No. The implant is likely to come off during sleep, and it may get damaged, so you should take your processor off before going to bed. If you live alone, it is strongly recommended that you get an alerting alarm system. Your local hearing therapist can help organize an assessment and discuss funding options for you. For more information, check out our technology and assistive devices guidelines.

Yes, here are some suggestions:

Wig tape: This can be placed between your skin and the processor, keeping your processor secure against your head.

An Ear mold: This can be connected to your processor (like a hearing aid) and provide an anchoring point for the processor. This is also a good idea to easee the weight of the processor pressing down on your ear.

Third party retention devices: There are a number of options available to buy online by searching for “cochlear implant retention” to see what’s currently available.

The processor is often heavier than a hearing aid which may cause some discomfort. Compeed helps. It is commonly used to prevent blisters and works great on the ear too. You simply need to trim it to the size you need, stick it to the processor and put it on. Typically, the ear will toughen up over time so that you won’t need compeed all the time, but in the beginning it is very helpful.

If you are having difficulty with your processor, we would recommend performing whatever troubleshooting you can with your back up equipment at home first. There are troubleshooting guides available for all devices in the instruction manuals you originally got with your equipment, or they are available online at the manufacturer’s website. If you cannot determine the problem through troubleshooting, you should contact your manufacturer or CI clinic. The cochlear implant manufacturers all have resources in place to assist recipients and usually have a greater range of hours than your CI clinic. You can always contact your CI clinic and they will also be able to suggest a repair strategy or they may request you come in for an appointment to further investigate the problem.

Make sure to list your cochlear implant processor under your contents insurance so you are covered for such incidents as a loss or breakage. There are manufacturer warranties in place for limited times for faults, but not loss losses or for breaks.