Are Cochlear Implants
Right for You?

If you’re struggling to hear in noisy settings, talk with loved ones on the phone, listen to your favorite songs, or contribute your talents at your workplace, then you’re not hearing as well as you’d like with your hearing aids. AB’s cochlear implant system helps people with severe-to-profound hearing loss go beyond hearing aids and enjoy a complete hearing experience at any stage of life.

Beyond Hearing Aids

Cochlear implants can help restore your rich world of sound. Unlike hearing aids, which simply amplify sound, cochlear implants use state-of-the-art technology to make sound clearer and easier to understand.

For many people with severe-to-profound hearing loss, hearing aids are not enough to compensate for a damaged ear’s inability to adequately hear. Cochlear implants bypass the damaged part of your inner ear and send sound signals directly to the brain via the hearing nerve. As a result, most cochlear implant recipients demonstrate improvement in their ability to understand speech, even in noisy environments, compared to hearing-aid wearers.

Don’t let hearing loss prevent you from connecting with life and loved ones in a meaningful way. Talk to your hearing health professional about cochlear implants today.

Implanted Ears and Aided Ears for Better Hearing

Many people benefit substantially from using a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other – often referred to as bimodal hearing. Bimodal hearing uses both technologies for optimum performance.

Contact the Bionic Ear Association or your hearing healthcare professional to discuss whether one, or both, of your ears would benefit more from a cochlear implant rather than a hearing aid.

Enjoy Surround Sound with Bilateral Hearing

Whether you are considering cochlear implants for the first time or have used one implant for years, bilateral cochlear implants provide the ability to merge sounds from two ears so your hearing is better than with one implant alone. Hearing with two cochlear implants can deliver richer, more dimensional sound and an improved ability to localize sound as well as hear softer sounds.1 From car horns to an orchestra’s French horns, you have the opportunity to hear more of your world with two ears versus one.

“After going bilateral, I was able to localize sounds. I have no fear of walking on roads, because I can hear cars approaching behind me. I hear in noisy environments, group meetings, and music sounds better.”


— Becky Hague, implanted at age 51, bilaterally implanted at age 52

Did You Know that
Cochlear Implant Systems are…

  • Designed to help you hear better in noisy settings.
  • Compatible with cell phones, MP3 players and other audio devices.
  • Easy to use … there’s no need to fumble with tiny batteries, dials, switches or remote controls.
  • Flexible with different wearing options to suit your lifestyle. Choose from a lightweight on-the-ear option or a discreet off-the-ear or body-worn option.
  • Eco-friendly with rechargeable batteries that are easy to operate and last for years.

References

1.

Dunn, C, et al. 2008. Comparison of Speech Recognition and Localization Performance in Bilateral and Unilateral Cochlear Implant Users Matched on Duration of Deafness at Age of Implantation. Ear and Hearing. 29 (3): 352–359