Cochlear Implant Simulation on Speech and How I Feel About my Implant (reuploaded)[CC]

[@SilverGypsyWeed]

I've had bilateral cochlear implants (CA) since 2008. The robotic phase went away with programming (mapping). This simulation is giving me almost an shadow sound with every word, or a close echo feeling. I don't have that with normal every day use. My robotic phase had my boss, with his deep voice, sounding like Darth Vader! It was really hysterical. Programming also solved other issues along the way! My cat meowed like an old fashioned mechanical alarm clock, I could not even register sound from emergency vehicles that were right next to me... but I could hear an infant lightly snoring in her car seat in the car behind me! All problems were solved with programming. This video is a year old, so by now I hope things are smooth sailing for you.

[@nellefindlay]

Yes, with programming and just getting used to it, my CI sounds pretty normal to me now. My dog barking sounded like a human just saying woof at first which was hilarious. :)

[@kaylasmusic]

How tf can you get used to something like that 😱,.. it’s awful

[@puffy77]

@@kaylasmusicbecause it’s better than not being able to hear

[@kaylasmusic]

Well the programming does get adjusted and eventually as they tweak it it will sound normal over time

[@Jamilesma]

How long does it take to hear normally. I am considering CI implant, but scared to death of compatibility issues. Also, how badly would this impact one's career choices?

[@Mica98]

This is amazing! Your videos help to gain so much perspective! The robotic sound started becoming less annoying after a while, so your video made so much sense :)

[@nellefindlay]

I'm glad you've found it helpful, that's exactly what I was going for. :)

[@michaelgrant6862]

You speak your mind so gracefully. You’re a natural and have your ways of explaining so clearly. I’m scheduled for my implant Dec 4.

[@nellefindlay]

Thank you, good luck with your implant. :)

[@WE3LSC1937]

I had mine done November 6, and was activated December 12. I know you just had you surgery, how are you doing? Saying prayers, and Merry Christmas @michaelgrant6862

[@SparkyRoosta]

As someone who had SSNHL 5 years ago in my right ear, I have been looking for something like this video for a while. I can hear perfectly in my left ear, but I also struggle with background noise in conversation as well as the lack of directionality. I am very concerned about the roboticness of the sound, but listening for a good 10 minutes, it didn't sound as bad at the end. Thank you so much! This was way better than a quick snippet for a solid example of what it might sound like.

[@abhishekroy9961]

Hey I’m also having SSNHL hearing loss. Just wanted to ask is tinnitus persist for lifetime? I have had SSHNL 10 days before and I’m feeling ear fullness and tinnitus.

[@retiredbitjuggler3471]

Nellie, I found this simulation fascinating and learned some insights into my own limited hearing loss. I was a foolish youngster and damaged my hearing while listening to insanely loud music and not donning proper ear protection while working in a large parts stamping factory. I have been loosing my hearing gradually ever since and over time it was brought to my attention that I always stare at a person’s mouth while conversing with them. Without realizing it, I had begun reading lips and relied on it to make sense. I became acutely aware of this the past 2 years with everyone being concealed by the cvd masks. I was pretty much lost. However, I noticed some things about this simulation that actually surprised me. First, I found it perfectly understandable. Oddly enough, I have issues understanding people with foreign accents, your British accent included. However, I had no problem understanding you via the simulation. That was true until I closed my eyes and could no longer follow your lip queues. The brain does an incredible job at filling in the blanks using multiple senses. I’m not sure I fully appreciated this until this video demonstrated it to me. It is wonderful what your implant has done for you and I wish you the best of luck and continued progress. Thanks for posting this video.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I'm glad you found this video informative. It is very true that the brain can fill in a lot of blanks which is something that isn't really shown in some of the other simulations I've seen. In normal one on one conversation I can understand everything as long as I can see the person's lips, however as soon as someone has a mask on or I'm trying to make a phone call, I'm completely lost. Thank you for your positive wishes, Nelle xx

[@markofx3223]

@@nellefindlay hello do think there's a chance with people haveing cochlea implants to regenerat new hair cells in coohlea by fx322 or stem cells treatment drugs what's the chances??

[@nellefindlay]

@@markofx3223 Hi, I know there is research into regenerating the cochlea hair cells, but the research is in the very early stages. It is definitely possible that there will be new developments with regards to regenerating cochlea hair cells, however, I think it will be a long time before it happens.

[@markofx3223]

@@nellefindlay you carnt be to shore if clinical trials are a success first quarter this year 2024 or early 2025 as iv been told for drugs be available to the public just think it possible to hear to a normal level agen music talking 🀄🀄🀄🐾😇💕

[@markofx3223]

@@nellefindlay hi hope that fx322 stem cells be a success to regenerat the new hair cells in coohlea to there normal function again so you can injoy listening to music watching good movies and talking to a normal level agen this could happen by 2025 as ben Thompson ses in his KZbin videos you got something to look forward to a success in clinical trials will speed the process much faster in us then ship drug to UK possible could get it on NHS

[@davejenkins873]

I see what you mean Nelle, that is a step change from the previous video. To me this simulation demonstrates the loss of inflection in the heard voice. I could understand without the subtitles, but I had heard the words before! Thank you again for helping us to understand.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. To me, this sounds identical to the other video (hence the confusion) but I was told that the other video had basically two audio tracks on it (I was trying to be too clever with technology and it went a bit wrong). What I had done before was have the original sound playing alongside the simulation which caused an echo effect. Thank you for pretty much watching the same video twice. Nelle xx

[@arnoldrothstein3417]

Hi Nelle. I've just started searching for the real people with implants after watching the movie "Sound of Metal". I just wanna thank you for sharing your story and help people understand the things. Your videos are quite amazing, I really enjoyed and have been impressed like I've been watching a perfect documentary. Awesome depictions. In the end, I am glad that you got your hearing back, even with the implant, and I wish you continued success in implant hearing progress. Looking forward to seeing your new videos!

