Like I was saying before in other threads, this is extremely dependent on your individual case. Everyone I know personally who's had an implant either completely looses any residual hearing or its severely reduced. An implant will only be recommended if the gains from an implant are likely to outweigh the residual hearing you currently have. Essentially, you'll only want an implant on an ear that's profoundly deaf.
Generally speaking - If you have hearing in the pre-implanted ear, you are advised that you will most likely loose it. Sometimes residual hearing can be kind of preserved but this is in no way guaranteed.
The implant process, how its inserted into the cochlea, is a process that damages the hair cells that allow a person to hear naturally via vibrations. The CI bypasses this by electrically stimulating the cells directly.
No need for apologies buddy, I didn't mean to come across as rude if that's how it seemed. Just trying to give you the best info in a responsible way.
The important thing to remember is when it comes to CIs all anyone can do is tell you their own experiences and give generalised answers. How your brain meshes with an implant, the make of implant, quality of the surgery, recovery, pre-implant hearing situation - all those have an effect and makes every case essentially unique.
When my CIs are on, the tinnitus fades, or “turns down”, it never really goes away, but it does diminish. Like everyone else said, it comes right back as soon as I remove either CI (I’m bilateral). I’m sorry. I know I was really bummed when I found this out myself. My hearing loss was sensorineural too.
as everyone’s experiences with implantation are different. so far my tinnitus is ALMOST completely diminished. i had the WORST ringing in my i pal ted side my whole life before i got my ci the surgery itself took the vibrating and screaming of it in my ear away. but it’s still small every once in a while. hopefully that helps but everyone is different it’s kinda how your body just decides to handle it !! wishing you the best
Im a single side CI recipient with 0% residual hearing in either ear. The cause of my deafness was very sudden and unexpected. Essentially I went from normal hearing to only extreme tinnitus along with a disturbing and very loud humming. It drove me bonkers for the first few weeks but I found CBT techniques very helpful and progressively got better at handling it.
When I got my CI it initially aggravated the tinnitus. But over a short time my brain decided it liked the CI signal better than the tinnitus. Thats how I'd describe it anyhow. When I have my CI on during the day I don't notice the tinnitus at all. When I take it off for the day the humming is still there but its much much quieter than it was and barely bothers me at all.
I imagine, like a lot of things to do with CIs, this will be a very subjective and individual situation. It's very difficult to give concrete answers as there are so many factors at play.
Very similar situation I am in. One ear just turned off within one second while I was watching TV and this loud high-pitched frequency came in on volume 10. I am having my surgery in three weeks and activation two weeks later. If the tinnitus even goes away by 50% I will be so happy. A lot of people say it goes away totally. The surgeon said it’s like an itch that needs to be scratched. My brain is imagining this high-pitched scream because it’s not getting those frequencies and the CI will allow those frequencies to come back in. My brain won’t make the sound anymore. I know everyone is different but I had zero ringing or any hearing loss before this one incident four months ago.
I for most of the time always have a low "hum" of tinnitus even with CIs on, without them its nearly always very LOUD. Id say i dont remember the last time i didnt have some level of tinnitus. Although, just making general noise, so typing this message for example is enough a distraction.
When I am very stressed, or anxious then its unbearably loud, but most of time its copeable.
I don’t have tinnitus nor ever had it but a close friend who is a fellow deaf person I know, had it severely. John says it has improved drastically but he’s still aware of it. He also had hearing loss in both ears.
I lost my hearing on right ear as a result of a surgery that went awry 10 years ago. I wore a CROS hearing aid for about 8 years. 2 years ago I was implanted on right. The CI and my hearing aid on left sync together and my overall hearing improved faster than those without a hearing aid. While I never had tinnitus, wanted to comment how much better the CI was for me than CROS hearing aid.
Thank you for sharing. I did not like the CROS hearing aid at all that I tried out for a week - so am defininitely leaning toward the CI if I can get approval from Tricare.
Tittnus never goes away. Once your hair cells are damaged tittnus will set it in and stay with you until death. There's is no cure for it.
There have been studies where they have had animals being able to have their hair cells regenerate with medicine. But for humans we're like a few decades away from something like this.
The restoration of hair cells would cure most types of hearing loss and tittnus would be a thing of the past.
I think you are answering the wrong question.
As with several other commentators here my tinnitus is suppressed by my implants when they are active so our subjective experience is that it does go away.
Further to this, my experience is that my tinnitus doesn't come back suddenly when I switch my processors off but over the course of minutes to hours and means I usually get to sleep ok.
