Welcome to the Cochlear dedicated information page. Hearing loss may be more common than you think. In fact, one in six people in Australia are affected by hearing loss, which is experienced in many different ways.
If you have a hearing loss, you might hear the same sounds as people with normal hearing, only softer. Or maybe you can hear low pitched sounds like traffic sounds but struggle hearing high pitched sounds like speech, particularly in a noisy room. Perhaps it's a challenge for you to hear anything at all. Hearing loss can happen gradually or suddenly. It can occur in just one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral). It may be mild or, in the most extreme case, profound hearing loss. And because it can affect people of all ages, it's important to have your hearing tested regularly.
We hope you find this information helpful and useful.
When hearing aids become ineffective, don’t suffer in silence
One of the major causes of hearing loss is ageing. Our hearing ability worsens from our forties and onwards and when we reach our eighties, more than half of us suffer from significant hearing loss.
According to Access Economics, one in six Australians are affected by hearing loss, and prevalence rates increase with age, with three in every four people over 70 affected. With an ageing population, hearing loss is projected to increase to 1 in every 4 Australians by 2050.
Despite the fact that interventions such as hearing aids and cochlear implants enhance a person’s ability to communicate, the majority of people with hearing loss (85%) do not have such devices. This could be attributed to the ongoing stigma associated with hearing loss, and the myths and misconceptions surrounding implantable hearing solutions.
It is estimated that close to 40,000 Australians could benefit from a Cochlear hearing solution – and a significant proportion would be retirees. Not only are older people embarrassed when they find it increasingly difficult to hear in noisy or social environments, there is a general lack of awareness of the solutions available for them when hearing aids are no longer effective.
Cochlear offers a range of different hearing technologies that can improve a person’s quality of life by opening up a whole new world of sound for older people struggling to connect with their friends and family:
Despite the myth that cochlear implants are only suitable for children, people aged in their nineties are benefitting from this life changing technology. Cochlear implant surgery is a routine procedure, and the benefits are huge.
For retired bilateral cochlear implant recipient Dr Ray Hare, being able to hear again has enabled him to indulge his passions. Ray, who was Principal Research Scientist with Durum Wheat Improvement (Department of Primary Industries), retired in August 2008, but recently joined the University of Sydney as a teacher in the area of plant breeding.
“I was profoundly deaf for the best part of 30 years,” he says. “I updated my hearing aids at regular intervals to compensate for the increasing hearing loss, however by 2003, it was clear that hearing aids were failing me, and my confidence in social situations and even at home was beginning to crash.
“With bilateral cochlear implants, my life is back to normal, both socially
and professionally. The implants have allowed me to continue to actively participate in life without any real difficulty. One incredible benefit is that the phone is no longer an issue – both landlines and mobiles. And the constant worry of ever declining hearing is over.
“After each switch-on I was able to understand speech within 24 hours using my new implant, which was truly amazing. Following the first switch-on, I gave a lecture at university the next day. I could understand questions with some difficulty. However, after the second switch-on, I could converse easily straight away and chatted with my taxi driver while travelling from hospital to the airport.”
Cochlear Electro-Acoustic Implant System
Cochlear’s Electro-Acoustic Implant solution specifically helps people who suffer from profound hearing loss when it comes to hearing high pitched or high frequency sounds. The Hybrid combines the best of cochlear implant and hearing aid technology, providing new hope for those who struggle to understand speech, particularly in noisy settings.
Helen Turner, aged 71, was fitted with the implant system in 2008, and is frequently amazed by the return of her hearing. “I can now hear everyday sounds such as the clock ticking, birds chirping, the microwave, telephone and even music,” she says. “Not only that, my confidence has returned in social situations. I now enjoy meeting friends for lunch in group situations and going to the movies and theatre – experiences I never thought I’d ever have again.”
Cochlear Bone Conduction Implant System
The Cochlear Bone Conduction System can help people with conductive (outer or middle ear) hearing loss, mixed (outer/middle and inner ear) hearing loss or single-sided sensorineural deafness. Instead of trying to send sound through the damaged area, the device sends it directly through the bone, naturally stimulating the inner ear and bypassing any problems with the outer and middle ear.
“For too many years I wrestled with defective hearing, and it was steadily getting worse,” says 79 year old Richard Mildred, who retired (unwillingly) 19 years ago. “It is now about three and a half years since I was implanted, and it revolutionised my life.
“Before my implant, I had to seat myself carefully in business conferences, I drove my wife crazy about the house whenever she spoke to me indirectly or from another room, I could not watch TV happily, and was almost lost at lunches and dinners – the whole ‘hard-of-hearing’ disaster.
“I had a number of expensive and frustrating adventures with all the usual ‘magic’, ‘latest technology’ in-ear devices – an almost complete waste of time, effort and money. Then my Ear Nose and Throat specialist recommended a Bone Conduction solution from Cochlear.
“I now have excellent hearing – socially, personally, at all times, even in crowded and noisy surroundings. It’s truly miraculous. My life is now carefree (as far as hearing is concerned). Not a worry in the world. I can now hear without care or comment in any circumstances, about the house, at the movies, dining or in meetings. You can have my car, but leave me my Bone Conduction Implants!”
Visit Cochlear to find out more and read our product indications, and talk to your healthcare professional.
“I’m back in the hearing society”
Ray Hare shares the full story of his life with Cochlear implants.
CLICK HERE TO READ RAY HARE'S COCHLEAR IMPLANT STORY
Sue Walters, the first cochlear implant recipient in NSW and a clinical support officer with the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre, says having a cochlear implant has made a huge difference to her life. “I’ve been able to hear my own voice again, for a start!” she says. “I feel more connected to the world because I can hear it around me as soon as I put my sound processor on – the wind, birds calling, traffic, toast popping up –all those little things that you take for granted when you can hear.”
Sue lost her hearing at the age of 22 and received a Cochlear implant in 1985. “My speaking voice became quite expressionless over the five months that I was totally deaf, and I was starting to leave the ends off a lot of words,” Sue says. “It’s a strange feeling talking when you can’t hear your own voice. Now, I can almost participate the same as a hearing person in most situations, at work and socially, and I can hear on the phone quite well.”
Sue believes that it is always worth getting a consultation and assessment for a cochlear implant if hearing aids are no longer effective. Speaking to a Cochlear recipient about their experiences is invaluable. “You can become increasingly isolated the longer you are without hearing, and a cochlear implant could really improve your quality and enjoyment of life. Talk to other recipients via the cochlear implant networks and associations – you will soon see how much benefit they receive from this amazing technology.”
For more information about Cochlear hearing solutions, contact Cochlear and request a free information pack, and talk to your healthcare professional.
Cochlear Limited
Customer Service - Australia and New Zealand
Phone: 1800 620 929 (free call)
Email: customerservice@cochlear.com
