Problem With Noise In the Head After Cochlear Implant
Friday October 17, 2008
Scott on the forum, who has a cochlear implant, has started to hear noises in his head. Writes Scott, "I have been wearing cochlear implants for over 18 months. I finally adjusted to them 9 months after starting training. Then about two months ago I started to hear jet like noise in my "ears" and head..." Scott went to his audie and ear doctor asking for help, but they told him there is nothing that can be done about the noise. Is that true? Anyone with a similar experience have any suggestions for Scott? Post your experience and/or suggestion on the forum.
Comments
Yep, I’ve been experiencing noises after I received a CI 3 years ago. I get to hear noises such as static and droning (the sounds of machines, computers, or fridges running). I thought it was my CI receiving those surrounding sounds, but I turned it off to see if static and/or droning was still going on, yep, it’s ALL in my head. Since there’s nothing doctors can do for us, there’s a suggestion as to what to do with hearing noises - take a breath and let it pass. It goes away after a few minutes. Works with me.
-Jen
yeah it happens to me sometimes..even after 14 years the voices still is there but with time it ll pass quickly..it s like a flashback..your brain wont forget how sounds “looks” like..those who has CI and it benefits them nothing short of success or dependable, then the magnet under the skin should be out..you know the idea of wear and tear..
Yes, it happened to me. It gets so unbearable. I went to doctors and they referred me to a psychologist who said I have some schizophrenic symptoms that are triggered by my CIs. I have to live with them. Sigh. I wish I didn’t get them. It is better to be deaf than to be hearing unwanted things.
Is it possible for it to be tinnitus? I don’t have the implant, but use hearing aids..and I have tinnitus.
I wanted to comment on tinnitus. I don’t have a CI but I wear hearing aids and suffer from tinnitus. Recently it got worse and has stayed worse for no known reason. I am now undertaking tinnitus retraining therapy according to the Jastreboff method. The audiologist told me it will be 3 to 6 months before I see any result. I am hopeful it will help.
I can relate! When I lost hearing in one ear; I couldn’t sleep because it sounded like the ocean was a foot away. I loved the sound of waves, but not, “The Perfect Storm”, when trying to go to sleep. When I lost the hearing in the other ear I heard what sounded like dolphins? The other sound was much like the stadium announcer for the games at Texas Stadium. Go Cowboys! It was probably very Freudian based. After my implants I heard adventious sounds. My implant, “died”, I still hear noises periodically. It is a little strange because I couldn’t hear a bomb go off in REAL LIFE. You get used to it. My doctors probably thought I’d lost it, who knows?? The jury is still out. I think it happens to lots of folks. They tried NSIA. I am not pro medicine or specifically pills if there isn’t a guarantee they are known to help. Nothing in life, certainly not medicine, is guaranteed. Go with the flow if you can. Good luck.
Lived through hearing, hearing aid, deafness (I’m like the “bomb blast” comment above, nuttin’ honey!), and now bilateral CI’s. My first CI is very good. My second CI done 5 years later is not so good. Experiencing similar problems as Scott with ringing shushing, etc. It blocks my ability to hear with my good CI side. It is very real and very annoying if I try to use both CI’s. SO, most times I use just the good side and leave the shushing side alone (no exterior equip or anything).
Scott - one thing my Audie did that helped was try to strike out different frequencies. We found that some frequencies were causing greater shushing than others, which helped. It didn’t harm. Another, is if this started all of a sudden, did they test your equipment? Lastly, does the ringing stop when you take off your externals? This may be the difference between equipment and nerve sensitivity.
Jason - I think, was the one who talked about the CI and wishing it wasn’t done. Dear heart, just don’t wear your external. It’s your choice and in your power and control.
I am almost deaf and use ASL. I hear orchestra, voice and noise for more than 45 years. I am ok and still sane! (I hope)