COCHLEAR IMPLANT VS LIVE MUSIC :(

[jthebk]

For those who cant undertsand, some people can be mostly deaf but still have some hearing just not enough to carry conversations, safely hear danger coming, hear a phone ring, ect. When you get cochlear implants, you often lose any remaining hearing that you have, so even mostly deaf people can hear music at a loud concert and feel the vibrations and have a good time. After cochlear implants you literally have to relearn how you hear. its not an instant 100% "cure". for a long time, everything sounded robotic to people with implants, and then technology got better. Hopefully, one day her brain will make all the proper connections and she'll get the best results from her cochlear implants, but its gonna take time.

[jennifermassello]

It took time but one day, suddenly, it was music again. Your brain has to create that bridge.

[MsMogosBigBumps]

Hey! My girlfriends mum had cochlear implants put in about a year ago and she had to re-learn EVERYTHING! But now she hears birds, and can dance and listen to ABBA again! She hated it at first, she got migraines all the time, everyone sounded like "daleks" to her and it was a constant sensory overload. She is doing so so much better, after a horrible turn around when it stopped working after getting ill.

[LoftyAssertions]

There's an amazing movie called Sound Of Metal about this, it really helped me understand. Highly emotional, beautiful film

[KhaozVoid]

I agree with the adjustments. My buddy had one growing up. Our first concert he was really bummed out cuz of similar issues. He and his parents did some research and found out they can be tuned/adjusted. Next summer at the next concert, he couldn't get enough 😅

[sherlogic]

Just listening as a hearing person, there’s a lot of whine that comes off speakers on live shows that sound to me like the screech everyone knows as tinnitus. That’s probably ruining the sounds on the implant as it’s to high a pitch. You might see if they can tune it to block that upper range of sound out so it’s less messed up? We use equalizers to better balance the range of sounds in music. Apps like Spotify have equalizer options for extra bass or for acoustic & such. Maybe see if there’s any settings that can be created or used for your cochlear maybe? Live music is like nails on chalkboard though since no once knows how to manage it really. They just think loud = nice sounds.

[Queenfisher]

Im not ear specialist but am a fairly competent sound engineer.

It’s my understanding that your implant will have a set number of inputs channels directly into your inner ear (usually 22, however I assume this depends on the quality of the implant itself), in sound terms this means you’re limited to only hearing 22 narrow bands of the frequency spectrum (likely grouped around the 500hz to 12khz region as this is where almost all human communication will take place.

Now how you might approach improving this limitation.
1. Research how graphic EQ’s work, this is effectively what you have sitting in your ear.
2. Determine whether the channel bands on your eq are able to be modulated to different frequencies (likely not something made easy in order to avoid amateur tampering with the device).
3. If they can you should be able to spread the bands out between a more reasonable music range (50hz - 16/17khz should work nicely, lower frequencies you’ll feel and higher ones will likely distort such a small processor very badly).

Hope there’s something here that helps you.

Sucks your hearings bad, but on the bright side you’ve got a great excuse to learn about audio now which I think is pretty damn cool.

Happy listening.

[Burrito_Babe]

I work in a factory that makes these, it’s really cool to see them in action! It reminds me that no matter how hard or frustrating the work is, that I can help improve peoples’ lives in an albeit indirect way ❤

[KeyDyer]

My dad is deaf, and I’m a music lover and a musician. The passion gap between us has always made me sad, but he has always loved loud bass. If you’ve ever seen CODA he was just like that, bumping rap to make his ass shake. I picked up the Bass as a 13 year old, and my dad can sit on my amp and feel what I’m playing. He even bought me a huge 200w amp for my graduation way back when. So glad I can share my passion with my dad ❤

[mysteryxmike]

Definitely ask about adjustments! Don't worry, this isn't the end of live music- it's just a really good reason to speak to your audiologist/hearing health professional again! Your quality of life should be their focus ❤

[ceatonbusch]

Ask about adjustments!! I can't imagine how heart broken you must have felt in this moment, but I hope they can figure it out for you!! I hope you get to hear the music ❤️

[delovely]

This made me tear up. Hearing live music is absolutely life. Praying youll continue to heal and rock out again

[theeditor]

This sounds the way music from afar at a concert sounds like, like when you're walking towards a live music venue from the parking lot. I hope it can be adjusted somehow and you get to enjoy music again❤

[alexdavis]

I’m deaf, but went deaf as an adult so loved music. I can’t have CI’s as I’m not allowed the surgery for vascular reasons. I still enjoy live music with BSL interpreters. I can request them for any show and they’re amazing. I can feel the beat from the vibrations and the interpreters fill in the rest. They do so much more than just sign the words, they tell me the emotion and best of the song. They tell me what the instrumental is like (guitar, drum, mixed etc) and also any speaking done too. Shows are still super enjoyable with them

[thetremulant]

"Sound of Metal" is a great movie to help cope with this. Literally a drummer learning how to cope with being deaf

[mollyslips]

Your experiences as patients are what medicine progress needs. It’s important that you share this ❤

[seamishmusic]

Hey, I have cochlear implants biannually myself and frequently go to concerts. I even make my own music now! Time and the willingness to learn how to hear with your processor is all you need. You will notice a change, it will not be an instant click though. I’ve had my implants since 2014 and I’ve been putting them on in the morning and leaving them in until I go to bed. I always try to expose myself to new sounds and music when I can. The more you hear, the stronger your new ears get.

One day, live music will sound like you remember

[FatherFigure]

My mom was one of the first to undergo the first cochlear implant. She had to wear a control box on a belt and change out AA batteries all the time. Technology has come a long way since then. Now she wears the same unit you have. She has to take it off in certain situations like that too. Seeing the technology from where it was to where it is now gives me hope that the next generation will have those problems figured out.

[TimSmith]

Yeah.... No CI myself but that's what a friend said, she said music became Robot music. That sucks. :(

[Man_fay_the_Bru]

My heart goes out to folk who are deaf or blind & any improvements to there quality of life is brilliant