Waterproof Hearing Aids & Cochlear Implant Surgery Risks | DrCliffAuD VLOG 155 Q&A 

I had CI surgery early December. I’m SSD. One major risk (above 50%) Cliff didn’t mention of surgery: further loss of residual hearing in your bad ear as fibers form around the electrode in the cochlea and further damage your last remaining hair cells. This was spelled out by my surgeon in my initial consultation. Before my surgery, if I played a podcast in my bad ear at full blast with an air pod pro, I might be able to understand 5 words in 100. Now, it’s probably down to 1 word in 100. Basically, I can hear syllables but not well enough to know what the words are. I searched RU-vid for what CI’s sound like and the robotic words were WAY better than what I was hearing in my deaf ear so I elected for the surgery. I’m 8 weeks post surgery and I can make out people’s voices in my processor but they do sound like they are coming from a bad walkie talkie. I had my post surgery follow up a couple days ago. My surgeon noticed some fluid build up at the bottom of my suture site. She basically pierced the bottom and let some fluid drain and put a tiny band aid on it. She said it should now heal properly and my next follow up isn’t for a year (but I can text her any time over my health care app if things go bad). I’m enjoying streaming podcasts and movies directly to my CI processor and listening to stereo music with my good ear + headphones over my processor. Understanding voices with the processor mic is still challenging (4 weeks post activation) but I’m practicing by feeding white noise into my good ear with an AirPod so I have to hear through my CI processor.

It was fun listening to your answers, Cliff. I hope I never need a cochlear implant, even if it's very safe. I'm basically a coward about any kind of surgery. 😵‍💫

Great content, another question on cochlear implant. What is the expected hearing improvement after suregery and are there differenses depending on reason for hearing problem. Hmm, this sounds as a video on its own 🤔

Hello Dr Cliff, I really like your analysis of hearing aids and understand that the higher tiers offer better options. For those of us that have a limited budget, could you give us a review about the advanced tiers and which manufacturer offers the best advance options hearing aid.

Dr. Cliff, in following your channel I’ve realized that there is a significant mental, or neurological component to overcoming hearing loss. It’s not only the aptness of the devices themselves but also the neural training that takes place in maximizing their effectiveness. As an individual with asymmetrical hearing loss, I’m assuming that this neural learning also takes place with only one device. What I think I’ve learned is that having two devices working together is better than one, but I would also think that having one device is certainly better than none at all and that significant benefit can be achieved. From your experience can you comment on this? I only require one device at the moment but I’ve been advised that even my ‘good’ ear could be enhanced. However, one device represents a significant cost reduction. What I’m concerned about is that I may be wasting my money in the short term and will not get enough benefit from just one device and will have to go to two sooner rather than later. Do you have a point of view?

When are we going to start putting more time into hair research...so we can naturally hear again??

I would never consider a cochlear implant unless I would be totally deaf without it. I don’t see it as minor surgery.

Very informative

Recently fitted with paradise 70 with a cros. Was really bummed to find out that I wasn't able to use the myphonak app. Any word of phonak changing that?

I think I heard Charlie Dog in the background towards the end. Tell her "hi!" for me!

Thanks!

i wonder if people getting cochlear implants can still choose analog sound processing over digital...just curious

Why is there a refrigerator hum with a phonak HA

WHAT is REPARATIVE granuloma? (I’m guessing with the “uloma” is some sort of cancer. “Reparative” is what’s confusing.)

Please , please, talk more slow ! We are hearing impaired and a times we had NO clue what you are talking about !

thank you for answering my question this is my user name real name Melad Marji SR letter from my first name last name & SR for senior

Thanks!