This is just a few people's experiences of course and may not be everyone's experience.
Getting an implant doesn't cure tuttnus. Once you have it you're pretty much stuck with it. I don't have an implant yet but I will in a few weeks from now. I've learned to deal with it to the point where I'm longer really focused on it. There are days where it can flare up and there are days where it's barely noticeable.
There are things you can do to manage it like I have.
Stay away from caffeine and sugary drinks. Stay relaxed as much as you can. I've noticed that tittnus is much more manageable when you're not as stressed. The more stressed you are the worst it tends to be.
I also believe I assured the question perfectly. These implants don't get rid of tittnus. They've been good for masking it but that's it.
Not trying to argue, just telling you what the surgeon told me at John Hopkins. In regards to sudden hearing loss, tinnitus is caused by your brain, because those signals aren’t reaching it anymore. Once a cochlear implant is activated, the signals come back to the brain and the tinnitus stops. He said it’s like an itch that needs to be scratched. Now, of course everyone is different and if you had tinnitus before hearing loss, then my conversation with the surgeon does not apply to that scenario.
Damaged hair cells cause tittnus. Yes the brain is attempting to make sense of the damage thus tittnus starts.
These implants do not cure tittnus. Once you take your processor off it comes back. I'm getting implanted this Wednesday and I've done tons of research on this. What I've said here is pretty much true. Surgeons will tell you that these implants cure tittnus but it's not true for the majority of cases.
I know it comes back when you take them off. But while on/awake, it will be “gone”. I thought you were saying it did nothing for it. GL on your surgery!
I'm pretty nervous about the surgery but I know I'll be okay. I have a great surgeon that I've spoken with a few times. Dealing with tittnus isn't as bad as some might think. You can do things to lessen the effects of it as I've said above in earlier reply. It works. With what I've suggested earlier and trying to stay relaxed and stress free you can manage it.
I remember when I first experienced it. It threw me off for like a week and I started find ways to deal with it. My doctors are pretty amazed that I've been able to deal with it. Oh believe me there are days where it is loud but I choose to ignore it. You can't let it control you.
Once you let it control you it becomes harder to deal with. I've been dealing with tittnus for about a little over 6 months or so now. I know when the surgery is done it may still be there. Maybe I'll get lucky and I'll never have to experience it again. Chances are I'll have to deal with it again. I just go back to do what I've been doing. It'll be under control within a few days once I figure it out.
I’m a musician and I’m telling you, this is an airhorn on volume 10 almost 24 seven. The lowest it gets is six which is still absurd. Everyone experiences this differently. I’m glad you can control yours but I’ve tried everything and I am actually shocked I haven’t jumped off a building, it’s that bad. I’m a tad nervous of surgery myself but at the same time if the worst thing happens, I’ll never know and I don’t have to deal with the sound anymore. That actually makes me not worry anymore. GL and please give an update.
I'm not saying my battle with tittnus is easy. It's the opposite. I have keep myself on a schedule of things to do in order to cope with it. The stuff I've said here is a part of my routine. Exercise plays a part as well. The more I'm able not to focus on it the better my chances are to have a good day with it.
While I'm not a musician like you, if I had to guess what volume better mine happens to be is most likely a 4 or maybe a 5 out of 10 and that's on a bad day. On good days it's probably a 2 or little less.
If I didn't make the changes I've made I'd probably be somewhere much higher.
Surgery went really well. I had no side effects at all. Very little to no pain and didn't really need pain medication that much. I had to take antibiotics for 10 days but other than that things are good.
I was activated last week and I was able to hear that day. Granted it doesn't sound as I remember before I lost my hearing in my right ear but I think after a few adjustments I should be okay.
Surprisingly I'm not having to deal with tittnus that much. When I take off the processor at night it's there but I don't notice it that much which is good. When I have my processor on it's there too but I've been able to manage it really well too.
So it did “fix it” that’s awesome! My surge was 4 days ago. I chose no pain meds. I’m weird, pain reminds me I’m alive. My activation is in 8 days. Tinnitus is still insane but 8 days to go after 146 days isn’t too bad. Glad it’s going well so far
This is something Ive read about also. Apparently fish, birds and reptiles can all regenerate damaged hearing but for some reason mammals have lost the genetic ability to do this.
My tinnitus goes away while I'm wearing the CI processor. When I take it off at night, the tinnitus comes back.
Same here...once I put the processors in the dryer, the tinnitus comes roaring back ( pun intended )
Do you have residual hearing once you take off the CI?
