Short version I’m in a position that my ENT wants to put in a cochlear implant in my right ear when they go in to do some other work. I have had no hearing in my right ear in 20 years and have tinnitus in both for the last 25 years. Looking for someone else that has had hearing loss and received the implant. How long have you had it? Is it worth all the hassle and expenses? Does the garbling sounds ever disappear? How comfortable are they? How differently do people look at you for wearing it?
I don’t have it but was borderline as a kid.
But this:
Be aware that these are a huuuuuuge argument within the deaf community, due to how they were segregated until very recently.
You’re going to get a lot of people vehemently opposed to it, because they see it as erasing “deaf culture”.
So most people aren’t going to give a shit or even notice.
But there is a very real chance a person who is fully deaf starts angrily signing at you. And may flip out if you don’t sign back. And assuming you’ve always had partial hearing, you might know be able to sign.
Definitely don’t let that hold you back from getting it. Just saying that’s the only time someone may judge you for getting it.
If it does and you need to defuse, showing them it’s only in one ear might get them to understand.
Maybe not, like I said, it’s a pretty big deal in that community.
https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/05/08/cochlear-implants-cultural-implications-deaf-community/
https://deafaction.org/ceo-blog/the-stigma-around-cochlear-implants/
https://deafwebsites.com/cochlear-implants-and-deaf-culture-ethical-perspectives/
It sounds insane, and not as popular as the age group from segregated deaf schools die off…
But within the deaf community is a large subset who believes people born deaf need to stay deaf, and they act very similar to religious extremists.
The more you know! That was extremely enlightening so thank you for taking the time to respond and post the links.
Unfortunately I have no interaction with the deaf community and don’t know anyone who signs. I had great hearing until the age of 15. Since then I’ve worked in technology so communication is usually with not as hard with quiet rooms and headphones. I’ve been informed by my medical team and read so much on what it can do. Looking for someone that has lived their life with a device that can give me a more day to day experience. Doctor’s can’t tell you how it feels going through a security check point and everyone eyeing you or what it is like processing end of the day taking the device off.
What helps a lot of people is going “people watching” themselves.
Go somewhere public with a lot of people, and pay attention. Not just to the people, but how others interact with strangers.
You’re going to see people with quirks, doing weird shit. But more importantly you’re going to see that unless they’re screaming and throwing shit, most people never notice anything. Even a super crazy interaction, five seconds later it’s out of their head.
There is a very small slice of an already small demographic that may care about a cochlear.
The vast majority of people will never notice, if they do. They’ll immediately forget.
The more self conscious you are, the more noticable it will be. But that goes away as you get used to it.
It’s like that skit from WKUK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pFD8ic4Lu4
Nobody really cares
Love me some WKUK! People watching is one of my favorite activities when I go out. With the hearing and all usually live in my own head while out in crowds. You can absolutely learn a lot about people by just watching their actions.
To add to this. I’ve only noticed one person who had cochlear implants, and only really noticed because she also had a speech impediment (then I noticed the “hearing aids” that didn’t look like most hearing aids). Her hair partially covered them and I wouldn’t have noticed at all if I hadn’t been interacting with her.
I do notice more hearing aids and such these days, possibly because I’m getting older and am aware of what my near future holds. I don’t think most people will care too much.