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I'm glad you're enjoying my videos and they have helped you understand a bit about what life is like with a cochlear implant. I'll keep the videos coming! Nelle xx

[@lloydallan857]

I’m new to your sight but find it quiet helpful and informative. The sound heard which I believe you called an “Echo” sound does scare me a bit. I will be getting my CI within the next month or two and the thought of trying to hear past that sound makes me woNder if I’m making a mistake. One of the people stated in the comment section it could be phased out in mapping process. I hope so.. I have to get together with a mentor to put me more at ease. By the way, your site is very helpful. Your a delightful young women and a pleasure to listen to. I’m a 72 year man from the USA and enjoy listening to your British accent, my father is from Scotland so I understand some of the phrases you use. Please continue your updates on CI implantation and what to expect, you should consider a career as an audiologist. Thank you again, your much appreciated..

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I can only speak for my personal experience, but I am really glad I decided to get an implant. It takes a while to get used to and it sounds really awful at first but you get completely used to it. When I say you get used to it, I don't mean that you just get used to everything sounding super weird, it's more like your brain just gets completely used to it and doesn't even notice it anymore. Also, just for practicality, it is pretty useful to be able to hear. You can also take off the processor if you are bothered by a particular sound or you just need a break. I hope you get on well with your implant, if you decide to go ahead with it. Nelle :)

[@vic6413]

Im SSD and just got my CI switched on yesterday. Your simulation is the most accurate Ive seen, very similar to my experience so far, although its a bit clearer than what Im hearing. Thanks for going to the effort of putting together your channel, its helped and comforted me. Best of luck on your second one.

[@nellefindlay]

I'm glad you've found my channel helpful. Good luck on your CI journey :)

[@kghello]

Hi Vic, In the SSD, is Cochlear Implant better or Osia 2?

[@vic6413]

No idea, I never tried a bone conduction system. I have the Kanso 2 which is a work in progress to be sure. @@kghello

[@meghanvalli]

Thanks Nelle, I am a candidate and have been wondering what the sound would be like. I really appreciate it!

[@danielinthedan3655]

It’s so interesting how I could understand speech at the beginning, but I couldn’t really notice the intonation in each word, it was just like if you played a C and a D on the piano, it would sound the same to me, but after watching the video for about like 5 minutes, I could actually notice the intonation in each word, it was really fun to watch.

[@nellefindlay]

I'm glad you enjoyed watching the video! I like your BB-8 profile picture btw.

[@danielinthedan3655]

Thank u so much, sorry for taking so long to read ur reply, omg. I get so many YT notifications all the time cause I’m subscribed to a lot of channels, so I miss these important ones sometimes, I’m so sorry and I might actually start using the BB-8 profile pic again, since u pointed it out lol.

[@avanderzanden]

I can't thank you enough for your insightful and the sharing of your experiences. This demonstration and your perspective has me much more willing to consider an implant when I consult with a doctor that does CI in about a day. Very grateful!

[@nellefindlay]

Good luck with your CI consult. I'm glad you've found my videos helpful.

[@avanderzanden]

@@nellefindlay I have wonderfully functional CI now and it has really helped with my quality of life. Thank you again.

[@chrislundberg1]

Just got my implant and instead of robot I get a whisper sounds. Just been two weeks hoping for better results. Love your videos hard to find non sponsored honest videos.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. Everyone's experience with cochlear implants are different and it takes a while before everything starts to sound normal again. I'm glad you enjoy my videos. For full disclosure, I don't have any sponsored videos on my channel (however I would consider making them if I genuinely like the product), but I do have some paid videos with a channel called HearingLikeMe which is associated with Phonak. I genuinely like Phonak products and have made completely unsponsored reviews of their products on this channel. I try to make sure I am always honest and would never intentionally mislead anyone. Nelle :)

[@markofx3223]

@@nellefindlay hey by god that sounds very strange technology will improve the sound it's sounds like that mash advert in 70s daleks most probably have better quality in music but regenerating new hair cells in coohlea will hear the quality of sound much better just hope it's a success be cloose to normal again speech background sound and music 🐾😇😺💞🀄🀄🀄🌎🇱🇷🇬🇧

[@kaylasmusic]

@@markofx3223 people say that MedEl is the best manufacturer for implants,.. they are also good for musicians apparently

[@petrarobinson3667]

Really clearly articulated, Nelle. Thank you. This is a great insight and I'll be using it in deaf awareness training.

[@nellefindlay]

Thanks, I'm glad it's helpful.

[@whatever3440]

I found you through a twoset video- thank you for posting!! It was very interesting and informative

[@nellefindlay]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it useful!

[@kai8564]

In a way I can relate to what you're talking about. I've been hearing one-sided since birth, being deaf on one side and normal hearing on the other side. As a child I did not notice counsciously how far exclusion goes simply because of the fact you aren't able to hear as well as others. You have to adapt in many ways, especially in group situations. How you seat, where you lean to, how you turn your head makes a big difference, but it's a fact you won't ever be able to communicate as smooth as a both-sided hearer. Now, as I am a bit older, I consider to get a CI on my deaf right side. Would be interesting to know how it feels if you hear more or less normal on one side and with CI on the other side. If anybody could share some real-world experiences, these would be much appreciated. Thank you for your video, it was exactly what I was looking for and there are not many good, simple examples of a person speaking through the impression of a CI. Maybe, over time, the accuracy and the brains interpretiation get's more and more accurate? Since you got your CI relatively new while you made this video, it would be interesting to know if your experience evolved over time or if it stayed more or less the same. Greetings from Germany

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, There's a channel on youtube called Nessa's lifescape who has asymmetrical hearing loss and got a cochlear implant. Her general vibe and everything is pretty similar to mine so if you like my videos you'll probably like hers. Over time my hearing with the CI has become more clear, but it still sounds pretty robotic, but some people say theirs sounds completely natural so I guess it's very individual.

[@electrochaser8154]

I’m a candidate for a CI. I find your videos informative. Could you do one on what you’re doing for rehab?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I can absolutely make a video about cochlear implant rehab because it's a really important aspect and it's not really talked about all that much. Nelle xx

[@snmartin]

This video is so interesting. I think I got really lucky. My audiologist gave me two different options when all sounds were turned on (I had to retrain my brain with higher frequencies first. I didn't get all noises activated at first. I lost my hearing over a long period in my life. I feel lucky considering my circumstances to others)...One sounded a lot like this and the other sounded more normal. I luckily never had this phase. My audiologist was my super hero my first two years with my CI. I'm so thankful for this technology in my life!

