Cochlear implantation is a process that can entail profound cultural, identity, and emotional adjustments for adults diagnosed with post-lingual deafness — yet these psychosocial needs remain largely unaddressed in both the academic literature and the patient care journey outlined by the American Academy of Audiology. Through co-design with this population of cochlear implant recipients in the United States, this study seeks to refine that care journey and examine how its challenges relate to participants' emotional needs throughout the process.