When hearing aids aren't enough

Do you wear hearing aids but still struggle to hear? A hearing implant may be the answer.

An elderly woman chats on a phone as she sits on a couch

What you'll find on this page

  • How to recognise the signs that hearing aids are not enough.
  • How to take the next steps to better hearing.

Losing your hearing can seem like an unavoidable part of ageing, particularly when hearing aids become less and less effective. If this sounds like you, it's important to know that hearing aids are not the only way to improve your hearing.

Maintaining the best possible hearing as you age may have several benefits for your overall wellbeing, with research suggesting there are links between hearing loss and loneliness.1,2

So, if your hearing aids are no longer enough it's important to take action.

 

"I realised the only thing hearing aids were doing for me was raising the volume. I was just hearing louder mumbling. It isolated me, and I didn't do all the things I used to do because I was having such a difficult time hearing."

- Nina P, Cochlear™ Nucleus® recipient

Signs that hearing aids may not be providing enough benefit for you

With your hearing aids, do you:

  • Have difficulty hearing conversations, especially with background noise?

  • Ask people to repeat themselves?

  • Misunderstand what people say?

  • Have trouble hearing on the telephone?

  • Turn up the TV volume louder than others in the room prefer?

  • Feel people often mumble when they talk?

  • Struggle to hear sounds of nature, such as birds chirping or rain falling?

  • Find yourself agreeing, smiling or nodding during conversations when you're not sure what's been said?

  • Withdraw from conversations because it's too difficult to hear?

  • Read lips to understand what people are saying?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, a hearing device, like a cochlear implant or bone conduction implant, may be the answer.

 

Find a hearing implant specialist near you

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Disclaimer

This content is intended for professionals. If you are a consumer, please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always follow the directions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

For a full list of Cochlear’s trademarks, please visit our Terms of Use page.

References

  1. Contrera K, Sung Y, Betz J, Li L, Lin F. Change in loneliness after intervention with cochlear implants or hearing aids. The Laryngoscope. 2017;127(8):1885-1889.
  2. Rutherford B, Brewster K, Golub J, Kim A, Roose S. Sensation and Psychiatry: Linking Age-Related Hearing Loss to Late-Life Depression and Cognitive Decline. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2018;175(3):215-224.