[@brendakirk7250]

I lost all my hearing in only one ear to the point where a hearing doesn’t help. I tried a cros system and it was awful for me. The Audiologist is recommending I check into a cochlear but I am not sure if it would be super weird to hear one way on one side and normal on the other. even with one “normal” ear I can’t understand anything people are saying in a social situation like a restaurant or store or work unless that one person I really want/need to hear is on my good side. I keep going back and forth on whether a device is more for my benefit or others so they don’t have to work as hard to communicate with me. The hardest part for me is the tinnitus ALL THE TIME. It drives me crazy sometimes and I will purposely go into a loud environment just to make it less noticeable. Do you have tinnitus as well?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I'm not an audiologist and I'm profoundly deaf in both ears so I can't really give advice for how cochlear implants work for single sided deafness, but I can completely empathise with how difficult situations can be when you can't hear properly. There's a really good youtube channel I follow called Travis and Vanessa. Vanessa has a cochlear implant for an asymmetrical hearing loss, but she does still have a bit of a hearing loss in her good ear as far as I'm aware. She might be better than me to give advice for what it's like to combine a cochlear implant with a normally hearing side. I do have tinnitus, but not as badly as some people. It's constant in my left ear (the one without the implant) and only when I don't have my processor on in my right ear. I'm trying to see if I can get a second cochlear implant partially to help with the tinnitus in my left ear as it has definitely helped with my right. Listening to music really loud helps my tinnitus, but obviously since you still have a good ear you need to be a bit careful not to damage the hearing in that ear by listening to anything too loud. I'm not sure if this might be helpful or not, but I know a lot of people who are single sided deaf opt to get bone anchored hearing aids on their deaf side which might be an option for you to avoid any clash between the sound of a cochlear implant and your natural hearing, however that wouldn't give you any directional hearing and might not improve your tinnitus as much as a cochlear implant. Good luck with whatever you choose and I'm happy to offer any advice I can. Nelle :)

[@brendakirk7250]

@@nellefindlay Thanks. I will check out that other channel too.

[@albertstadt9853]

I have the same situation as you. My tinnitus sounds like a jet engine. I'm lucky that I don't notice it a lot except when it is quiet. My audiologist also recommended I check out the cochlear option, but I don't think I will unless my good ear deteriorates a lot more. Good luck finding a solution that works for you. Does white noise help you?

[@brendakirk7250]

Yes, white noise does help. I especially use the noise ( a fan) when going to sleep. It keeps my mind off the tinnitus. Overal, I am happy I received a cochlear. It helps quite a bit.@@albertstadt9853

[@ingoscholz2073]

Thank you Nelle. Very interesting. I tried to focus on what I can hear. And it was very weird. In the beginning of the video I hat to read your lips an read the subtitles. minutes later - it really worked, I got used to and I understood without reading lips or subtitles. It is indeed absolutely different to my hearing. But I never had such „aha-effect“. Thank you for this experience. Ingo

[@nellefindlay]

I'm really glad you found the video helpful and that it's given you a better understanding of having a cochlear implant. Nelle xx

[@dorothydrobney3881]

Hi Nelle, I've just found you on here and am enjoying your videos. I have single-sided deafness, for 12 years now, and I just had my surgery ten days ago. My activation is scheduled for November 14th and I've been wondering what it would sound like to have hearing in my left ear again. I appreciate learning from you.

[@bakshdeepsingh]

I thought that my moderate to severe is the big thing to deal with but honestly i got traumatised watching this video and wanna cry

[@edsedlak6827]

This is a really useful video. It is good to know what may be in my future, given the current state of my hearing. To me it sounds like a robotic voice in a drainpipe. But, as you say, speech is intelligible and that is a big improvement over muffled noises.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I'm glad you've found this video helpful. The sound of the implant definitely becomes more natural over time. Now I only occasionally notice that it sounds a bit robotic, but most of the time it sounds normal to me.

[@bradallen6333]

This sounds just like the encrypted radios we had in the Navy in the early 90's. I got used to that and I can understand you without any problem. Maybe improvements in technology will make these sound more normal in the next ten years.

[@erichutchens2215]

DAMA

[@kiblet]

This is really interesting, thank you. It sounds like a digeridoo with a tiny bit of static, if a digeridoo could talk. I wonder if I understood other videos correctly, however. I watched a few videos about what cochlear implants sound like, and I gather that some people are experiencing much better quality than this. One girl who is deaf in one ear but can hear in the other, was able to pick out a sample that she said sounded like how she heard a sentence with her cochlear implant in her deaf ear. It sounded muffled, but not at all robotic. Another video of a 21-year-old woman is saying her music sounds good, and another video has comments from patients on how much they enjoy their music. I don't think you could enjoy music if you hear like you're demonstrating in this video. Are some cochlear implants actually much better, but not available everywhere?

[@nellefindlay]

So much of how cochlear implants work is based on how your brain processes the sound. I personally am mildly autistic and have always been very sensitive to sounds so that might be linked to that, but in general, it just depends on how your brain adapts. For some people it sounds completely natural, for some people they can only hear a few beeps and background noise with zero speech discrimination. I'm somewhere in the middle, I have good speech discrimination, but I do still think it often sounds kind of robotic. I can enjoy music, but only if I know the song well and have it streaming directly into my processor. I can hear the beat and kind of the tune, but I have to know the music already to understand it (I hope that makes sense). If there's music playing in the background of a shop or something, that's like psychological torture for me.

[@louierichards3302]

The sound is very rough robotic. Sounds odd but you have hearing this simulation. What about brainstem systems for hearing question would it sound like the cochlear implant?

[@nellefindlay]

I don't have an Auditory Brainstem Implant, but from information I've read online, they are similar to CIs but less clear and people struggle more to understand speech with ABIs as opposed to CIs which is why CIs are the preferred solution where the Auditory nerves are intact.

