Learning to hear

Getting used to hearing with your sound processor takes time and requires speech therapy sessions. Depending on your type of hearing loss, age and commitment to speech therapy, these sessions can last from a few months to several years. On average, it takes an adult around six months to learn to hear using their cochlear implant.

The cochlear implant can never restore natural hearing. However, you can expect that it will enable you to hear the sounds around you, so you can take an active part in conversations, social situations and daily life. Many users talk about getting a sense of independence and safety from their cochlear implant.

Rehabilitation tools

Angelsound - an interactive auditory training and hearing assessment program that lets you take control of your listening rehabilitation independently or self-administer your functional hearing test at home

Librivox - free public domain audiobooks. Listening to audio books is great for developing your listening skills with your cochlear implant

American Cochlear Implant Alliance - A blog covering all aspects of adult rehabilitation and how it can be easily achieved at home

IDA Institute - For people with hearing loss, the tools are a way to help prepare for appointments