How Do I Hear With a Cochlear Implant?

[@robroby10]

Thank you sir for this information.

[@jennakrobinson]

Excellent explanation. Thank you. It is amazing technology! We wish you the best and are blessed to know you!

[@DavidBCluff]

Thank you!

[@bradfer30]

Thanks for your story, very inspiting, god bless you.

[@DavidBCluff]

Thank you, Nick!

[@sylviewaters4104]

Hi David, my baby daughter will be getting CIs later this year. I was wondering whether you can distinguish between different people’s voices or does everyone sound very similar? Thanks so much

[@ellenwatermelon1]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@DavidBCluff]

So glad your like it, Ellen!

[@alina1548]

I have two Cochlear Implants, from Advanced Bionics the Naida Q90's ❤️

[@DavidBCluff]

Awesome! Great sound processors!

[@alina1548]

David B. Cluff yes, they are! especially with the Ci Connect!

[@bunducana-maria2793]

Did u wear hearing aids before to get cohlear ? The implant can be heard by others like the hearing aids or no? You know hearing aids are immiting a sound which normal people can hear them . U hear everyting with the implant ? U don t miss any word? U can hear well in the loudy spaces? The voices rly sound like robots? I still can hear well, i understand the word in proportion of 60% so if i decide to make the implant i will hear better? Is a chance for someone with cohlear implant to get a job ? To work ? Are this stuff truly possible for us ? I need hope , i want to live , so i need answears so please, if u could just give me some answears i will be truly gratefull.

[@DavidBCluff]

Hi Aria001! Great questions and a lot of them will have to be discussed with a certified audiologist but I can say that cochlear implants are advanced in ways of hearing but don't always sound robotic. Check out my video, "What Does a Cochlear Implant Sound Like" here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ2QlXdqrbOeY68 However, when I am in large groups or loud places it is still hard for me to hear everything, even with a cochlear implant. I do enjoy music and communication with family and friends. Every person hears differently and as amazing as the cochlear implant is it may not always be the magical fix for everyone right away. It takes time to relearn to hear and your audiologist will be able to help find the best match and when you are qualified.

[@bunducana-maria2793]

I would like to speak with a good audiologist but mine , who dianostigate me was very busy , and i couldn't even ask him what i wanted, in that moment i was in shock, i cryed, i blame my fate but with years passing i started to put myself questions so if 4 years ago i refused even to think at implant now i m out of options so tell me , persons like us can have a normal job ? Do you feel different wearing the implant? Will you recommanded To me ?

[@laurenmarie3897]

You speak amazingly! Question. They say hearing through a CI sounds robotic. I’ve heard some simulators that attempt to work to show hearing people what hearing through a CI sounds like. It sounds very scary and robotic and extremely unclear to me through the simulator . Someone then told me they no longer sound like that. Can you give any input?

[@DavidBCluff]

Thank you, Lauren! That is a great question and just like you and I we all perceive sound a little differently. For my right ear, the dominant one feels like I never really lost my hearing. It feels natural, music sounds amazing and I hear personality traits in everyone's voices. The way I hear today is way different than the way I heard the first day I turned it on almost 20 years ago. The medical advancements have allowed greater improvements to how anyone hears with a cochlear implant. On the other hand, my left ear got implanted at an older age which has made relearning to hear a little more challenging. In the beginning, everything sounded like ducks but after lots of training and rehab, I have been able to recognize speech and music with it alone. Huge milestone! I am sure that whenever anyone turns on their implant for the first time it will sound a little robotic. It is like a new musical instrument that has never been tuned. Once it got tuned correctly, everyone enjoys the music. That is why a good audiologist will help tune the cochlear implant to fit your needs.

[@laurenmarie3897]

David B. Cluff thank you so much for responding and the information 💕 I wish you the best!!!!

[@lizichell2]

Music is the most important thing in life

[@theklrdudeoo9173]

if somebody plays a scale on the piano can you hear all individual notes ?

[@DavidBCluff]

Hello theklrdude oo, Great question! My mother and wife are both pianist and music was a big thing growing up. Because of that, I have been able to learn to tell the difference between the notes. Now if you ask me what the exact note it was...that is a different story. :) Does that help answer your question?

[@theklrdudeoo9173]

David B. Cluff yes thank you for your reply , i was under the impression that the implant only had a limited amount of electrodes and was wondering if you could hear the different sounds in between . it might be that it is impossible to tell but i wondered if somebody plays a scale if you can hear every note in an octave or is there gaps where you can't detect that certain frequency ? if that makes sense . i once heard a simulated sound of a cochlear implant and it was to me so different i could hardly understand what was said . i admire your optimism and command of language . thanks again .

[@SustainableSierra]

When did you get your implants? Did you start speech therapy before or after? My future son has one.

[@DavidBCluff]

Hello! I got my first implant at age six. I was in some speech therapy before I got my implant but most of my therapy was done from 1st-5th grade. Does that help?

[@SustainableSierra]

It does! He's had it for about two years but they haven't done any speech therapy with him. Hopefully we can play "catch up" when he comes home.

[@DavidBCluff]

@@SustainableSierra Awesome! Even after having my CI for about 20 years, I still find myself practicing my speech and taking my time to say things correctly as my wife will help correct me in case I hear something different.

[@lsanders22]

Could you please share the link to the video animation you reference at the end? Thanks!

[@DavidBCluff]

Yes, here a great video about how it all works: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fImnhX5sgZukaas

[@lsanders22]

@@DavidBCluff Thank you so much!