[@j.phillips4080]

Sounds like a ring modulator. I think I could live with that, rather than missing out and not knowing....

[@matsa2620]

Thank you for this video. Very helpful!

[@Felice_Enellen]

Hi Nelle, and thank you for this. I'm a software engineer who's done some audio programming and I've often wondered if a CI would sound very much like this. It's so interesting to know that it does! Do you know how many channels/electrodes/bands are in your CI? I've read that they can have anywhere from, like, 12 to 32, but I don't know if that information was current. I assume the more channels, the better, but I also assume the way each electrode dynamically stimulates the nerves next to it is equally important. I guess this is what the "programming" you do with a technician is for. BTW the reason why I'm so interested is that I have to take meds that are slowly degrading my hearing as a side effect, and I have pretty strong tinnitus at this point. I think if it goes on long enough, I'll need CIs myself.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. If you're interested in making your own CI simulation, the program I used is called AngelSim. It's pretty easy to use and you can just download it online. You can set the number of channels and other settings to see how different things sound. I have 22 electrodes on my implant. Different brands do different numbers, I think most modern implants have at least 16 channels (not sure though). Going through hearing loss is really difficult. If you have any questions about hearing aids etc. I'm happy to answer them the best I can. The best video I have found about tinnitus is this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJiyfYGVra1slbs It's by a lady called Chrissy and she has loads of fantastic videos about hearing loss and cochlear implants.

[@Felice_Enellen]

@@nellefindlay Ooo, I watched Chrissy's video and it already taught me something I didn't know. I didn't know dehydration amplified tinnitus! That's a great one to know! That might be why mine gets so much louder late in the day, which is when I go easy on water intake so I won't have to go to the bathroom 2-3x in the night. Thanks so much for that and the info about your CI and AngelSim, maybe I'll noodle with that a bit and see what it's like. 😄 You seem like a really sweet person and I hope everything keeps getting better for you!

[@cchambersglenn]

This is very interesting. I use captions on KZbin and could not understand the sentences if I closed my eyes. This also gave me a headache. Very interesting because I am contemplating getting a CI.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, the adjustment process is pretty intense. I had a permanent headache for about 2 months. After the initial adjustment period though, it has been really useful and I can understand so much more speech. Also, when the sound bothers me, I can just take off the processor for a break.

[@zoozoo827]

Hello, is CI useful for people that have one good and another deaf ear? How can they hear the sound? One normal hearing from the good ear and another robotic sound from CI?

[@nellefindlay]

Some people who are deaf in one ear get a cochlear implant for their deaf ear. This isn't my experience so I don't really know how they hear or how helpful they find it. I follow a channel called Nessa's lifescape who has asymmetrical hearing loss and got a cochlear implant for one ear. She might be a better person to ask about that experience.

[@gerritsmaurice]

Very informative and immersive video. Does everything still sound robotic now or has your hearing through the implant improved / changed in the last year?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, everything sounds pretty normal to me now. I occasionally notice things sounding a little bit robotic, especially music or in environments with a lot of background noise, but everything feels pretty normal. It doesn't really bother me at all and it's a massive improvement on hearing nothing at all.

[@gerritsmaurice]

@@nellefindlay Thanks for the update. I am wearing a BAHA 6 Max bone conductive hearing device right now but in the future I will have to opt for a cochlear implant due to my deteriorating hearing. It’s nice to know that the hearing trough a c.i. Will sound (relatively) normal after a while.

[@山崎きよし]

Hello Nelle, how do you make simulations? Id like to Do this too with my hearing device.

[@nellefindlay]

It's a program called AngelSim. You can download it online.

[@ica_rust2753]

Hi Nelle! I really enjoy your content and POV of this and I'm drawing inspiration from this video for a research project. Do you mind sharing how you were able to edit the sound quality for tis video?

[@nellefindlay]

I used a program called AngelSim and just messed around with the settings until I thought it sounded as close as possible. Unfortunately, I'm only able to hear the sound through my cochlear implant so it's very difficult to verify how accurate I got the sound. I hope that answers your question. Good luck with your research project. Nelle :)

[@ica_rust2753]

@@nellefindlay that helps a lot, thank you so much!

[@jameswest8280]

I don't mean this as an insult, but it sounds like when the dentist gives you laughing gas. My wife's hearing loss is 110db, and deteriorating rapidly. I signed us up for online ASL. We're going to have to make a lot of difficult decisions before long. She's only in her 50s, I just want her to be happy and enjoy life. I want to be able to hear it when I say "I love you". Any advice would be appreciated.

[@nellefindlay]

That's not an insult at all. First of all, I am very happy and enjoy life. Hearing loss is hard, but it doesn't mean you can't have a fulfilling life by any stretch of the imagination. When I first had my implant, my mum especially was worried that her voice would always sound weird to me and that it would somehow affect how I perceive her. Yes, voices can sometimes sound weird with the implant and I can't really recognise people's voices, but it doesn't affect the way I perceive anyone. It also doesn't change how I relate to people whether it's through spoken language or signed. Whether your wife decides a cochlear implant is right for her, or you decide to stick with sign language (or both!), I'm sure that you telling her that you love her will mean just as much through an implant or in ASL as it does with normal hearing. I hope you've found this helpful, feel free to send me another comment or send me an email if you have any more questions you would like to ask.

[@jameswest8280]

@@nellefindlay thank you very much for your positive feedback, you made made my day 🙂

[@wandawilliams9785]

I've only had my CI for two months, and I'm having a difficult time. Other than reading out loud, are there any other activities that can assist me with training my brain to interpret sounds?

[@traceyyoegel7647]

I am new in my hearing loss journey. Diagnosed with SSHL just 2 months ago. I am in the process of considering a CI. I have profound loss in one ear without any loss in my other. It’s very hard for me to understand how my brain will process sounds. Do sounds still sound like this for you or does it change with time and adjustments? Sorry for the dumb questions! I’m just overwhelmed at this point!

