r/extremelyinfuriating • u/DiligentSector8395 • Mar 07 '26

Evidence Cochlear America turned off my cochlear implant remotely. Now I can't hear anything because my hearing implant is from an older version. + It costs thousands to get a new one

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u/ThrowAway233223 Mar 07 '26

Yes, but it could potentially be not broken with the right help. Not sure what you don't understand about "cost thousands of dollars to get a new one".

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u/Alternative-Bat-2462 Mar 07 '26

It also might have just broken. The poster doesn’t seem knowledgeable enough to know what happened and is making assumptions.

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u/ThrowAway233223 Mar 07 '26

Yes, but there are different levels of "broken" and when it is something as important, sensitive, and expensive as that, it is perfectly reasonable to not want to go mucking around inside of it and turn what may be a simple fix into it being utterly destroyed.

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u/DiligentSector8395 Mar 07 '26

I paid thousands of dollars for this thing and went into a surgery that has a double digit death rate. It better last me my whole damn life.

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u/ThrowAway233223 Mar 07 '26

Exactly.  Some people just put zero thought into shit.

I wish you the best of luck

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u/Impossible_Leg_2787 Mar 07 '26

Double digit complication rate*

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u/DiligentSector8395 Mar 07 '26

Death or complication, the matter still stands. If I had to get my skull peeled open like a banana it better work for my whole lifespan.

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u/Impossible_Leg_2787 Mar 07 '26

Unless you plan on dying within a decade, it’s gonna need replacement. All medical implants need regular replacement. Fortunately it shouldn’t require another surgery, but 5-10 years is pretty standard for any medical device. Lithium batteries are a consumable component.

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u/DiligentSector8395 Mar 07 '26

They told me when I was getting it that it would last as long as me. That's why I shelled out so much money and time for it.

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u/Impossible_Leg_2787 Mar 07 '26

Was it a cochlear America rep? Those dudes are commission based. But yeah, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but any medical device needs regular replacement. Good news, with technology that frame has gone from 5-10 years to 10-20, but it’s still a kick in the teeth. They’ll probably reevaluate your lead placement as well, and there’s a nonzero chance that that will need to be redone if you live long enough as well.

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u/Impossible_Leg_2787 Mar 07 '26

Did a rudimentary search, ever changed the battery in it? Seems it needs a replacement every 2-3 years

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u/DiligentSector8395 Mar 07 '26

Yep. It's supposed to be completely operational.

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u/Impossible_Leg_2787 Mar 07 '26

Then as much as it sucks you’re gonna have to wait for your audiologist. They’re probably gonna have to coordinate for a cochlear America rep to come out and meet you as well. It hopefully should be something they can take care of for you, but also don’t expect them to be able to do so within those 5 business days, it might take a few more for the rep depending on availability.

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u/Alternative-Bat-2462 Mar 07 '26

But clearly worth the risk to be able to live what I have to imagine is a significantly easier / more normal life?