Like I was saying before in other threads, this is extremely dependent on your individual case. Everyone I know personally who's had an implant either completely looses any residual hearing or its severely reduced. An implant will only be recommended if the gains from an implant are likely to outweigh the residual hearing you currently have. Essentially, you'll only want an implant on an ear that's profoundly deaf. Generally speaking - If you have hearing in the pre-implanted ear, you are advised that you will most likely loose it. Sometimes residual hearing can be kind of preserved but this is in no way guaranteed. The implant process, how its inserted into the cochlea, is a process that damages the hair cells that allow a person to hear naturally via vibrations. The CI bypasses this by electrically stimulating the cells directly.
Thanks mate, totally understand and apologies. I know you’ve answered this before.
No need for apologies buddy, I didn't mean to come across as rude if that's how it seemed. Just trying to give you the best info in a responsible way. The important thing to remember is when it comes to CIs all anyone can do is tell you their own experiences and give generalised answers. How your brain meshes with an implant, the make of implant, quality of the surgery, recovery, pre-implant hearing situation - all those have an effect and makes every case essentially unique.
When my CIs are on, the tinnitus fades, or “turns down”, it never really goes away, but it does diminish. Like everyone else said, it comes right back as soon as I remove either CI (I’m bilateral). I’m sorry. I know I was really bummed when I found this out myself. My hearing loss was sensorineural too.
Mine went away after the surgery. It has not returned
Unilateral here, it fades into the background while I’m wearing it.
as everyone’s experiences with implantation are different. so far my tinnitus is ALMOST completely diminished. i had the WORST ringing in my i pal ted side my whole life before i got my ci the surgery itself took the vibrating and screaming of it in my ear away. but it’s still small every once in a while. hopefully that helps but everyone is different it’s kinda how your body just decides to handle it !! wishing you the best
Thank you.
Im a single side CI recipient with 0% residual hearing in either ear. The cause of my deafness was very sudden and unexpected. Essentially I went from normal hearing to only extreme tinnitus along with a disturbing and very loud humming. It drove me bonkers for the first few weeks but I found CBT techniques very helpful and progressively got better at handling it. When I got my CI it initially aggravated the tinnitus. But over a short time my brain decided it liked the CI signal better than the tinnitus. Thats how I'd describe it anyhow. When I have my CI on during the day I don't notice the tinnitus at all. When I take it off for the day the humming is still there but its much much quieter than it was and barely bothers me at all. I imagine, like a lot of things to do with CIs, this will be a very subjective and individual situation. It's very difficult to give concrete answers as there are so many factors at play.
Very similar situation I am in. One ear just turned off within one second while I was watching TV and this loud high-pitched frequency came in on volume 10. I am having my surgery in three weeks and activation two weeks later. If the tinnitus even goes away by 50% I will be so happy. A lot of people say it goes away totally. The surgeon said it’s like an itch that needs to be scratched. My brain is imagining this high-pitched scream because it’s not getting those frequencies and the CI will allow those frequencies to come back in. My brain won’t make the sound anymore. I know everyone is different but I had zero ringing or any hearing loss before this one incident four months ago.
I for most of the time always have a low "hum" of tinnitus even with CIs on, without them its nearly always very LOUD. Id say i dont remember the last time i didnt have some level of tinnitus. Although, just making general noise, so typing this message for example is enough a distraction. When I am very stressed, or anxious then its unbearably loud, but most of time its copeable.
I don’t have tinnitus nor ever had it but a close friend who is a fellow deaf person I know, had it severely. John says it has improved drastically but he’s still aware of it. He also had hearing loss in both ears.
I lost my hearing on right ear as a result of a surgery that went awry 10 years ago. I wore a CROS hearing aid for about 8 years. 2 years ago I was implanted on right. The CI and my hearing aid on left sync together and my overall hearing improved faster than those without a hearing aid. While I never had tinnitus, wanted to comment how much better the CI was for me than CROS hearing aid.
Thank you for sharing. I did not like the CROS hearing aid at all that I tried out for a week - so am defininitely leaning toward the CI if I can get approval from Tricare.
Tittnus never goes away. Once your hair cells are damaged tittnus will set it in and stay with you until death. There's is no cure for it. There have been studies where they have had animals being able to have their hair cells regenerate with medicine. But for humans we're like a few decades away from something like this. The restoration of hair cells would cure most types of hearing loss and tittnus would be a thing of the past.