[@WE3LSC1937]

@nellefindlay PLEASE tell me things won’t always sound robotic and how long it took to sound normal? I JUST got activated Tuesday 12/12/23 I don’t hear like your simulator is depicting, I can hear SOME environmental sounds, when my husband talks and IF I’m looking at him while he talks I can make out most words, but it feels like my ear is completely stopped up right now. I knew it wasn’t going to be good in the beginning and that it takes time for the brain to relearn to hear again and hear normally. I’m going to do my journey videos as well because I have things that I fell I need to ask my doctor about in 3 months follow up, but I go right after Christmas for my 2nd programming and to turn on the Bluetooth feature in my receiver and processor, I have the Rondo 3. I DO NOT want to hear like this simulator sounds for the rest of my life.. I am completely deaf in my left ear and 80% hearing loss in my right ear.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, your brain adapts to the sound and it just ends up sounding pretty normal. Speech now sounds pretty much normal to me, but there are still some things that sound awful like music in shops, but most things are fine. Also remember you can always take it off if something sounds particularly bad.

[@courtneypoppy1580]

With my auditory processing disorder I would still have to read her lips to understand :(

[@patriciaturner824]

Really good explanation. Explains CI very well.

[@nellefindlay]

Thank you xx

[@WE3LSC1937]

Nelle, how were you able to do the simulator for your video as I’d actually like to make a video for my family so they actually understand how I will be hearing for a while, if you could please share? Thanks.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi yes, it's called AngelSim and it's a piece of computer software that you can download online. It's not particularly user friendly, but I managed to make it work.

[@Jamilesma]

How long does it take to hear normally. I am considering CI implant, but scared to death of compatibility issues. Also, how badly would this impact one's career choices?

[@nellefindlay]

To your first question: You never hear completely normally with a cochlear implant, but my speech recognition in quiet was pretty good, but it still sounds like an old radio for me, I think people's perception of the sound through their implants is quite variable so I speak only for myself. To your second question: Hearing loss doesn't outright prevent you from doing virtually any jobs. The only ones I know that have actual requirements for a specific level of hearing are: military, commercial pilot (I would assume air traffic control is probably the same), and police. Apart from that it's just up to your comfort level of how well you feel that you can cope. Deaf people not being able to work in public facing roles is a definite myth. You can pretty much do whatever you want and technology and other accommodations such as interpreters etc. should allow you to have almost any career.

[@Jamilesma]

@@nellefindlay Thank you! And how well are you able to hear in group discussions or family gathering without the added accessories?

[@nellefindlay]

Not great to be honest, cochlear implants work best without background noise. If there is a lot of background noise, I don't hear anything.

[@rlceconi]

Thank you very for sharing your experience, I'm losing quickly my hearing capability and I prefer to acostumate with this future reality for me .. thanks if you consider to share your actual experience... Best regards !

[@kaylasmusic]

What manufacturer do you have? You might like MedEl better, people say that it’s the most natural sound quality for an implant.. For hearing aids, Widex is best

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I have the Cochlear brand. I've been getting on very well with it. I think it's really difficult to compare different CI manufacturers because almost everyone only has only ever tried one. MedEl definitely emphasises the sound quality a lot in their advertising, but my implant centre told me that they don't really see a difference in outcomes between the different manufacturers so I'm not really sure how much better it actually is. MedEl does have a longer electrode array which may allow for better hearing at lower frequencies, but I don't know how much third party research supports that. Can you tell me why Widex are the best hearing aids? I've only ever tried Phonak and Resound and I've had good experiences with both of those and I've looked on the Widex website and I haven't really seen anything that strikes me as different (except their hearing aids come in some fun colours which I appreciate). Thank you for sharing. :)

[@kaylasmusic]

@@nellefindlay Widex is specifically for musicians as opposed to other manufacturers, they have a superior processing speed and the most natural sound that exists in a hearing aid. I have spoken to many audiologist who have actually worn hearing aids themselves and they ALL say Widex is best for musicians and have the best sound quality so I figured to try it for myself,.. have also had Phonak, except I loved the lyric device but I wasn’t a candidate in the end, and I’ve also had ReSound, hated those, I love Widex,.. it is definitely true that some people like other brands as well

[@modiulelawson9790]

Hi, im looking at getting a CI for single sided deafness, what worries me is that hearing this in one ear and hearing almost normal in my other ear with a hearing aid, this would drive me crazy listening to 2 different types of input. How do people manage with one CI?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I can't personally advise on how cochlear implants work for single sided deafness because that's not my experience. There's a KZbin channel that I follow called Travis and Vanessa and she's recently received a cochlear implant for an asymmetrical hearing loss and shared her experience with that. Maybe she would be able to answer your questions. I hope that's helpful. Nelle :)

[@anthonyhenchey7631]

Thank you I really enjoy your videos

[@nellefindlay]

Thank you :)

[@MasterOfMisc]

Hi Nelle. I have just stumbled upon your video and I just wanted to say thanks for giving me insight into the cochlear implant and how it sounds.. Great video. Your insights on primarily wanting to understanding people and being included struck a chord with me as something I take for granted. But at least with the implant, now when you get to hear someone you know if they are spouting rubbish or not

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and that it helped you to understand what it is like to live with a cochlear implant. Unfortunately the implant is not 100% reliable it detecting if someone is spouting rubbish. I never know whether I misheard the sentence or whether they were actually saying something weird. Nelle xx

[@barrytaylorprofoundlydeafi2479]

Hi nelle when I first saw this video i thought you tube had repeated the video now I see why you have redone it with captions so even hearing People can understand you!I still don’t know how i could hear what’s being said with all the static! I thought my brain had finally got used to the new hearing aids but alas no this was a one off! I can’t make out much on your other videos! But it bodes well if i get an implant to hear this! I have followed your journey since the first nervous video back in may 2021,little did I know u had whistling hearing aids at the time! I was lucky I started losing my hearing at around 24 & yes I hated hearing aids! But 3 mths ago my hearing is where yours was back in apr 2021! I can barely hear a thing on the phone so I know exactly what you been facing every day! I have to say I have said & done the wrong thing at times which I am sorry for but I wanted to give you the support i never had when it came to hearing aids etc! But you have now moved on with your implant & I am learning from you about CI’s & this latest video completes the jigsaw! So thank you sharing your hearing loss journey & I hope somehow you get the other ear implanted! There has been no other you tube videos about what CI’s sound like so hopefully it will help others like myself decide whether to be assessed! But what non deaf people do not realise when you suddenly lose your hearing just sticking hearing aids in or getting implanted does not give you back perfect hearing! And I am not ashamed to say losing what hearing i had left has affected my mental health! I struggle when out & about & in big gatherings! Feel free to DM me on Instagram! ❤️

