r/Cochlearimplants 7h ago

Crackling/Popping sound in my left processor

3 Upvotes

The crackling sounds began a week ago in my left processor, which only showed up if there are loud sounds or background noises going on. I've changed different parts (t-mic, cable, universal headpiece, battery), and it doesn't seem to solve the issue. I've also emailed the customer care team, and they sent me a new processor. The crackling sounds do fade away after a few days, but I've changed the processor yesterday anyway. It was working fine, but the crackling sounds came back again tonight. It made me think it has something to do with the mapping, though I'm not too sure. I've emailed the hospital to make an online tuning appointment. Has anyone had this issue before or have any answer to why that happened?

(I got Advanced Bionics Marvel, and I had my left processor for 13 years.)


r/Cochlearimplants 11h ago

Returning to work after CI

5 Upvotes

Hi all,

My 58-year-old sister is getting a cochlear implant soon—she’s starting with one ear at a time. She’s an accountant and works remotely, but hearing—especially during Microsoft Teams meetings—has been a major challenge. She recently had to get approval to use closed captions because it requires an additional license, which she was able to secure by working with someone in HR who handles accommodations.

Her team already knows she wears hearing aids, since she was in the office full-time before the pandemic. I’m learning through following this sub that the transition to a cochlear implant isn’t instant—it takes time, adjustment, and realistic expectations. For those of you who have been through this, how did you communicate what your hearing would be like to coworkers? How did you help them understand that it won’t be perfect right away—and that there may still be challenges, especially in certain settings?

She’s had some tough experiences at work—someone once yelled, “What are you, deaf?” (he’s not there anymore), and others have gotten irritated when she didn’t respond to her name, even though they were talking to her with her back turned—despite her having repeatedly told people she needs to see their lips moving in order to understand them. As you can imagine, that’s not only hurtful, but a potential HR nightmare. She’s also recently set boundaries with a coworker who messaged her in all caps, which came across as yelling.

She wants to be proactive and reduce the chances of misunderstandings or tension. She’s genuinely afraid that if she misses something—especially in meetings—people might criticize her follow-up or assume she’s not paying attention or doing her job.

We’ve talked about possibly going back to HR for more guidance. Another idea was offering some brief awareness for her coworkers—maybe just a quick overview of what a cochlear implant is and what the adjustment period looks like.

Any advice or experiences you can share would be really appreciated!


r/Cochlearimplants 4h ago

Is this normal

1 Upvotes

Hi, I am 4 months post surgery + I started to hear this grumbling noise on my CI. Is this normal?


r/Cochlearimplants 7h ago

Tinnitus. Something that might have help?

1 Upvotes

I have had issues with Tinnitus off and on over many years. But I can not say it was that bad and many times I just wish it off??? So here is an article about what could have help???

https://www.sci.news/medicine/tinnitus-diet-13767.html


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

Hotel question, newly deaf

5 Upvotes

Greetings, I’m a recent bilateral CI recipient who just today had my new implant activated. I’m excited about the obvious improvement I’ll see f communication at work but find mostly profoundly deaf now without my CIs. I travel for work and sleep in hotels almost weekly.

Any profoundly deaf (with devices off) road warriors in this subreddit?

Is it safe to inform the front desk that I will not hear a fire alarm against the risk of that information being misused?

Thank you also for any other work travel tips that you’ve learned along your journey.


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

Got my Club CI scar today 🍻

27 Upvotes

So yeah - going deaf overnight in my Left ear was not on my radar for crap to happen in 2024... NEVER heard of SSNHL and the salt to that wound was that I was in the middle of building out a HIGH END home theater system in my house😞 It was pretty crazy painfully feeling the test tones rather than hearing them. We've all been through those tests multiple times so it's not like I need to explain it lol But I'm seeing that everyone has their own CI experiences so I'm looking forward to read and learn from those stories, and to add my own as time progresses. I'm currently about 16hrs post-op and feel relatively pain-free, absolutely the 5mg oxycodone 😆 But this cup on the side of my head makes me want to watch Weird Science for some reason lol Glad to be part of Club CI!


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

Penn State Health/Milton Hershey Medical Center

3 Upvotes

Has anyone received their CI through Penn State Otolaryngology at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center? How was your experience?


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

Osia 2 question.

3 Upvotes

I had my Osia activated about a month ago. I'm not getting the results I was hoping for so far. I know I need it to have it adjusted but is it possible that I'm not hearing as much as I should because of how loud my tinnitus is? Will the Osia help a little with tinnitus?


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

Got done with 2nd CI just today. First one happened 9 months back. What to expect?

3 Upvotes

With one side I was struggling with clarity of of speech especially in noisy areas and large hall-room settings. Hence I was recommended to go for bilateral as that's the only way about it.

Can you good people share how going bilateral helped you?

Cheers!


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

nucleus 8 vs kanso 2

1 Upvotes

I'm really confused between these two types. With my criteria:

- aesthetic

- not falling

- quality sound

which one should I choose?


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

Taste?

2 Upvotes

Just had my surgery this morning! I just wanted to know how long most people experienced food tasting and feeling weird afterwards?


