A different hearing solution

When hearing aids are no longer enough 2 Hearing is one of the senses that connect us to the world. It allows us to interact with people and the world around us.

“I would be asked to make a telephone call and I was quite frightened. I didn’t want to sound a fool by misunderstanding.”

Charlotte New – Cochlear implant recipient since 2006 3

Losing our hearing is the loss of a lifeline to family, friends, social interaction and work. Things that were easy, like a phone call or dinner table conversation, become difficult and exhausting, even frightening. Unfortunately, if your hearing loss has been gradual, you may not have noticed the gradual decline happening from day to day. As a result, you may be living with poorer hearing than you realise, accepting it as inevitable. If so, you are not alone – many people struggle for years before they seek help. You might also feel that people treat you differently, so that you have become less self-confident or independent than you were before. Perhaps those close to you have noticed that you are more tired or withdrawn and less willing to join in socially. 4

Hearing loss and its debilitating consequences Losing your hearing is worse than simply “not hearing”. loss becomes increasingly prevalent, the condition remains It has a negative impact on your overall life and the lives of under‑treated. Like many people, you may not be aware that those around you. The emotional effect can be deeply there are other solutions available. traumatic, leaving you feeling isolated and unable to be Research has shown that proactively managing hearing loss fully part of family, social life and work. has a valuable positive impact on overall health2. There is You are not wrong to feel this way. Deafness is known to even some evidence to suggest that the effective treatment be a significant contributor to not working – unemployment of hearing loss could help delay or slow the onset of dementia amongst those with hearing loss is dramatically higher than and cognitive decline3. By managing your hearing loss the national average and studies also indicate that hearing differently, you could regain your sense of independence and impaired employees receive less pay than their normal feel more confident at work and at home to enjoy a longer, hearing counterparts1. healthier and richer life. If you do feel like this, it’s important to remember you are not alone. Unfortunately, as society gets older and hearing 5

A more fulfilled life You may find that high quality digital hearing aids have helped You may not realise that healthcare systems support and in the past. But what if hearing aids are no longer enough? fund cochlear implants for those who are likely to benefit from them – regardless of age4. Sadly, many people settle Imagine joining a conversation with friends in a busy café, or for poor hearing for as much as ten years before they look hearing your grandchildren talk as they play in a windy park. for an alternative solution5. Some don’t know that cochlear Wouldn’t it be great to pick up the phone with the confidence implants could help them; others wait until their hearing that you will understand the caller, or to join a debate around has deteriorated to profound deafness before considering the meeting table at work? At the end of a busy day, listening an implantable solution. The most common comment to music or watching TV could be a relaxation rather than an from people who have received an implant is that they wish exhausting effort. they had had one sooner. Cochlear implants help you enjoy better quality of life by No-one should struggle with deafness when there is a breaking the wall of silence and re-connecting you to the world solution available. If hearing loss is affecting your life and of sound. Conversations become easier, listening altogether less the lives of those around you, it’s time for a new start. tiring. Getting back your hearing is like getting back your life.

“The cochlear implant has boosted my confidence and my family were quick to comment upon the improvement in my speech.”

Janet Hinsley – Cochlear implant recipient since 2008 6

With natural hearing, sound waves travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum and three bones in the middle ear to Hearing again vibrate. These vibrations are transferred to the cochlea, causing tiny hair cells to move and produce neural impulses, which are sent along the hearing nerve to the brain, where they are with cochlear interpreted as sound. A hearing aid amplifies the sound waves as they enter the ear, making the sound louder. implants Cochlear implants work differently by transmitting sound to the hearing nerve and bypassing some of the hearing functions which have been lost. The experience is a little different to natural hearing, but your brain quickly adapts to these new kinds of sensations and sound.

Is a cochlear implant right for you? Don’t wait until your hearing is completely lost. You could benefit from a cochlear implant sooner than you think. Are any of the following statements true for you? Even with my hearing aid(s): I’ve stopped using the phone because I can’t hear what people say. I need to read the subtitles when I watch TV to be able to understand. I struggle to understand speech, especially in noisy situations or if the voice is unfamiliar. I often fail to hear something important, like the doorbell or a traffic siren. I prefer to have a hearing friend or relative with me when I go out in case I need help. If you identify with any of the above statements, you could be a suitable candidate for a cochlear implant. We recommend you ask your clinic for more information and a full assessment. Finding out all the available options is the first step. 7

Why now? Cochlear implant technology has advanced dramatically in recent years, now offering better hearing than ever before. They are carefully designed to protect and preserve any residual hearing. They are easy to use and adaptable even in difficult listening situations. As you get used to your cochlear implant, you can again be part of the conversation in social situations and at work, watch TV, talk easily on the phone, listen to music and simply enjoy the sounds of the world around you. 8 What is it really like? The best way to describe the positive impact of cochlear implants is in the words of someone who has experienced it personally. Perhaps some of these experiences are similar to your own.

