Discover Cochlear Implants

• The difference between a hearing aid and a hearing implant system
• How a hearing implant system works
• Understand the cochlear implant journey?

Cochlear implants can help people who:
• have moderate to profound hearing loss
• have profound hearing loss in one ear with normal hearing in the other ear
• receive little or no benefit from hearing aids
• withdrawing from social events due to difficulty understand speech
• score 60% or less on sentence recognition tests done by audiologist in the ear to be implanted

If you or a family member find themselves in any of the above situations reach out to our expert team of audiologists to attend a Discover Hearing Implant session. This is a complimentary group session where you are invited to know, touch and feel how implants work and hear from a cochlear implant recipient about their own hearing journey.

Whilst many start with one cochlear implant, they can in fact benefit from two. Some individuals proceed to have cochlear implants in both ears (bilateral). This can allow for listening with two ears to improve the ability to identify the direction of sound and aid in listening in noisy environments.

Ultimately your audiologist will work with your surgeon to determine if you are a suitable candidate for a cochlear implant. They consider your hearing history, physical health, and personal goals before proceeding with surgery. These evaluations for a cochlear implant is a thorough process that can be conducted at our clinics across Victoria.

Cochlear implants offer life-changing benefits, enhancing the quality of life for individuals with hearing loss.

Key advantages can include:

• Better Speech Understanding: With training and rehabilitation, many recipients experience improved speech understanding, which allows them to communicate more effectively without needing to rely heavily on visual cues. Research has shown that adults with cochlear implantscould understand sentences eight times better than they could previously with their hearing aids (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.)
• Access to high frequency sounds: Hearing loss often starts with the high-pitched region of the cochlear being damaged. Therefore, no matter how intelligent a hearing aid may be, in users with a permanent high pitched hearing loss, they will be unable to have access to these sounds. Cochlear implants in these cases will improve sound clarity by providing back high-pitched sounds that one cannot hear anymore. Access to high-pitched sounds can help with environmental awareness, such as hearing alarms, doorbells, or bird songs, enriching an individual’s auditory experience and safety. This can significantly enhance day-to-day communication and improve quality of life.
• Hear on the phone once more: Modern technology allows the cochlear implant to connect to smart phones for phone calls.
• Enhanced Quality of Life: Hearing loss can lead to social isolation and even impact mental health. Cochlear implants allow users to engage socially and emotionally, reducing feelings of loneliness or frustration. (M Contrera, K. J., Sung, Y. K., Betz, J., Li, L., & Lin, F. R. (2017). Change in loneliness after intervention with cochlear implants or hearing aids. Otology & Neurotology, 38(4), 588-591)

• Educational and Career Benefits: For children, early implantation can improve language development, educational outcomes, and cognitive growth. For adults, cochlear implants can make it easier to communicate in the workplace, opening career opportunities.

Everyone has their own hearing journey post implantation, and these benefits are most effective when users regularly visit a cochlear implant clinic for post-surgery services and adjustments to optimise the device’s performance.

Factors can affect the success of an implant

The benefit of cochlear implants is often different for different individuals. This difference is often due to:

• how long they have had hearing loss before receiving a cochlear implant.
• how severe their hearing loss is
• condition of their cochlea (inner ear)
• other medical conditions
• how much practice they include in everyday life when using their cochlear implant system

A history of long-term hearing aid usage prior to cochlear implantation is typically a good recommendation from professionals, as this is an indication the auditory system has been regularly receiving sound. Therefore, it is important to remember that regular hearing aid usage will prepare your ear for future cochlear implantation success.

Different Types of Cochlear Implants

Cochlear implants have evolved over the years, and various types are available today available from different manufactures. Victorian Hearing is a locally owned and run private practice, we are proud to be an independent Audiology clinic. This means we have no ties with any manufacturer, therefore able to offer you choice of all cochlear implant brands.

Contact Victorian Hearing for All Your Cochlear Implant Needs

Cochlear implants offer a transformative solution for individuals when hearing aids no longer are adequate, enabling them to experience the world of sound again. By enhancing communication, social engagement, and educational outcomes, cochlear implants have positively impacted countless lives. At Victorian Hearing, we provide a full range of cochlear implant services to help you find the most suitable device, alongside your surgeon, to achieve optimal results. Our dedicated team of will guide you through every step—from initial consultation to post-surgery care—ensuring a comprehensive and personalised experience. Whether you’re considering this for yourself or a loved one, understanding how cochlear implants work and what they entail is an important first step. Connect with Victorian Hearing today to start your journey of hearing better.