Hearing implant

[littlebilliie]

Has anyone had one? Do they work?

My elderly relative is losing her hearing and is very distressed. The hearing aids aren't helping

If you mean a cochlear implant, yes my friends dd, congenital deafness.

How does she find it

You still have an external hearing aid to work with the implant. I don't think they are for later in life deafness

My relative has had rapid loss and the NHS hearing aids are painful and sore

I am reading mixed things

Digital hearing aids are very good these days. Most of my volunteers at work have them, specsavers or boots have them

The NHS audiologist has given her new hearing aids and they make her scream to install

Suitability for a cochlear implant will depend on the type of hearing loss, as well as whether they can withstand the surgery. How old is your relative?

In good health just list hearing

In what way is the loss defined

I know very little about hearing loss

There’s a move to encourage greater use of cochlear implants for suitable older people.

Not all hearing loss can be addressed by an implant. There is also a lot if external kit. Has she gone back to audiology for a review if she is struggling.

I wouldn't jump straight to an implant and as pp said, go back to audiology first.

My DC has an implant. It's fairly major surgery and then intensive rehab. Your relative may be suitable but I'd see if any changes can be made to the aids first (or whilst waiting for assessment).

She has had private and NHS hearing aids.

She has a telephone aid, mic aid and tv aid

Nothing is working properly

I have a baha which is a type of implant for conductive hearing loss, it will really depend on the type of hearing loss (a cochlear wouldn’t help me for eg) but you really need to talk to an audiologist, it’s expensive and doesn’t suit everyone

Some information on implants here, but as PPs have said, see an audiologist to advise rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/hearing-loss/hearing-implants/cochlear-implants/

The above link only covers one type of implant, cochlear, there are others