Friends and Family
CI Basics
It is important to keep in mind that a cochlear implant creates a representation of sound. This representation is not like the sound you hear or the sound a person with a hearing aid hears. Your friend or family member with a cochlear implant may still have trouble hearing certain words, phrases, or noises.
Click here to hear a simulation of sound heard by an individual with a cochlear implant. Please note that the actual demonstration of the sound simulation is from 3:16-4:02 in the video link.
Your friend or family member with a cochlear implant may need your support and accommodations as they learn to use their cochlear implant. Learning to hear with a cochlear implant takes time and practice.
To better understand how a cochlear implant works, watch the video below and visit the CI basics section of the website.
A cochlear implant is a complex device that requires regular maintenance. Your friend or family member with a cochlear implant may need your support with maintaining their cochlear implant. Visit the CI maintenance section to learn more.
Friends and Family
CI Maintenance
A cochlear implant is a complex device that requires regular maintenance. Your friend or family member with a cochlear implant may need your support with maintaining their cochlear implant.
You can assist your friend or family member with a cochlear implant by giving them reminders, such as not to jump into a pool with their cochlear implant on. You can also assist them in cleaning, inspecting, and replacing parts of their cochlear implant.
For more tips on how to assist your friend or family member with a cochlear implant, visit the CI maintenance section of the website.
Resources
Friends and Family
Communications Strategies
Hearing with a cochlear implant is much different than hearing with a hearing aid or as a person without hearing loss.
Click here to hear a simulation of sound heard by an individual with a cochlear implant. Please note that the actual demonstration of the sound simulation is from 3:16-4:02 in the video link.
It is common for an adult with a cochlear implant to feel frustrated when trying to communicate. To ease communication with your friend or family member with a cochlear implant, learn the optimal communication strategies for talking with an adult with a cochlear implant. The optimal communication strategies are on the communication strategies section of the website.
Always ask your friend or family member with a cochlear implant to tell you how to best communicate with them, and encourage them to tell you when they cannot understand you.
Resources
Communication strengths and weaknesses assessment
Friends and Family
Physical Environment
Certain physical environments may be very difficult for your friend or family member with a cochlear implant. For example, they may often struggle hearing during live events or concerts, because of the low lighting and distance from the speakers.
However, there are things you can do to support them. Visit the physical environment section of the website to learn more.
Watch the video on this page to see how Robert, an adult with a cochlear implant, overcomes a difficult physical environment.
Resources
Physical environment strengths and weaknesses assessment
Friends and Family
Self-Advocacy Skills
You play an important role in supporting your friend or family member with a cochlear implant’s self-advocacy. This can mean encouraging them to tell you their hearing needs, or practicing a self-advocacy scenario with them. Learn more about self-advocacy on the self-advocacy skills section of the website.
You can also encourage your friend or family member with a cochlear implant to get involved in advocacy organizations, like a Hearing Loss Association of America State Chapter.
Remember that it is important you support your friend or family member with a cochlear implant rather than speak for them – this undermines their self-advocacy!
Resources
Self-advocacy strengths and weaknesses assessment
Topics
Friends and Family
Social Interactions
Certain social interactions may be very difficult for your friend or family member with a cochlear implant. For example, they may understand most speakers, but have difficulty hearing their granddaughter, whose voice is very high-pitched and soft.
Click here to learn about the common social interactions adults with cochlear implants find difficult.
Watch the video on this page to see how Robert, an adult with a cochlear implant, overcomes a difficult social interaction.
Resources
Social interactions strengths and weaknesses assessment
Social interactions tracking log
Assistive technology handout
Script for dealing with difficult social interactions