I often sing in church (it’s always been my passion) and am wondering if a cochlear implant would affect how I hear my own voice. Will it affect how I sing?
Unless I’m at the point of not getting any improvement with hearing aids at all, I think I might not go with an implant.
I’ve been singing all my life and it’s a very big part of my life and my faith.
Have any of you experienced singing after having an implant? Was it a lot different? Thanks so much.
Not singing but this might help.
After getting cochlear implants my family and friends noticed I stopped slurring words. I had no idea I was slurring.
Pending on your hearing loss and how long you have had it, CI might change the way you talk/sing.
Thanks, that’s very interesting!
@Vicki_R I’ve noticed when playing an instrument I’m finding it difficult to get the right pitch of the notes. I might be slightly sharp or flat not right on the target pitch. Whereas before surgery I always got the right pitch every time without fail. It’s very frustrating for me, and I don’t think I’ll ever get the right pitch now 5.5 yrs on.
Being able to sing is very important to me. I’m sure I would choose hearing over singing if I had no other choice, but I don’t think I’m at that point yet.
I appreciate your comments.
I think this is a very common side effect of hearing loss in general. There are lots of threads here where musicians discuss how difficult pitch is. Even some of us untalented folks notice songs we love are somewhat out of tune to how we remember them.
I’m a musician who wears hearing aids–I don’t have a CI. pitch has not been one of my issues. However, I’ve read on this forum and over on Adult Musicians With Hearing Disorders that CI can have an initial effect of making pitch recognition difficult…for some folks. Not all. The good news is that I’ve also read that with a good bit of rehabilitation, pitch recognition comes back. And most folks are happy they got a CI, even if it took some time to make things work.
Vicki I found this article which might be of interest to you. I’ve not read the whole article as yet so I can’t pass any comments
Making Music Enjoyable for Cochlear Implant Users | NIH Record?
I appreciate your experiences and comment. Thank you!
That was a very interesting article. I’m hoping a CI isn’t in my near future, but I know medical technology with continue to improve. Than you very much!