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. The reason I had to reupload it was because I messed up the audio. It sounds identical to me, but apparently I had two audio tracks playing at the same time before which created a weird echo effect. I have to admit that it was pretty weird when you started emailing me pretending to be a 23 year old woman so I will politely decline the offer of DMing you on Instagram. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and I wish you all the best with potentially receiving an implant and your mental health. Nelle

[@barrytaylorprofoundlydeafi2479]

@@nellefindlay thank you for explaining about why you re did the video! Plus I get the reason for you declining my DM offer on Instagram! The original emails I sent were from me with personal details of my hearing loss and struggles! The 23 yr old is a real person a 2nd cousin of mine! And wrongly I changed her name & used a stock picture off the internet & told some of her story! What i say on here, Instagram etc is all totally genuine! My profile picture is the real me! But like a lot of people out of privacy I don't show my whole face! Some people on social media don't even have profile pictures & they have their reasons! My advice & support has been genuine since day one! When I lost my hearing there was no internet or very little support! I just wish you well for the future & these last 2 videos at least should be shown to people when being assessed for a CI & maybe if you showed the videos to cochlear who make your implant they might implant the other ear at a reduced price as good PR for the company! ❤️

[@aaronbardsley1334]

I have hearing loss since 2019 I've had my hearing test 25 dB left and 40 dB my hearing loss is at high frequency 8 thousand khz my hearing loss is from listening music to long high volume with headphones

[@nellefindlay]

That's unfortunate. I'm not your mum, but make sure you look after what you've got left! I can assure you, Cochlear implants are not fun (but they do make you look like a futuristic cyborg which is kind of cool). Nelle xx

[@aaronbardsley1334]

@@nellefindlay I don't have a cochlear implant I was just saying about my own hearing I do use earplugs when it's a noisy environments

[@kaneTESP]

Much love, this gave me also some insight of a situation like this. God bless all❤

[@nellefindlay]

Thank you, I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@mathlove5301]

This kind of voice u still hear with Cochlear implant?? I mean it get clear with mapping or u only use to hear like this now.

[@nellefindlay]

I don't notice my implant sounding weird. It sounds normal to me now, but it's still not as clear as what someone with normal hearing would have. The actual electrical input from the implant hasn't actually changed, but my brain's perception of it has. Basically, I don't hear what most people are hearing, but I'm used to it so it just sounds normal to me. I hope that makes sense. :)

[@mathlove5301]

@@nellefindlay how ll u compare ur implant sound with ur natural hearing?? How much difference u feel between them?? In this video, u described impant sound feeling is so distortion and noisy...

[@lost_in_vrindavan]

Hii Nelle how music come though CI? I mean it's clear?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi! Music perception is something that varies between cochlear implant users so I can only speak for me in particular. I find that I can hear and enjoy music, however, the tuning sounds slightly out and any lyrics will be less clear than they would be to a normally hearing person. I have heard that for some people, music can be very unpleasant through a CI so it really depends on the person. I hope this answers your question. Nelle xx

[@AnkitJain-lr1se]

How can I contact you

[@gkiltz0]

As the technology advances thre will be the ability to do more with those 22 channels. Your second processor will likely be beetter than this one

[@Fireddoctor]

thanks so much for helping others 👍🏻

[@nelsangelin9667]

Wow, Nelle. To tell you the truth, the simulation would have to be a very isolated approximation. Perhaps it must be similar to what you are hearing. You said that everyone hears differently, and I am sure that is so. I have heard too that the different manufactures are different how they work. I believe you have the MedEl type. I followed another girl that was bilateral with AB on the right and Cochlear America on the left. She had the AB taken out, it quit and replaced with Cochlear. I have bilateral Cochlear America. For me, the sound is natural and acutely sharp. I do understand well. I do have to say it is not normal hearing. The reason for the cochlear is my hair cells are damaged and I am profoundly deaf. We all do use the very same nerve to the brain to hear with cochlear implants - you know that. My voice has changed back to like normal because I dont have to force myself to hear myself. I use it probably 14 to 16 hours a day and I feel normal as it is possible to be. start

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, to be honest, I made this video only a few months after I received my implant (I have the Cochlear brand as well), so my hearing wasn't super good when I made it. Also, I'm not an audio engineer so anything I would make will be very rough. I'd quite like to make an updated version, but I don't think I have the technical skill to do it (also, I can't tell what is a normal sound recording and what is a recording that sounds 100% exactly like my implant). Everything sounds pretty normal for me now. I wouldn't describe my hearing as 'acute' but I can hear pretty well through it in ideal conditions. I'm also only unilateral at the moment (although I'm looking to get another one) so that probably plays into things too. There is also a lot of how your brain perceives the sound that goes into it as well. Even if someone could hear exactly how the sound is processed through my implant, it would probably sound weird to them because they aren't used to it. I normally describe the way my hearing sounds as like an old fashioned radio which feels pretty accurate to me. I really enjoy having other people describe their experiences in the comments because I think it gives a more broad perspective on what CI hearing is like. Nelle :)

[@nelsangelin9667]

