5 Tips for Building Confidence With a Cochlear Implant

The benefits to self-esteem and self-confidence may be due to the fact that restoring or improving hearing can lead to more ease and confidence communicating in social situations. Here are some tips to boost your confidence!

1. Improve Your Communication Skills With Auditory Training

Try exercises on MED-EL’s ReDi app to improve your listening and communication skills. You can practice independently with the app while on the go from your mobile phone. Fine-tuning your listening skills will help you in your everyday interactions.

2. Connect With Other Adults With Cochlear Implants

Connect with Hearpeers mentors and other people with cochlear implants on the Hearpeers forum. You can support each other and exchange helpful tips related to everyday life with a cochlear implant. Following advocates, such as English rugby player Jodie Ounsley  and dancer Tasha Ghouri, who often talk about their hearing loss can also motivate you along your hearing journey.

3. Practice Your Pitch

Be prepared with a quick response when someone asks, “What’s that on your ear?” Your answer might be as simple as, “It helps me hear,” or something more detailed like, “It’s my audio processor—there is also a part you can’t see that’s been surgically implanted under my skin.

Together, both parts send sound signals to my brain so I can hear. Pretty cool, isn’t it?” Having a go-to phrase or response can help you feel more confident when someone asks you a question when you’re least expecting it.

4. Be Up Front in New Friendships and When Dating

Making new friends or going on dates as an adult can be nerve-wracking. Be up front about your cochlear implant when meeting new people. Explaining how it works and what they can do to help you to hear and communicate can be good conversation topics and can help you to relax since you won’t feel the need to hide that part of yourself.

5. Fake It Until You Make It

Just as in every other part of our lives, confidence doesn’t always come easily. Acting confident—even when you don’t feel like it—with your head up and a smile on your face can be the first step toward feeling more confident.

By following these tips, we know you’ll feel more confident about your cochlear implant and be able to benefit from it fully. Your confidence might even inspire someone else!