Bilateral Cochlear Implants

As I read each one ot the coments they all have some similarities. MY baby CI has been activated for 2 weeks. I have found the sound to be different than the first but I have only had one mapping. But one thing for sure tha balancing of sounds has already happened. I think what happens with the second implant at least for me is this. The first ear hears so great with the upgrade it makes the baby ear not want to do a lot. The baby ear side of the brain thinks she is hearing great so why should I do any work?? I have started turning the volume down on the Grown ear, and up on the baby ear. It already seems to be helping the baby adjust and hear more clearly. I really the second ear is going to be my dominate ear as it hears quite well better volune actually. Just a little tinny yet but improving daily., Having two is just wonderful I am so excited about this it is changing my life more and more daily. -SharonC-

I have had my second implant (R) for almost a year. I still use the left (3yrs) for phone..alone etc.. but I do find a great deal of difference with the two implants. It makes a significant difference in situations in which you are listening to a speaker. I still have probelems in group settings.. more than one person talking etc.. Audiologist suggested removing the left for a period of time as a mechanism to strengthen the right. So far we are not opting for that. I am currently trying to re-learn music. Listening to old familiar stuff. I realized part of the reason I could not hear music was that I was listening to my 15 yr old daughter's music which I have never "heard" before. I'll let you know how it proceeds. If you are questioning and have the option definately go for it!!!!

I have now been bilateral for 5 months with two very different functioning ears. The old ci ear does very well by itself. The 5 mo old ci ear has come a long ways from it's early activation when it felt sound rather than heard it(it had been deaf for 54 years). Lately the new ear sounds as if voices and environmental sounds are a little on the far away side:as it if I could only get closer, I would get more sound strength. I know that will continue to improve. The more experienced ear has masked the newer ear at times, which was great in the beginning.So, I have two very different ears:however my brain takes the different imput signals and I end up with a result that is better than what either ear alone can give-voices are richer, environmental sounds seem to have more detail, music is richer with more understanding of lyrics, and I'm developing sound localization skills that I didn't have before. I love being on this bilateral journey. My dream of hearing out of two ears is a reality-I am so thankful for this opportunity! with double ci joy, Margo

I am a recent CI recipient, having had mine surgically implanted on the right side in May 2008. Although I am considered a candidate to have the left side implanted, I am concerned about how different the sounds will be processed. Would they both end up transitioning to sound the same? Do you know or sense that the sounds coming in both of your ears correlate with one another or not?

I've had a CI on my right since January of 1989, just a few months before you. I got another CI for my left ear in Dec of 2006. I'm so used to just having one. Honestly, I do not wear it as often as I should and plus I do not like that external look of the freedom, it's so bulky for me.
Anyways, it's hard for me to really explain how its like to hear out of both ears, but I have a much better sense of directional hearing when I do wear it. Even when I first turned it on, I immediately knew where the construction sound was coming from since there were like 3 windows in the room. It was a shock to me, because I've always automatically look to my right since that's the one I hear. As far as re-learning the sounds and so forth, I'm honestly not sure but I do know that you really have to train the new ear how to listen and distiguish sounds when you're wearing just the new one. I would recommend a lot of aural rehab or practice with someone else at home a lot. For instance, have the person repeat different sounds in different tones (loud, medium, soft, etc) and see if you can tell what the sound is. I think it'll be easier on us since we've had one for so long and we know how to hear things. Tones in people's voices, you can kind of tell but I'm not sure. Environmental sounds? If you wear both, you really won't have a hard time but if you're just wearing the new one, it might be hard at first since the ear had been inactive for so long. That's why aural rehab and practice would be extremely beneficial!
I have heard many stories about how much people love being bilaterally implanted. I'm just going through a very slow process right now with my second implant. i don't like change much. I'm young and very busy but I'm really trying. I wish you the best of luck if you decide to go with it. You'll love it, I'm sure :)