Hearing loss is very common in Australian adults.

As hearing loss worsens, and people withdraw from social activities, wellbeing and mental health are at risk. Hearing loss is the number one, biggest modifiable risk for dementia in middle age.*

Studies have shown that adults who received cochlear implants understood sentences almost eight times better (on average) than they could previously, with hearing aids.**

Less than 10% of adults who could benefit from a cochlear implant have explored it as an option.

If you are considering a cochlear implant, it may help to speak to someone who has one. We run information events at many of our local sites, and there are other groups such as Cochlear Implant Club & Advisory Association (CICADA) that meet regularly.

Hearing aids amplify sound.

Cochlear implants provide direct access to the inner ear or cochlea, and bypass the damaged parts of the inner ear. The device provides access to high-quality, more detailed sound.

Hearing aids provide precisely amplified sound into the wearer’s ear so that it can be heard when natural hearing is impaired. However, hearing aids may reach their limit when the damage is too great.

Cochlear implants bypass damaged structures in the cochlea and stimulate the hearing nerves directly. Cochlear implants have an external component called a speech processor, which looks like a hearing aid. This is worn behind the ear, or on the side of the head. Unlike hearing aids, the speech processor uses a radio signal to send information through the skin to the ‘implant’ which is surgically placed under the skin. The implanted component stimulates the hearing nerves and allows the brain to perceive sound.

Hearing loss can have a significant impact on the way you live your life. A cochlear implant can be a suitable option for adults and seniors of any age, right up to those aged in their 90s.

Improving your hearing can help you:

• Reconnect with your family and loved ones—in person and on the phone
• Feel more confident to participate in everyday activities—at work, at home, and in social environments
• Understand speech and interact with others
• Locate where sound is coming from
• Rediscover hobbies and sounds you love most.

Whether your hearing loss has been gradual, or it has occurred suddenly, a cochlear implant can increase access to sound, even in noisy environments, to help you live life to the fullest.

From watching your favourite television programme to joining in conversations at noisy restaurants, or simply experiencing your world through sound—a cochlear implant can enhance your life in many ways, big and small.

Find out why Alan chose cochlear implants.

Your personal circumstances, including the type and degree of your hearing loss, your general health, and your desired outcomes are all factors that determine your best solution. That’s where we help—and can determine whether a cochlear implant or bone conduction implant is right for you. We provide you with the information, advice, and support you need to make the best decision for you.

*Livingston, G. et al ‘Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the LancetCommission’, THE LANCET COMMISSIONS|VOLUME 396, ISSUE 10248, P41,3-446,AUGUST 08, 2020

**Runge CL, HenionK, Ta r i m aS, BeiterA, & ZwolanTA. Clinical Outcomes of the Cochlear™Nucleus® 5 Cochlear Implant System