Published Dec 11, 2024
Making Music Again Thanks to Cochlear Implants
Roy lost his hearing in both ears over time. For a while, hearing aids provided enough amplification, but when they were no longer enough, he decided to get cochlear implants from MED-EL. His cochlear implants gave him his life back—and music too.
Hi, my name is Roy. I’m a folk musician, and I used to work at the US Environmental Protection Agency. I lost my hearing over a span of 40 years. However, by continually adapting to my hearing loss, I could stay socially engaged and remain effective at my job until I could retire. But that doesn’t mean life was easy. Because following conversations had become exhausting, I had to rely heavily on the support of my wife and colleagues.
Hearing Aids Were No Longer Enough
I’d always found ways to make do, but once my speech recognition in one ear reached 0% with a hearing aid, I decided it was time to get my first cochlear implant. My surgeon was confident I’d be able to attain 60% word recognition with a cochlear implant, so I went for it. Eventually achieving speech recognition consistently above 90%, I was glad I’d made the decision, and I chose to get a second implant 14 months later.
Why MED-EL?
I had three options when it came to my cochlear implant. I looked into my options thoroughly and inferred that research and development is at the heart of MED-EL’s products. Learning about the technology behind MED-EL cochlear implant electrodes is what helped me make my decision.
I’d been living with hearing aids for decades, and their lack of low-frequency output had ruined my ability to hear pitch, as well as made my life a kind of high-frequency hell. MED-EL’s longer electrode arrays reach all the way to the apex of the cochlea, where low frequencies are sensed, and I really wanted to hear low frequencies again.
Enjoying Music Again
As a music lover and hobby musician—I play banjo and build guitars, banjos, and ukuleles—regaining the ability to enjoy music was a top priority for me. I started listening to music I was familiar with as soon as speech had started to sound normal for me. And listening to songs on repeat made them sound right again. This has enabled me to enjoy my favorite albums again, and my understanding of music, particularly pitch, continues to improve, even after more than 10 years.
Rehabilitation With the Songs I Love
I took auditory rehabilitation into my own hands, but what I did was effective, and I highly recommend it. Here are some of my tips for using music as part of your auditory rehabilitation:
- Listen with your full attention.
- For better sound quality, use cords to connect directly to the device you use to listen to music.
- If you lost your hearing, start by listening to music that is familiar to you.
- Keep listening…and be confident that it will eventually sound how it should!
- Once the music you’re familiar with sounds right, you can begin listening to new songs.
- Listen to songs on repeat and try to hear new things each time you listen.
I had no formal rehab program, but, having been deaf for so long, there was nothing I would rather do than listen to anything and everything.
Roy in a recording studio listening to guitarist Jon Shain adding a track to his CD.
Advice for Others
Keeping in mind that each person’s hearing journey is unique, my advice is to seek help from doctors and audiologists and never give up. And I can’t stress enough the importance of using your cochlear implant every waking moment—giving your brain constant input will help you acclimate to your cochlear implant to an incredible degree.
'Change' isn’t a strong enough word. [My cochlear implants] gave me my life back—marriage, friends and music. I have no idea what things would have been like without my CIs.
Thank you, Roy!
Thanks for your message. We will reply as soon as possible.
Send us a message
Field is required
John Doe
Field is required
name@mail.com
Field is required
What do you think?
© MED-EL Medical Electronics. All rights reserved. The content on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Contact your doctor or hearing specialist to learn what type of hearing solution suits your specific needs. Not all products, features, or indications are approved in all countries.
Christine Cass
December 11, 2024
I am desperate to have the opportunity to see my audiologists soon. Please help me if you can
MED-EL
December 12, 2024
Hi Christine, thank you for your comment. Please reach out to your local MED-EL team via this form: https://www.medel.com/contact-med-el so that they can contact you directly and assist you personally with your request. Kind Regards, Giulia
Nilda González
December 12, 2024
Me alegro por cada persona que a recibido Implante Coclear y están disfrutando escuchar en mi caso fui Implantada en el mes de Agosto y al día de hoy 10 de diciembre. Aún no escucho al menos una vocal. Según el cirujano es problema de los imanes que no se acoplan tengo puesto el nr 6 . O sea la graduación más alto. Y nada.
MED-EL
December 13, 2024
Hi Nilda, thank you for your comment. We've shared it with our local MED-EL team in South-America so they can provide you assistance. They will contact you directly as soon as they can, thank you for your understanding. Kind Regards, Giulia
MED-EL
Conversation
2 Comments