I totally agree Nelle. What I remember of the first implant was that it was marvelous to be able to hear that clearly. Now, to hear from either one of them alone is terribly hollow and somewhat weak. Still clear, but, weak. With the two together is a world of difference. Only one, I stretch to hear and understand. Together it is what it is, stereo and more like what normal aught to be. I tend to talk more softly because it is more natural to with no struggle to hear my voice or others. So, I am treated as a hearing person and not handicapped. The trouble with my boon to hear again is, my wife does not. I forget the word she uses, grumbling or gargling. She misses so much, it is sad that she does not want to have a magnet in her head. She knows I hear her footsteps coming down the hall or she will say something to me from the kitchen knowing I will hear her. All that and she doesn't want to have the same advantage. For the TV she turns it to level 45 to 55 to hear in her one hearing aid. I have found it up at level 75. It is painful to me. I am thankful I can turn my processors down to the bottom for the assault. My comfortable upper level is 30 or less. A real advantage is the Mini mic2. The TV at level15 and stream direct to my implants, stereo. It is a joy to have the phone hands free streamed direct to my "ears". Just as you know Nelle, anyone reading our comments should understand that the operation is very minimal invasive. I went home the same day. I will have to add that I have had some issue with balance and tinnitus. For a while after 6 months I got the bobblehead feeling, my head bouncing. The surgeon was surprised saying only 1 percent report that. What happened in consequence was, when he did the second implant he wanted to go back into the first to redo the packing. He said he saw in the scan some air leaked into the cochlea. Pardon my fascination with the mechanics of the ear and hearing in general. That operation was done through the ear canal rather than like the first method. The funny part was I went in early in the morning and the operations (both) took all day. It was night when I woke up. The discharge nurse was worried about me to stand and get in the car. I was adamant, "I am going to DO this." Of course I did. very wobbly. I like to test my balance by walking looking straight up while walking listening to identify a flying plane. With two implants, I can better identify location what I am hearing but, it is not perfect. The missing hair cells cover cover that modulation best. My hearing is acute to hear well but something happening further away can sound very close. When closing up the workshop with everything turned off, I have heard some little item still turned on and track it down. I am amazed to hear the clock tick across the room. Thank you for putting up with my rambling. @@nellefindlay

[@zunazi12]

Is this the way you hear?

[@nellefindlay]

As far as I can tell, it's fairly close. I'm not an audio engineer and I can only hear the simulation through my cochlear implant so it's probably not 100%. Also, everyone who has a cochlear implant hears a little bit differently so this probably isn't an accurate representation of everyone with a cochlear implant's hearing.

[@tw418]

Interesting video 👍 thank you for sharing. I have listened to a couple of those black screen one sentence videos. And I was surprised how bad the sound was, but this video gives a much better idea of what it’s actually like 🤗

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I'm glad you found the video interesting.

[@siniruusu4142]

Thanks for your videos! Really interesting and I managed to watch, even though understanding and translating English is really slow and difficult for me. I write everything from Finnish to English using Google Translate, so I hope the translations are correct!

[@nellefindlay]

Hei, olen iloinen, että pidit videoistani. En myöskään puhu suomea, joten kirjoitan tämän google translatella. Kiitos, että jaksoit katsoa videoni ja kirjoittaa kommentin kielimuurista huolimatta. Arvostan sitä todella. Ymmärsin kommenttisi hyvin ja toivottavasti google-kääntäjä toimii yhtä hyvin myös toisinpäin! :)

[@siniruusu4142]

@@nellefindlay Your comment made me so happy!❤️ I'm so glad you wanted to answer me in Finnish. I really appreciate it 😊 I understood everything very well. I have dyslexia, which manifests itself to a severe degree in foreign languages.

[@andraszarandy9864]

Thank you!

[@paulahurst4434]

I thought my hearing aids sound was bad. That would drive me crazy

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. It does sound really weird at first but you do get used to it. For my hearing loss, my cochlear implant sounds so much better that hearing aids, but of course results vary. Nelle xx

[@grizzley109]

That would be a lot to readjust to. Drastic difference compared to what I can hear now. but I would definitely appreciate having CI rather than nothing at all. They look nice as well. Do you have TikTok ? Maybe you could share this video there for younger people to see , reach out and Educate the youth?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. It definitely takes a while to adjust to hearing with an implant but it is 100x better than what I had with hearing aids. I'm glad you think they look nice. I do like the look of the nucleus 7 (especially when I cover it in stickers). I like the look of the off ear ones better to be honest they're like a futuristic communications pod or something, but I think the on ear style is more practical for me because I'm super clumsy. I don't have a TikTok currently, I don't really understand what TikTok is all about. I think it's just short videos? Maybe I'll make one in the future, but keeping things short is not my strong point. Nelle xx

[@lisbeygonzalez7070]

hi Nelle, are you able to recognize the voice of a particular person ?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. With the implant, I really struggle to tell voices apart. To a limited degree, if there are two people with very different voices I can tell them apart from each other. I can tell if someone has an accent that is different from my own, but I can't usually place it. To some degree I can tell men's and women's voices apart but not 100%. I hope this answers your question. Nelle xx

[@m1m1n0u]

This sound like a nightmare. I litterally see noise and have a metal taste hearing this vidéo. My imagination and synesthesia are too strong to bear this. Instead of seeing you, a nice looking lady, i'm like, thinking you are synthetic and not real. Its hard to explain but i'm afraid it might change my relationship with people. Can you show us what a piano/instrument sound like? maybe a music, the sound of cars, tv or crowded bar? Or multiple people chatting ? Because i can understand you perfectly well but you are in a calm room and making effort to speak well. I imagine it can be hard to follow a conversation outside in windy day for instance. I'm sorry, if what i can hear is really what you hear, I prefer being deaf. Too much psychological risk.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I actually have a couple of videos on my channel of cochlear implant simulations on music. I don't have anything of talking with a lot of background noise yet, but that's already on my list to make. Cochlear implants are really only optimised for hearing speech in quiet so in more challenging situations it can be pretty useless unless I use an external microphone like the cochlear mini mic. Adjusting to the sound of a cochlear implant isn't easy, but luckily the people at my implant centre were brilliant. The way they did it for me was that they first turned it on really quietly and then gradually turn it up louder every few days so I could get used to it slowly. And I really have gotten used to it. I'm so used to the sound now that it only bothers me when I'm really tired or in really loud environments. I think when considering a cochlear implant it's important to remember that it's not actually improving your hearing, it's just a tool to help you hear speech. It's also important to remember that you can take it off. When I'm just at home watching TV etc, I often don't wear it. For me, getting an implant was definitely the right decision because I rely so much on spoken communication with my friends and family that the benefits were worth it for me. Although it's certainly not the same for every deaf person. I don't know if you were considering a cochlear implant before watching this video, but I hope that it's been useful to you either way. Best wishes, Nelle :)

[@brianscott9541]

I just watched this and to be honest it seems clear to me even though i don't have one just a hearing aid like you and hope you keep in proving your listen therapy and get that 100% word recognition and the same for environment .

