What does a cochlear implant sound like and how do you hear with it?
Before a cochlear implant, many people ask themselves the question - what is it like to hear with a cochlear implant? The answer varies depending on the time of deafness or implantation and the rehabilitation phase.
Various simulations, which are easy to find online, are intended to give an impression of how you can imagine hearing with a cochlear implant. However, these simulations are often not very accurate and give a distorted picture of reality. Especially since the hearing impression is very individual and depends on various factors, such simulations are not a reliable source. [1]
For this reason, comprehensive studies were carried out in which CI users were interviewed who were only implanted on one side or affected by hearing loss. They can therefore compare hearing with CI with natural hearing on the other side. This allows researchers to work as precisely as possible on the further development of sound quality. [2]
Hear as naturally as possible thanks to the latest CI technology
In natural hearing, sound waves travel as vibrations through the outer ear into the middle ear and finally into the fluid-filled cochlea in the inner ear. There, the sound vibrations are converted into electrical signals by fine hair cells, which are transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve. Each hair cell reacts to a sound frequency or pitch - similar to a light switch that emits a signal when activated.
However, in the case of severe hearing loss, many of these hair cells are damaged or destroyed, while the underlying nerve pathways are often still intact. This is where the cochlear implant comes in: it replaces the function of the defective hair cells by sending electrical impulses directly to the auditory nerve. These impulses are processed by the brain in the same way as natural hearing signals. The brain therefore "hears" thanks to the signals from the cochlear implant, which bypass the defective parts of the ear.
Many people believe that the audio processor worn on the outside has the greatest influence on sound quality, as it picks up ambient noise. However, the actual implant with its fine electrode, which is inserted into the cochlea, is crucial for the most natural hearing experience possible. The more precisely it works together with the nerve structures, the better the brain can process the sounds.
Relearning to hear with a cochlear implant
A cochlear implant enables people with profound hearing loss to perceive sounds again - but this does not mean that they immediately hear normally. Similar to learning a musical instrument, the brain needs time to process the new auditory impressions and interpret them correctly.
The first sound experiences after activating the implant are therefore individual and very different. While some users recognize spoken words directly, others hear
initially only unfamiliar sounds. However, regular hearing training is crucial for long-term success: with practice and patience, sound perception gradually improves until the hearing experience becomes as natural as possible. The effort is worth it - because over time, hearing with the cochlear implant becomes more and more familiar and everyday.
Sources:
[1] Dorman, Michael F.; Natale, Sarah Cook; Butts, Austin M.; Zeitler, Daniel M.; Carlson, Matthew L.. The Sound Quality of Cochlear Implants: Studies With Single-sided Deaf Patients. Otology & Neurotology 38(8):p e268-e273, September 2017. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000001449
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