From Upgrade to Adaptation: A Cochlear Implant User’s Lived Experience
From Upgrade to Adaptation: A Cochlear Implant User’s Lived Experience Introduction There are many phases in a cochlear implant journey. One of the most challenging is the phase that begins after a sound processor upgrade or sound change and continues until adaptation settles . This phase is not always visible to others, but it is deeply felt by the person living through it. It is the period when sound feels different, listening requires more effort, emotions fluctuate, and confidence can temporarily shift. It can happen more than once across a CI user’s life, especially for long-term users. This blog focuses specifically on that phase — from upgrade to adaptation . It is not written from a clinical or professional point of view. It is written from lived experience, including the emotional, mental, and everyday realities that are often left unsaid. What the “In-Between Phase” Really Means For many cochlear implant users, sound is not automatic. Sound is something the brain learn...