Hi, I'm Tash and I'm a speech and language therapist
at the Hearing Implant Centre at St Thomas'. In this video I'm going to be talking about
the outcomes of cochlear implants for adults. If you are recommended a cochlear
implant, this means the team believes it will provide you a better opportunity to hear a
range of sounds compared to your hearing aids. It is important to remember that a
cochlear implant does not restore normal hearing, but does provide access to sound
and improve quality of life. At first listening with a cochlear implant
can be strange and confusing. Adult patients report that it can
sometimes sound electronic or robotic. After some time with the cochlear implant,
sound will begin to sound more natural. You will be able to recognize sounds
around you and follow speech. This may take a matter of weeks,
and sometimes months. Everybody's progress with
a cochlear implant is individual. Following surgery, it is important
to attend all appointments at the Hearing Implant Centre
to ensure the best outcomes.
These benefits include being able
to hear sounds in the environment, being able to follow conversations face-to-face,
and finding listening less effortful and less tiring. Some adults even report they are
able to follow conversations without lip reading and sometimes are able to manage
conversations in noisy environments. There are some listening situations that adults
with cochlear implants still find challenging. These are listening on the telephone, listening in
noisy environments such as cafes and restaurants, and following the television
without subtitles. Factors that affect outcomes with a cochlear
implant include duration of profound deafness. The longer somebody has
had a profound deafness, the longer it takes for them to
get used to the cochlear implant. Also, if there are any abnormalities of the inner ear,
these are often identified on the MRI scan and are discussed with you in your appointments.
Finally, if you have any additional
diagnoses or medical conditions, these can sometimes affect outcomes as well. Factors that specifically affect you will be discussed in your individual appointments
at the Hearing Implant Centre..
