HearLiftListening practice, made personal
Help your brain combine implant sound with natural hearing.
HearLift is listening practice for people with single-sided deafness who use a cochlear implant in one ear and have natural hearing in the other.
The idea behind the practice
Familiar sound. A different way to listen.
When both ears receive speech at the same volume, your brain may focus mainly on the input from your natural hearing. Listening through your implant alone leaves your natural hearing out. Adjustable natural hearing support at a lower volume offers a middle ground, so you can practice making use of implant sound alongside your natural hearing.
Listening patterns can keep that support steady, automatically raise and lower its volume, or alternate between ears so one ear’s volume rises as the other falls. You choose the level and pattern that work for you.
Start with over-ear headphones
The same audio needs to reach your natural ear and your implant processor’s microphone at the same time. Over-ear headphones provide this setup, with separate volume control for each side.
Find your starting point
Guided setup starts with spoken words through both earcups to choose a clear, strong, comfortable volume. Then find your app listening level and personal natural hearing support.
Make the practice yours
Choose steady support, a regular rhythm, random timing, or a gradual fade as passages or tracks begin. Adjust support while you listen; reading speed applies to books with text. Music and audio-only recordings play at their original speed.
Explore it for someone else
Family, friends, and audiologists with natural hearing in both ears can try Simulated implant mode to explore how HearLift combines natural sound with simulated implant sound. This illustrative demo is for evaluating the app for someone else, not for implant practice.
Something worth listening to
Books or music. Your choice.
Find content to practice with in several ways: browse pre-recorded books, explore free ebooks and volunteer-read audiobooks, or import your own EPUB or text files. Read along when a book includes text, or simply listen.
On iPhone and iPad, choose music you own (non-DRM’d) saved on your device after personal setup. You can also connect a supported personal media server. Music and audio-only books play at original speed and require personal setup. Simulated implant mode works with the included sample, pre-recorded books with text, and books read by a voice you choose.
Disclaimer: Results vary and aren’t guaranteed. Consult your audiologist for guidance on listening practice with your cochlear implant.