A life-threatening illness left Charles deaf in his left ear. He embarked on a journey to hear again, but with a fear of surgery, hearing aids were his only option. With devices that provided ineffective and unnatural sound, Charles’ hearing health provider suggested a bone-anchored hearing solution called the Cochlear™ Osia® System. Charles overcame his fear and now enjoys a more natural sounding solution that has improved his quality of life. Read his words below:
“My journey with hearing loss came unexpectedly, without warning, at a time that could not have been worse. In November 2022, a serious, life-threatening virus unexpectedly thrust me into a world where I could barely walk, and my vision and hearing were severely impaired.
I spent 20 days in an intensive care facility while doctors tried to diagnose and treat an illness that was raging through my entire body. They managed to make a diagnosis and begin treatment in the nick of time, but not before the virus staked its claim on everything from my physical mobility to my vision and hearing. I wondered if all these issues could be fixed, and if so, how. I knew I had to tackle them one at a time, so after I regained some of my physical ability, my hearing was the next task at hand.
Discovering the source of my hearing loss
Somewhere around the time of my hospitalization and release, I noticed that my hearing was way off. At first, I thought it was all the medication. The issue persisted, so I asked my doctor why I might be having issues with my left ear not being able to hear clearly. She looked into my ear with her otoscope and then said, ‘That’s because you don’t have an eardrum.’
Apparently, during my stint in intensive care, my eardrum ruptured. I experienced no pain whatsoever; I couldn’t even remember when it might have ruptured. The tear was so severe that it was pretty much gone. My doctors thoroughly looked at my situation and concluded that there was no way it would grow back, and any surgery performed probably would have made it worse.
So, there I was, facing the prospect of being deaf in one ear for the rest of my life. I thought hearing aids would only provide a minimal increase in hearing ability at best, which was very disheartening.
Presented with a potential hearing solution
The first doctor who examined me mentioned that if, after trying different recommended solutions, there was little or no success, a device called a bone-anchored hearing device was an option. She explained to me briefly what it was and how I might be a candidate for it.
It sounded like a somewhat involved procedure, and I wasn’t interested in surgery or being back in the hospital, so I didn’t give it much thought. In the end, there were truly no options for me other than a hearing aid.
I was then scheduled for a consultation with an audiologist. After she tested my hearing, she also suggested the bone-anchored hearing device as a possible solution. First, we tested other hearing aids. We tested moderately priced ones, then more expensive ones. They all improved my hearing to some degree, but the sound was odd to me. It didn’t seem natural, and it didn’t match the way my right ear was hearing sounds. It was also like a patchwork quilt of sound that my brain had to piece together. They were all expensive and not covered by my insurance because I was over 21 years of age.
Then she put this band on my head and told me to listen to how a bone-anchored device would sound. The difference was amazing, and the sound so natural. As soon as she turned it on, I could hear the squeaking of sneakers of people walking in the hall outside of the room. Then she told me the good news: the best hearing device I had tested was the only one covered by my insurance. A big smile came to my face until she finished her statement, saying, ‘That’s because surgery is involved.’
Facing fears for the Cochlear™ Osia® System
Flash forward to July 2023, and there I was in the pre-operation room, waiting for the pre-op visit from my implant surgeon and my anesthesiologist. The surgical aspect of my implantation process was by far the most daunting for me. At 53 years old, aside from dental work, I had never had any kind of surgical procedure; I had never even been put under any kind of anesthesia. Adding to this, I had viewed a YouTube video of the actual bone-conduction implant surgical procedure being performed on another individual. As informative as the video was, it was very graphic and only served to heighten my anxiety and make me more nervous.
Luckily for me, I had an amazing surgeon. Even though I had a good-sized stretch of stitches behind my left ear, the entire ordeal was painless. In fact, there was no pain or bleeding during the entire monthlong healing process, and it wasn’t long before the incision had healed well enough for me to see my audiologist to have my Osia 2 Sound Processor activated.
Having the device set up and hearing sound in my left ear for the first time was the most amazing part of my hearing journey. It wasn’t like I was hearing through a traditional hearing aid; it was like someone had flipped a switch that turned on my ear. The sound was so amazing and continued to get better as the hours went by. The Osia Sound Processor sounded even better than the one that was tested. Any doubts or apprehensions that I had prior to getting it installed were instantly replaced with the satisfaction of knowing that I made the right decision by going with the Osia System.
Gratitude for a positive outcome
I will soon be coming up on a full year with my device, and I couldn’t be any happier. It is not often that a product comes to market with the ability to do everything that it claims. My Cochlear Osia Sound Processor is a rare exception. I am still amazed by how well it has benefited my hearing. The fact that it is so customizable and easy to use has made it possible to tailor its output to what I want to hear. It’s great for those who are tech-savvy and easy to use for those who aren’t.
I recently had to visit my audiologist to have her tone down what I was hearing. It was overwhelming, a little too loud, and more than my brain could process. With a few clicks, I was set again, and the sound was perfect. I thought to myself: toning down too much sound coming to an ear that wasn’t hearing anything was much more preferable than struggling to find ways to be able to hear at all.
I am so happy that my story has had such a positive outcome considering where I was when this journey started. I am thankful to have had medical professionals who recommended this hearing option, and I am eternally grateful that there are products like the ones from Cochlear on the market to help.
I was also amazed at how many people I have encountered since my implant who know about Cochlear devices but aren’t sure how they work or how good they are. On several occasions, I have had someone notice the device on my head (mostly because I have a very short hairstyle) and ask me about it. I have even had a friend who asked about it because his doctor had mentioned that he would be a good candidate for one. After I told him all about my experience, I summed it up to him with one thought: If anyone out there has a hearing condition that can be remedied by receiving a hearing solution like this and who has the financial or insurance means to acquire it, they would be a fool not to get one. It’s not a device to help you hear; it’s a device that gives you your hearing back.
And my journey continues…”
If you or a loved one has experienced unexpected hearing loss, like Charles, the Osia System may be an option to consider. Learn about this bone conduction solution by visiting our website!