[@nellefindlay]

One on one when there is context, I can hear completely fine and I probably do have close to 100% word recognition. The main things I struggle with is when there are multiple people or background noise. I hope that will improve with time, but that will probably always be something I struggle with more than the average person. Thank you for your positive wishes! Nelle :)

[@brianscott9541]

@@nellefindlay your welcome and hope you have a great weekend ✌️

[@iiiiilllllllll]

So cool!

[@rydhian444]

No, it doesn't sound like that either!! so robotic no!!! I am newly implanted and how I hear is like whispering sounds but the more you have them in use the better your hearing will improve with time!!! don't exaggerate it doesn't sound like that!!! don't be fooled!!!

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. From the amount of exclamation marks you have used, I see you feel very strongly about this. I'm not an audio engineer, so this was the best simulation I had the technical ability to make (also everyone hears differently with CIs so my experience is probably different to yours). I can assure you, my intention is not to fool anyone or put people off of getting Cochlear Implants. I love my CI and I use it pretty much every day and I find it really helpful, even though, to me specifically, it sounded very robotic at the start. Absolutely, if you want to make a cochlear implant simulation that is more accurate to your own experience, I'd love to see it.

[@rydhian444]

@@nellefindlay that is the point each one hears with his cochlear implant depending on the degree of deafness (the vast majority of severe to profound) and how each one hears is not the same for me I do not hear in a robotic way but as a constant hissing sound and that's why I also ask if it is better to have bilateral implantation that I have read is much better than having a single implant I have that doubt; This Thursday I have an appointment with the otologist and he will tell me which route or how we are going to do if the implant goes right or audifon for a bimodal implantation what do you advise me ! My best wishes to you!

[@scotttafil7584]

So everyone sounds like Darth Vador cool. Thank you for the video very informative. I seen a guy with a implant over his ear square shape and thought it might deliver pain killers like a baklava pump

[@muchlovebeth]

getting activated in 11 hours!!

[@nellefindlay]

Good Luck! let me know how it goes! :)

[@jt_rooster3228]

The future is now thanks to Science.

[@nellefindlay]

Indeed it is! I'm pretty sure there's an episode of Futurama where Leela goes deaf and makes a deal with the robot devil to get robot ears, so pretty close to my experience.

[@Raychi91]

Aw it’s my operation in just under 2 week

[@nellefindlay]

Exciting! I hope it goes well. xx

[@kaylasmusic]

eewwww!!!!!!!!! 🥵 id never imagined an implant 😱… how is that possible that you can hear with that!!! It sounds terrifying and horrible.. i much rather world stick to hearing aids LMAO

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I think it's important to look as cochlear implants mostly just as a tool to give access to speech. Obviously if hearing aids are working for you then there is no reason to persue a CI. In my case (and for a lot of profoundly deaf people) hearing aids don't really do anything so cochlear implants are the preferred solution. Also people's brains are very adaptable so the sound quality isn't as much of an issue as you might think. Also, they can be turned off when you don't need it so I can take breaks. :)

[@kaylasmusic]

@@nellefindlay Umm, that doesn't sound like speech to me LMAO 🤣.. Sorry but I'd much rather be deaf and not use an implant if I needed to,.. I'm grateful all that I need is hearing aids, I have only a moderate loss and I have a excellent WRS so im far from needing an implant.. The power hearing aids actually CAN work for a lot of severely or profound deaf people. you must have a good audiologist to accommodate you.. And FYI, thats BS that you get used to sound quality.. You DONT

[@landon306]

@@kaylasmusic Hi Kayla, I realize this comment is over a year old, but with the way you are acting I just want to say that I hope you need cochlear implants one day so you can just how insensitive your comment sounds. For many profoundly deaf people (including myself), specifically the types of hearing loss where your stereocilia (little hairs in the cochlea) don't work/are severly damaged, hearing aids will absolutely not work, even at the most powerful types. A hearing aid works by AMPLIFYING the sound, so that the sound waves are bigger and can reach those parts of the ear. A cochlear implant works by BYPASSING all the hearing "equipment" in the human body, and goes right into where all the nerve endings are. There are also hearing losses where perhaps the bones in your ear don't work. For any hearing loss where it is impossible for the sound to reach the nerve endings, even at the largest capability, cochlear implants or being deaf are the way to go. And I would like to see you become deaf, just so that you could see what it's actually like to live with no sound, so then maybe you'd realize that you would be able to live with the adjustment. Let's say due to an accident, you became nearly blind, but if you wore these very special glasses, they would make you see again, but the only caveat is that the image would be distorted, would you take the glasses? Or would you live without sight? Overtime your brain would be able to train yourself to see clearly, but for the first few months (or years), it would look a bit weird, and to people with "normal" sight, they would be absolutely disgusted with the way you can see, but all anyone with "normal" sight would be able to see is some horrible images, while you can see perfectly normal, cause that's what your brain has trained it too. Would you take the glasses? If you would take the glasses, then I'm almost certain you would take the cochlear implants if necessary.

[@traceyyoegel7647]

I am new in my hearing loss journey. Diagnosed with SSHL just 2 months ago. I am in the process of considering a CI. I have profound loss in one ear without any loss in my other. It’s very hard for me to understand how my brain will process sounds. Do sounds still sound like this for you or does it change with time and adjustments? Sorry for the dumb questions! I’m just overwhelmed at this point!

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, for me things do still sound quite robotic. Many people do say that cochlear implants sound completely natural for them after a while but it varies for everyone. Please don't apologise for having completely normal questions! Getting a cochlear implant is a big decision and it's really important to make sure you have as much information as possible. I'm deaf in both ears so I can't give any specific advice for single sided deafness, but since you have a good ear, that does open up more options for you with regards to technology, if you haven't already, and you're not 100% set on a CI, it might be worth looking into CROS hearing aids or bone conduction hearing devices, just to consider all your options.