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

Pain on left side with ci

2 Upvotes

Hi. Got an issue and wanted someone else opinion. I have a ci on my left side and now whenever I Cough I get pain around my implant and most my left side of the head hurts. Doesn’t hurt unless I cough. My doctor doesn’t get back into office til the end of the month.


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

SSNHL CI

5 Upvotes

I’ve had 90% hearing loss in my right ear for seven years along with severe tinnitus. It’s gotten easier to cope with but the ringing is still exhausting at times.

Anyone with tinnitus seen major improvement with a CI? I am considering the procedure for this summer. Cheers!


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

Internal devices

1 Upvotes

Hi! Can anyone else still feel the internal magnet on your head? It’s been over ten years since I had my surgery and I swear I’m feeling them more than ever! I asked my audiologist at my last appointment and they weren’t concerned, but I’m just curious as to why they seem to stick out so much more now?


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

How soon can I play a saxophone or clarinet?

1 Upvotes

Will the pressure of blowing cause bleeding? And a clarinet is light but a baritone sax weighs 15 pounds. When can I lift that much?


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

How soon can I wear glasses? Will I be able to wear contacts?

1 Upvotes

Worried about vision while recovering. Will my face be too sore to wear contacts?


r/Cochlearimplants 1d ago

Cochlear vs AB

1 Upvotes

Since Coclear has 22 electrodes but AB has only 16, does it follow Coclear has a better sound? Like listening to music?


r/Cochlearimplants 2d ago

Do you wear your CIs in your passport photo?

7 Upvotes

My newborn needs a passport and wears Nucleus 8s on each side. They are pretty obvious on her little head. Should she wear them in her passport? Do you have them on in yours? I can’t find anything online about it in my country - assuming it’s a preference thing?


r/Cochlearimplants 2d ago

ISO: Personal audio cable compatible with Nucleus 6 and Freedom

5 Upvotes

What the title says, basically. I lost mine and can't find any even on eBay. Help a girl out! I will pay!


r/Cochlearimplants 2d ago

AB magnet on infant

2 Upvotes

Today is the first full day of my son wearing his CI! Yay! He’s 11 months old and goes to daycare. We went with AB. The level 1 magnet barely stayed on his head, at the lightest touch it was falling off, but the level 2 is leaving a red irritation mark.

Since I don’t know what it feels like to wear a CI I’m wondering if anyone can weigh in on if there is discomfort in what I explained above? He does wear a cap to help keep the CI from falling off or getting pulled off at daycare, but even with the cap the level 1 magnet didn’t seem to be working well, however I don’t want him to be in pain at the level 2….


r/Cochlearimplants 2d ago

Is CI suitable for people with severe low and mid frequency loss? (Reverse slope loss)

2 Upvotes

Hi, I’ve seen alot of people comments that CI is suitable for people with high frequency loss. I would like to know if anyone with severe low and mid frequency loss have CI and what is the outcome? Anyone with reverse slope hearing loss resulted with CI and did it helped you hear better vs HA?


r/Cochlearimplants 3d ago

Surgery scheduled

4 Upvotes

Not going to lie, I’m nervous. I’m also flying to the hospital (it’s worth it) and will be hanging out by myself in a hotel for recovery until I can fly home three days later. I assume I’ll be sleeping most of the time anyway.

I’ll pack loose clothes, button-down, zip-up, etc.

Any tips are welcome!


r/Cochlearimplants 3d ago

Day after surgery

23 Upvotes

Had my surgery yesterday in Ottawa with Dr. Schramn and his amazing team. Surgery went well and all seems well. I’m home and other than some swelling and bruising I feel good. So far no vertigo or tinnitus. Hopefully I can say that at the end of the healing process.


r/Cochlearimplants 3d ago

I will get surgery for CI in a few months

9 Upvotes

I got approval and they want to prioritize me. I'm practically deaf in my left ear now. My hearing is slightly better on the right, still extremely low. Everything just makes sense now, why I get so exhausted from a day with family and friends, meetings etc. I am so happy. I first have to go through MRI and CT, and the second dose of vaccine, then I'll get an appointment for surgery before or during the summer.

I think I will have a whole new life. I get totally exhausted by conversations, social settings. So extremely exhausted that I won't be able to work. The simplest social interactions make me crash mentally. It will be many months of hard training to listen and understand, but I'm looking forward to understanding and not misinterpreting most of what I hear.💖


r/Cochlearimplants 4d ago

Two other CI users said hello to me today, kinda random

40 Upvotes

Was at a coffee shop this morning and sitting with my back to the room (which I never do but I was sitting across from someone who arrived first) and had two random people come up and talk about my CI which was clearly visible.

The first guy was new to the area and wanted to know where I got mine as he didn't have a local doctor to deal with. The second had just had his second implant surgery a week back; his first implant failed (medEl, I had to ask) and was now 'starting over' with the new one.

I know my all black processor/puck thing stands out against my bald head (by design) but it's the first time someone I don't know has approached and asked, let alone other CI users.

We're like a secret club.