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Whether you're considering a hearing implant, preparing for surgery, or are already using your device, the questions you have will change over time. MED-EL offers three distinct ways to find what you need: Build private, locally relevant connections in the Hearpeers Community; learn from public discussions about hearing implants and MED-EL products in the Hearpeers Forum; and easily access MED-EL resources to improve your hearing experience at your own pace.

Hearing implants, sometimes referred to as surgical hearing implants because they require a surgical procedure, are medical hearing solutions designed to help people hear in different ways depending on their hearing loss. This guide explains the main types of hearing implants, how they work, who may be a candidate, and what to expect from the evaluation and treatment process.

Retrocochlear hearing loss affects structures beyond the cochlea, mainly the auditory nerve and promixal brainstem, but does not include higher central auditory pathways. In simple terms, sound may reach the inner ear normally, but the signal may not travel clearly from the ear to the brain. This is different from cochlear hearing loss, which starts inside the inner ear itself. Even though both are forms of sensorineural hearing loss, retrocochlear hearing loss involves the hearing nerve or neural pathways rather than the cochlea.

Diplacusis is a hearing disorder where one sound is perceived as two sounds, different pitches, or an echo-like repetition. It is often called double hearing. It may occur within one ear (monaural diplacusis) or cause a pitch mismatch between ears (binaural diplacusis), and it can be a temporary or permanent ear problem linked to hearing loss or sudden hearing changes.

For many people with hearing implants, water can present a difficult choice: Join in the fun without hearing or stay connected to sound but stay away from water. For Dr. Nashlea Brogan, that dilemma was part of everyday life for years. Today, she no longer has to choose between hearing and participating. We spoke with Dr. Brogan about her hearing journey, her active lifestyle, and how WaterWear helped her reconnect with the moments that matter the most.

The four stages of Ménière's disease describe how this chronic inner ear condition can affect hearing and balance over time. Ménière’s disease often causes recurring vertigo attacks, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear.