Tim Gaule
I am a member of the SaddleBrooke Hearing Discussion Group. At our last few meetings, we had several residents join us who are interested in a cochlear implant. In this month’s article I would like to discuss some of the considerations of choosing a cochlear implant.
An implant consists of two components. There is an external processor that fits over the ear, much like a hearing aid. There is also an internal component that is surgically placed under the skin and is attached to an electrode array that is inserted into a part of the inner ear called the cochlea.
As a first step, I would recommend checking out the following website: cochlearimplanthelp.com. There is a lot of useful information on this site, such as the assessment process, insurance and cost issues, choosing an implant, surgery, activation, and rehabilitation therapy.
There are three manufacturers of cochlear implants: Advanced Bionics, Cochlear Americas, and Med-El. The link in the above paragraph provides a comparison of the three companies’ devices. It is important to do your homework and carefully consider which implant is the right one for you. Unlike a hearing aid, there isn’t a trial period, as the internal component is surgically implanted.
Another source of advice would be the Adult Loss of Hearing Association (ALOHA). Their website is alohaaz.org. They host a monthly meeting via Zoom on the second Saturday of every month at 11 a.m. This meeting is called Desert Cochlear Connections and is a great way to interact with individuals with cochlear implants. ALOHA also hosts two in-person meetings every month at their location at 4001 E. Fort Lowell Road in Tucson. On the second Tuesday of each month, the Cochlear Americas meeting is held at 1 p.m. On the third Wednesday of every month, the Advanced Bionics meeting is held at 10 a.m. Both meetings are an opportunity to meet with a company representative, as well as users of the respective implants. Unfortunately, Med-El doesn’t have a presence at ALOHA.
Of course, another way to learn about cochlear implants is to attend one or our monthly meetings. We are always happy to share our experiences. There will likely be three or four cochlear implant recipients, including myself, in attendance.
I have an Advanced Bionics implant. Advanced Bionics is a sister company to Phonak. I partially chose Advanced Bionics due to my past positive experience with Phonak. I wear a Phonak Link hearing aid in my other ear. My implant and hearing aid are designed to work together. They are the only hearing aid and cochlear implant system built on the same technology. I enjoy good sound quality, can stream phone calls and music to both ears, and even control both of my devices with a single button on my smartphone app. I can also answer a call if my phone is in the other room by pressing a button on my implant. While I ultimately chose Advanced Bionics, all three companies are similar in terms of technological advancement and potential for successful outcomes. All three are good options. Just remember to carefully consider which implant is the right one for you.
Our group meets on the second Friday of every month at 10 a.m. in the Catalina Room in the Mesquite building. For more information about our group, contact Jennifer Jefferis at jenjefferis4u@gmail.com or Lyle Larson at lllarson72@gmail.com. If you have questions about this article or would like to suggest a future article topic, my contact email is tgaule@outlook.com.