Beyond the cusp of cochlear implant sound processor obsolescence: what do cochlear implant users and their families think, feel, and do about their ageing sound processors?

Cochlear implants (CIs) provide essential auditory access for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Over time, however, sound processors (SPs) become obsolete. For older adults, technological decline can influence communication, participation, and well-being. Understanding these impacts is important for informing clinical care and upgrade pathways.

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Clinicians should proactively discuss sound processor upgrade pathways and the emotional and practical burden of device obsolescence during counselling, particularly for long-term implant users.

As the cochlear implant population ages alongside their devices, understanding user responses to obsolescence is essential for improving long-term rehabilitation support, upgrade counselling, and healthcare system planning.

1. 01Qualitative study published in the International Journal of Audiology exploring lived experiences of CI users facing aging/obsolete sound processors.
2. 02Captures emotional, cognitive, and behavioural responses from both users and family members.
3. 03Obsolescence of sound processors is an under-researched but clinically significant issue as the CI population grows.
4. 04Findings likely highlight disparities in upgrade access, emotional distress, and self-advocacy behaviours.
5. 05Qualitative design yields rich insight but findings are not statistically generalisable.

PMID

42952198

DOI

10.1080/14992027.2026.2746947.

Journal

International Journal of Audiology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Cochlear implant users and their family members dealing with aging or obsolete sound processors

Intervention

Qualitative exploration of perspectives on aging cochlear implant sound processors