practical issues around having a cochlear implant.
When she does get a chance to relax, Barbara likes to settle down with a good book. But now, she listens to books instead of reading them.
‘I started listening to audio books to practice my hearing, and now it’s the way I prefer to read. And with my hearing back, I can meet my friends at book club and understand the whole discussion.'