In very general terms, when you have trouble hearing conversations, even when wearing an optimally fitted hearing aid.

There are 3 questions to ask:

Are you struggling with conversations at home or work?

Is the hearing worse than 60 dB (on a pure tone audiogram)?

Is the speech discrimination worse than 60% (on a speech audiogram)?

If you answer yes to any of these questions you should make an appointment to find out if a hearing implant would benefit you in consideration of your individual circumstances.

Hearing aids amplify sound, but this does not always mean improved clarity.

It is difficult to predict outcomes of Cochlear Implants because there are so many individual factors, but most patients hear better than they did previously with their hearing aid.

Most people report better communication and life quality and say that sounds like speech, television, footsteps, trains, ring tones and dogs, are much clearer with a Cochlear Implant.

An Implant audiologist will thoroughly assess your hearing while wearing an optimally fitted hearing aid and compare these results to predicted results from a Cochlear Implant.

If the predicted results with a Cochlear Implant are better than the best results from a hearing aid then a Cochlear Implant is usually recommended.

A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who has hearing loss.

The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.
Microphones on the external sound processor receive sound and convert into an electronic signal.
This is transmitted from the external speech processor through the skin to the implant, then along the electrode into the cochlea, electrically stimulating the nerve cells directly (bypassing the damaged hair cells of the cochlea).

Private Health Insurance (silver level or higher) should cover the full cost of the external speech processor and the implant, as well as a significant portion of the surgical and anaesthetic fees, and all of the hospital costs (unless there is an excess on the policy).

The audiology fees for the switch on and first 12 months of appointments (usually 6-8 appointments, each 1-2 hours) are approximately $2000-3000.

Please call the rooms on
07) 5539 2399 for more information in regard to your individual circumstances.

Cochlear Implant recipients often report speech sounds robotic or tinny initially, which usually improves with time.

There is usually a fairly steep learning curve, and within 6-12 months, most patients are out-performing their hearing aid results.

You have to train your brain to “hear” differently. Everyone is different – many people have significant benefits within 3 months- but the improvement may continue for years.

Cochlear Implants are great for people who can still hear, but struggle to hear conversation clearly.

People with moderately severe hearing loss are suitable for a Cochlear Implants, provided they meet the audiological criteria (struggling to hear conversations at home or work).

Yes, many people like to wear a hearing aid in the other ear and find this an ideal scenario.

Yes- phone calls can even be streamed directly to your implant from a mobile phone, increasing the clarity and enjoyment of listening.

Yes – phone calls can even be streamed directly to your implant from a mobile phone – increased clarity and enjoyment of listening.

Cochlear Implant patients usually stay overnight, but this is not always necessary.

Most people take a week off work, but could perform usual daily activities within 2-3 days.

There may be some imbalance in the first week due to an inflammatory response in the inner ear to the implantation.

Hearing loss leads to communication problems and frustration, followed by anxiety, depression and social withdrawal.

The isolation makes the hearing loss even worse. Less social activities and interactions lead to cognitive decline (worse thinking and memory), leading to reduced work opportunities and earlier onset of dementia.

You can take it off to swim, or cover it with a waterproof skin if you want to swim and hear at the same time.

Most people report immediate benefits and then continuing improvements over the next three months

We recommend a home based listening program to train and improve

Our ears are the pathways to transmit sound to our brain.

When the ears become damaged, that part of the brain is not stimulated and may lay dormant- the longer the duration of hearing loss, the more potential for a reduced hearing outcome.

The actual implant usually lasts a lifetime, but the external speech processor can be upgraded every 5 years or so (usually covered by private health insurance and DVA).

A Cochlear Implant does not restore normal hearing but it usually improves the hearing considerably.

Like hearing aids in can be less effective in very noisy situations.
Some people report that sounds are different after surgery.
Many people benefit from some training to get used to their new way of hearing.
Most people report better communication and social interaction after Cochlear Implant surgery.