Hear more with Cochlear

A hearing implant could make all the difference

If hearing aids aren’t helping as much as they used to, it’s time you discovered hearing implants. They can make a noticeable difference to how you experience sound, so you can focus less on your hearing and more on enjoying the moment.

Hearing implants may be a solution when hearing aids are not enough

Even with hearing aids, you or someone you love may not be hearing everything. Cochlear™ hearing implants work differently from hearing aids. Cochlear implants can further improve the clarity of sound and may help you get back many of the sounds you’ve been missing.

If you or a loved one are struggling to hear, even when using powerful hearing aids, and are unable to understand what is being said, a cochlear implant may be the solution you’ve been waiting for.

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"The first sound I heard was my wife’s voice. I could hear again, and I was so overwhelmed. Now I’m the person I was all those years ago. It’s a life-changer. It’s amazing that a piece of technology can do that."

Dave from Wales

How hearing implants help

Cochlear implants may be a solution if your hearing aids are not helping you understand sounds and speech. They could help you regain your confidence with clearer hearing2 in social situations, enabling you to connect with friends and family.

Cochlear implants:

  • Make your hearing clearer2,3, not just louder.
  • Help you understand speech2
  • Give you access to most sounds you’re missing
  • Improve hearing in noise1
  • Increase hearing satisfaction and improve quality of life4,5
  • Available on the NHS
  • Require a well-established surgical procedure

Do you qualify for a hearing implant?

Cochlear implants can help people with severe to profound hearing loss, who do not receive enough benefit when using hearing aids.

For some people, using a hearing aid with severe to profound hearing loss can be like listening to a loud, badly tuned radio. You may hear parts of what is being said and it may be loud enough, but the words are not clear.

Note: Wearing hearing aids first is a necessary step in the evaluation process for a cochlear implant.

Take a short quiz

Want to know if a cochlear implant may be a solution for you or your loved one? Take a short hearing quiz*

I have a problem hearing over the telephone.

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I have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time.

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I have trouble understanding things on TV.

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I have to strain to understand conversations.

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I have to worry about missing a telephone ring or doorbell.

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I have trouble hearing conversations in a noisy background such as a crowded room or restaurant.

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I get confused about where sounds come from.

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I misunderstand some words in a sentence and need to ask people to repeat themselves.

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I have trouble understanding the speech of women and children.

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I have trouble understanding the speaker in a large room such as a meeting or place of worship.

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Many people I talk to seem to mumble (or don't speak clearly).

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People get annoyed because I misunderstand what they say.

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I misunderstand what others are saying and make inappropriate responses.

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I avoid social activities because I cannot hear well and fear I will reply improperly.

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Family members and friends have told me they think I may have hearing loss.

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*Source: Koike, J.; Hurst, M.K.; and Wetmore, S. J. Correlation between the American Academy of Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery five-minute hearing test and standard audiological data, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Survery, Volume 111 (5), pp. 625-632.

How cochlear implants work

Cochlear implants are designed to bypass the damaged sensory hair cells inside the cochlea, delivering stimulation directly to the auditory nerve. For suitable candidates, this allows sounds to be heard more clearly than with a hearing aid.

Cochlear implant may provide access to sounds that previously you could no longer hear.

There are two primary components of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® System:

  1. The external sound processor
  2. The implant which is surgically placed beneath the skin, and attached to a row of electrodes that are inserted in the cochlea.

Steps to getting a hearing implant

Your journey to better hearing is worth every step. Learn more about the steps to getting a hearing implant.

  • Step 1: Talk to your audiologist or doctor

    Ask about the possibility of an implant. Your audiologist will be able to determine whether you or your loved one could benefit from an implantable hearing solution and refer you to a specialist clinic if necessary.

  • Step 2: Assessment

    The clinic will use their professional expertise to determine if an implant is right for you. If you or your loved one meet the criteria for an implant, the cost will be covered by the NHS.

  • Step 3: Surgery

    Hearing implant surgery is a well-established procedure that lasts only a couple of hours and is performed by a specialist Ear Nose and Throat surgeon.

  • Step 4: Fitting

    This is the moment you have been waiting for! Around four to six weeks after surgery, your audiologist will adjust the sound processor, and you or your loved one will begin to hear new sounds through the implant. With time and practice, you will gradually become more accustomed to and confident in this new way of hearing.

  • Step 5: Rehabilitation and Aftercare

    The team at your clinic have specialised training and expertise to help you or your loved one understand the new sounds. You will have a series of appointments over the first few months so your audiologist can make adjustments and fine tune the sound processor to help ensure you have the best hearing experience. You will have access to a wide range of tools and support so you can continue to practice at home.

See how our Cochlear Implants are changing lives.

Karl, Cochlear Implant recipient

Cochlear’s HearMore Service

Cochlear’s HearMore Service is designed for people with moderate to profound hearing loss and their loved ones to find information and support them on their hearing journey. To find out more about hearing implants register for more information.

We can help you to:

  • Learn about implantable hearing solutions available, to suit different levels of hearing loss.
  • Answer your questions. Our team of Cochlear hearing specialists is here to support you.
  • Connect with existing hearing implant recipients. We would be happy to put you in touch with a Cochlear volunteer who can discuss their personal experience.
  • Keep up to date with the latest news via email and receive invitations to interesting and informative events in your area.

Connect with us

Your Cochlear hearing specialists

Your Cochlear volunteer

After successfully registering you will be able to communicate directly with a Cochlear hearing specialist who can support you on your hearing journey.

You can also talk to one of our Cochlear volunteers. These are people that already have a Cochlear hearing implant and will gladly share their experiences with you.

REFERENCES

  1. Hirschfelder A, Gräbel S, Olze H. The impact of cochlear implantation on quality of life: The role of audiologic performance and variables. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008 Mar;138(3): 357-362.
  2. Fitzpatrick EM, Leblanc S. Exploring the factors influencing discontinued hearing aid use in patients with unilateral cochlear implants. Trends in Amplification. 2010, 14; (4): 199–210
  3. Runge CL, Henion K, Tarima S, Beiter A, Zwolan TA. Clinical outcomes of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® 5 cochlear implant system and SmartSound™ 2 signal processing. J Am Acad Audiol. 2016, 27; (6): 425–440.
  4. Granço FS, Fernandes NF, Morettin M, Costa Filho OA, Bevilacqua MC. The relationship between the speech perception and the degree of satisfaction among adult users of cochlear implants. International archives of otorhinolaryngology. 2013 Apr;17(02):202-7.
  5. Olze H, Szczepek AJ, Haupt H, Förster U, Zirke N, Gräbel S, Mazurek B. Cochlear implantation has a positive influence on quality of life, tinnitus, and psychological comorbidity. The Laryngoscope. 2011 Oct;121(10):2220-7

Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.
For further information, precaution and warnings, please consider to read instructions for use.
Views expressed are those of the individual. Consult your health professional to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology.
The Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. For compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility
Cochlear, Hear now. And always, Nucleus, and the elliptical logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Cochlear Limited.
For a full list of Cochlear’s trademarks, please visit our terms of use page.