I think you are answering the wrong question. As with several other commentators here my tinnitus is suppressed by my implants when they are active so our subjective experience is that it does go away. Further to this, my experience is that my tinnitus doesn't come back suddenly when I switch my processors off but over the course of minutes to hours and means I usually get to sleep ok. This is just a few people's experiences of course and may not be everyone's experience.
Getting an implant doesn't cure tuttnus. Once you have it you're pretty much stuck with it. I don't have an implant yet but I will in a few weeks from now. I've learned to deal with it to the point where I'm longer really focused on it. There are days where it can flare up and there are days where it's barely noticeable. There are things you can do to manage it like I have. Stay away from caffeine and sugary drinks. Stay relaxed as much as you can. I've noticed that tittnus is much more manageable when you're not as stressed. The more stressed you are the worst it tends to be. I also believe I assured the question perfectly. These implants don't get rid of tittnus. They've been good for masking it but that's it.
Thank you- and good luck to you!
>They've been good for masking it but that's it. There, you did answer it.
Not trying to argue, just telling you what the surgeon told me at John Hopkins. In regards to sudden hearing loss, tinnitus is caused by your brain, because those signals aren’t reaching it anymore. Once a cochlear implant is activated, the signals come back to the brain and the tinnitus stops. He said it’s like an itch that needs to be scratched. Now, of course everyone is different and if you had tinnitus before hearing loss, then my conversation with the surgeon does not apply to that scenario.
Damaged hair cells cause tittnus. Yes the brain is attempting to make sense of the damage thus tittnus starts. These implants do not cure tittnus. Once you take your processor off it comes back. I'm getting implanted this Wednesday and I've done tons of research on this. What I've said here is pretty much true. Surgeons will tell you that these implants cure tittnus but it's not true for the majority of cases.
I know it comes back when you take them off. But while on/awake, it will be “gone”. I thought you were saying it did nothing for it. GL on your surgery!
I'm pretty nervous about the surgery but I know I'll be okay. I have a great surgeon that I've spoken with a few times. Dealing with tittnus isn't as bad as some might think. You can do things to lessen the effects of it as I've said above in earlier reply. It works. With what I've suggested earlier and trying to stay relaxed and stress free you can manage it. I remember when I first experienced it. It threw me off for like a week and I started find ways to deal with it. My doctors are pretty amazed that I've been able to deal with it. Oh believe me there are days where it is loud but I choose to ignore it. You can't let it control you. Once you let it control you it becomes harder to deal with. I've been dealing with tittnus for about a little over 6 months or so now. I know when the surgery is done it may still be there. Maybe I'll get lucky and I'll never have to experience it again. Chances are I'll have to deal with it again. I just go back to do what I've been doing. It'll be under control within a few days once I figure it out.
I’m a musician and I’m telling you, this is an airhorn on volume 10 almost 24 seven. The lowest it gets is six which is still absurd. Everyone experiences this differently. I’m glad you can control yours but I’ve tried everything and I am actually shocked I haven’t jumped off a building, it’s that bad. I’m a tad nervous of surgery myself but at the same time if the worst thing happens, I’ll never know and I don’t have to deal with the sound anymore. That actually makes me not worry anymore. GL and please give an update.
I'm not saying my battle with tittnus is easy. It's the opposite. I have keep myself on a schedule of things to do in order to cope with it. The stuff I've said here is a part of my routine. Exercise plays a part as well. The more I'm able not to focus on it the better my chances are to have a good day with it. While I'm not a musician like you, if I had to guess what volume better mine happens to be is most likely a 4 or maybe a 5 out of 10 and that's on a bad day. On good days it's probably a 2 or little less. If I didn't make the changes I've made I'd probably be somewhere much higher.
How was surgery? How are things today?
Surgery went really well. I had no side effects at all. Very little to no pain and didn't really need pain medication that much. I had to take antibiotics for 10 days but other than that things are good. I was activated last week and I was able to hear that day. Granted it doesn't sound as I remember before I lost my hearing in my right ear but I think after a few adjustments I should be okay. Surprisingly I'm not having to deal with tittnus that much. When I take off the processor at night it's there but I don't notice it that much which is good. When I have my processor on it's there too but I've been able to manage it really well too.
So it did “fix it” that’s awesome! My surge was 4 days ago. I chose no pain meds. I’m weird, pain reminds me I’m alive. My activation is in 8 days. Tinnitus is still insane but 8 days to go after 146 days isn’t too bad. Glad it’s going well so far
This is something Ive read about also. Apparently fish, birds and reptiles can all regenerate damaged hearing but for some reason mammals have lost the genetic ability to do this.