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?

OBJECTIVE: 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. DESIGN: This qualitative sub-study (within a broader mixed-methods study) as part of a broader evaluation of clinical- and economic outcomes associated with upgrading obsolete processors, which captured the perspectives of CI users and their communication partners. Semi-structured interviews were conducted remotely, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. STUDY SAMPLE: Fifteen CI users and seven communication partners were recruited through purposive sampling. RESULTS: Themes described gradual challenges associated with ageing processors, including reduced reliability, emotional strain, and relational impacts. Following upgrade, participants reported greater communicative ease, renewed participation, and reduced family burden. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the functional, psychosocial, and relational implications of SP obsolescence and underscore the importance of integrating lived experience into long-term CI care planning.