JANET HINSLEY Cause of hearing loss: Deteriorating loss

I wore a hearing aid from age 15, attended mainstream school first time in years I could hear speech without the constant and went on to become a teacher. However, my career strain of having to lip read. was short-lived, as my hearing had deteriorated and I found The cochlear implant has brought me clarity and sheer quality the classroom situation too stressful. I finally progressed of sound far beyond what any hearing aid could give and to wearing two digital hearing aids and became totally reliant has boosted my confidence no end. My family were quick to upon lip reading to supplement the sounds of speech. comment upon the improvement in my speech. Ten years The impact of the cochlear implant on my life ago, I had stopped listening to the radio and using the I was offered a cochlear implant when I was 49. For me, the telephone. Now I follow radio programmes with ease and results were very immediate and after the first “switch on” even hear the traffic announcements. I can even use a mobile I was re-hearing sounds that I had lost, such as the bubbling phone which is a wonderful new experience for me. of boiling water and the rustle of newspaper pages. For the 9

CHARLOTTE NEW Cause of hearing loss: Profound hearing loss at birth

For most of my adult life, I relied on lip reading. At work, it was The impact of the cochlear implant on my life tough to get used to everyone’s lip reading pattern. I would After my switch on, it was unbelievable. I had to learn always come home exhausted and I hated wearing my hearing sounds I’d never heard before. They were very loud at first, aids. Although they were loud enough, everything sounded very but the sharpness eased off as my brain got used to the distorted. By the end of the day, I was relieved to take them out. sounds. Now I find lip-reading easier, and I’m not so tired in the evenings. Choosing to have a cochlear implant was I was encouraged to seek a cochlear implant referral from my the greatest decision of my life. I have made new friends Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. I never expected that my and my life has just begun to take off. Buying an iPod was assessment for an implant would be so short, and 9 months later a big thing for me, as I had never heard music properly. I received funding for an implant. I was implanted in July 2008. I now love to listen to music. It was incredibly quick and straightforward. It didn’t take me long to get back on my feet and I was home the next morning. 10

DAVID WALTON Cause of hearing loss: Progressive

I was born with perfect hearing. I began my army career Socially I withdrew from things I could no longer cope with as a teenage cadet, back when we didn’t recognise the risks like music or group conversations. Life was quite depressing. of exposure to rifle or machine gun fire and grenade The impact of a cochlear implant on my life simulators. My hearing loss began in my 40s with loss of At the implant centre, I met experts with a positive attitude high tone sounds in one ear. It worsened into my 50s, until I and a whole new ethos. In 2005 I received my Cochlear Implant. had debilitating hearing loss in both ears. I couldn’t hear At switch on, I had high hopes and moderate expectations; the phone, needed TV subtitles and could only work via text but after a few seconds, I could hear my audiologist talking and the internet. Hearing aids helped for a while, but soon in clear but rather high and squeaky tones! My life changed they were little use. dramatically that day – I drove home, talking to my wife in the I would have lost my job, but the army makes routine car for the first time in years. allowances as so many soldiers and veterans are affected. 11

LIZ ARENDT MBE Cause of hearing loss: Scarlet fever leading to a deteriorating loss and Meniere’s Disease

As a child, scarlet fever left me with mild hearing loss. I went The impact of the cochlear implants on my life through school without any aids, but over the years my The first implant seemed to me like a miracle. After a short hearing gradually deteriorated to 30 per cent and I was given, period of adjustment I was achieving about 65% in the speech a Hearing Dog. test, and sounds I was hearing were much as I remember them from my hearing days. After the switch on of the second An audiologist suggested that I look into a cochlear implant and implant, the sound was clear, albeit a bit like Mickey Mouse! 18 months later my worse ear was implanted. I had been warned On the way home from the clinic I could hear every word that implanting the worse ear was likely to be less successful on the car radio and I can’t tell you how elated I felt. Being than implanting the better ear, but I did not feel I could risk able to talk spontaneously on the phone is very special. I can surgery on my better ear. After the enormously positive impact talk to friends, make arrangements, and run the charities of the first implant, I chose to have the other ear implanted. that I’m involved in. I no longer faced the risk of total loss of hearing were it to fail. 12

If you are ready to consider a cochlear implant (CI), ask for a referral to a CI clinic. They will carefully assess your hearing to What can you check if you would benefit from a CI. A specialist will help determine your precise needs and offer do now? advice to find that the right system to deliver the best possible hearing performance for you. When it’s time to receive your implant, it’s very straightforward. Most people are back to their normal daily life within days. The external components and “switch on” of the system happens a few weeks later. That is when you will first begin to hear again! You will receive support and listening exercises to practice using your CI to help your brain learn to interpret the new sound signals.

“I’m able to join in again. I don’t have to concentrate to hear.”

Danny Bates – Cochlear implant recipient since 2009 13

Getting used to hearing again with your CI is an exciting journey. Modern CIs are very easy to use and will be adjusted by your audiologist to best meet your personal needs. Like anything new, you will also appreciate the specialist advice that is available to gain the most you possibly can in every situation. 14

Making it happen Losing your hearing is devastating. It affects you emotionally, Speak to specialist CI professional. practically and psychologically. But you don’t need to suffer Would a cochlear implant be right for me? in silence. It’s time now to move forward and back into the Would a cochlear implant help me to…? world of sound. With a cochlear implant, would I be able to…? Find out more on the internet. Suggested websites: www.cochlear.com/uk www.iwanttohear.com Speak to family, friends and trusted colleagues. How is my hearing loss affecting them? How would they feel about me hearing again?

“I could hear every word… I can’t tell you how elated I felt.”

Liz Arendt MBE – Cochlear implant recipient since 2004 15

References 1 Saxon J, Holmes A, Spitznagel R. Impact of a Cochlear Implant on Job Functioning. The Journal of Rehabilitation 2001;67(No 3) 2 Salomon J, et al. Common values in assessing health outcomes from disease and injury: disability weights measurement study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The Lancet 2012;380;9859:2129-43 3 Lin F. Implications of Hearing Loss for Older Adults. Audiology & Neurotology 2012;17(Suppl 1):4-6 4 Mosnier I. Cochlear Implant Outcomes in the Elderly. Audiology & Neurotology 2012;17(Suppl 1):20-22 5 Lamb B, Archibold S. Adult Cochlear Implantation: Evidence and Experience. The Ear Foundation 2013 Cochlear Europe Ltd. 6 Dashwood Lang Road, Bourne Business Park Addlestone, Surrey KT15 2HJ, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1932 26 3400, Fax: +44 1932 26 3426 www.cochlear.com

In the UK you can get referred to a number of clinics who are able to assess adults for a Cochlear Implant which would be funded by the NHS. Please ask your audiologist or GP to refer you directly to one of the clinics below.

Midlands Hearing Implant Programme North East Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme (Adult Service) Cochlear Implant Programme Crosshouse Hospital Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Audiology Centre The James Cook University Hospital Kilmarnock, KA2 0BE Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston Audiology Department Tel: 0156 382 7323 , B15 2TH Marton Road, , TS4 3BW Co-Ordinator: Agnes Allen Tel: 0121 371 7105 Tel: 0164 285 4068 [email protected] Co-Ordinator: Louise Craddock Co-Ordinator: Louise Jones [email protected] [email protected] University of Auditory Implant Service South Cochlear Implant Programme North Wales Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ Princess of Wales Hospital Cochlear Implant Programme Tel: 0238 059 3522 Audiology Department Glan Clwyd Hospital Head of Centre: Carl Verschuur Coity Road, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, CR31 1RQ Audiology Unit [email protected] Tel: 0165 675 2192 Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, LL18 5UJ Co-Ordinator: Lucy Philips Tel: 0174 544 5375 St Georges Hospital [email protected] Co-Ordinator: Maire Doran Cochlear Implant Programme [email protected] St Georges Hospital Adult Dept of Otolaryngology and Audiology Cochlear Implant Programme Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London, SW17 0QT Welsh Hearing Institute Auditory Implant Programme Co-Ordinator: Sharmilla Patel, Tel: 0208 725 2493 University Hospital of Wales Ropewalk House, 113 The Ropewalk, Enquiries: Tel: 0208 725 4563 Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW Nottingham, NG1 6HA Appointments: Tel: 0208 725 2497/1747 Tel: 0292 074 3472/5036 Tel: 0115 948 5549 [email protected] Co-Ordinator: Nicola George Head of Service: Tracey Twomey [email protected] [email protected] St Thomas’ Hospital Adult Auditory Implant Programme Dublin Cochlear Implant Programme The St Thomas’ Hospital, Audiology Department Beaumont Hospital Cochlear Implant Programme Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Eire John Radcliffe Hospital Tel: 0207 188 6245 Tel: (353) 1 809 2191 ENT, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU Co-Ordinator: Jennifer Demler or Stacey Cooper Co-Ordinator: Laura Viani Tel: 0186 523 4550 or 0186 523 4445 [email protected] or [email protected] or Co-Ordinator: Jane Humphries [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] West of England Emmeline Centre, Cambridge Portland Hospital Adult Cochlear Implant Programme Addenbrooke’s Hospital Cochlear Implant Programme Southmead Hospital, Audiology Department Cambridge University Hospitals Portland Hospital Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS10 5NB NHS Foundation Trust 234 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5QT Tel: 0117 959 5151 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ Tel: 0207 390 6578 Co-Ordinator: Julia Hood or Sara Bowcott Tel: 0122 321 7589 Co-Ordinator: Cristina Troccoli [email protected] or Co-Ordinator: David Baguley [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] RNTNE/UCLH Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Programme Cochlear Implant Programme Cochlear Implant Service The Ellen Wilkinson Building, Devas Street Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital Royal Infirmary, ENT Department The University of Manchester 330-332 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8DA Duckworth Lane, Bradford, BD9 6RJ Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL Tel: 0207 915 1301/2 Tel: 0127 436 4853 Tel: 0161 275 3361 Co-Ordinator: Wanda Aleksy Co-Ordinator: Jane Martin [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

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