Despite the best State of The Art Hearing Aids available that I am now wearing, I am still profoundly deaf. I cannot hear music at all, it's just noise and I can't distinguish between a piano and a flute. I am awaiting a appointment with a ENT specialist that handles CI procedures. I have screwed around for 18 months trying to find some one and all the Audiologists both VA & Private as well as my PC doc told me I would have to go to LA or San Francisco. Thanks to Google Searches and the Hearing Loss Magazine I found this specialist 60 miles from where I live. I am excited about the possibilities because this hearing loss has been making life pretty difficult for me and frankly, I would give my right foot to hear better.
@Ren Tanner Pretty much in the same boat. Getting difficult to understand my wife right next to me, even with the aids in place. What does the implanting involve in your case, and what degree of success is claimed? Frank
I know someone from a forum long ago that has one and he loves it and this was many years ago, I'm sure they've improved since then.
@Ren Tanner - can understand how terrible this is for you Sincerely hope you get the help now, would like to know how you get on so please update here
The success rate is high Frank and the procedure is minor surgery on a Out Patient basis, Covered by Medicare & most insurance plans. Physician ENT Specialist( Otolaryngologist) are the ONLY ones that do this procedure and NOT Non Medical AUDIOLOGISTS. The ENT doctor is the one that does the evaluation to see if you are a candidate. Surgery Surgery is performed while you're under general anesthesia. The ear, nose and throat surgeon makes an incision behind the ear and forms a slight depression in the mastoid bone, where the internal device rests. The surgeon then creates a small hole in the cochlea and threads the electrode array of the internal device through this hole. The incision is closed so that the internal device is beneath the skin. Most people feel well enough to return home the day of surgery. Activation One to four weeks after surgery, the external components of the device can be programmed and activated. There's no hearing ability from the implant until this is done. The activation comprises: Fitting the headset. An audiologist attaches a headset that consists of a transmitter and a microphone and speech processor. The transmitter sends sound signals across the skin to the internal receiver-stimulator. Cochlear implant check. Every component, including each electrode, is checked to make sure it's working properly. Programming the speech processor. An audiologist creates a "hearing map," an individually designed set of instructions that tells each electrode how to stimulate the nerve endings in the cochlea. Trying it out. The speech processor is turned on, and you hear through the cochlear implant for the first time. On this first day, speech usually sounds garbled or high-pitched. Environmental sounds may be difficult to identify. Over time, speech and environmental sounds become clearer and more natural. The audiologist will verify that you can tolerate a range of sounds, such as soft speech, conversational speech, loud speech, hand clapping, coughing or doors shutting. Instruction. The audiologist shows you how to wear and operate the speech processor and its accessories and how to maintain the device. Fine-tuning. You will return several times over a year to program the device for optimal performance. Rehabilitation Rehabilitation involves training the brain to understand sounds heard through the cochlear implant. Speech and everyday environmental noises will sound different from what you remember; the brain needs time to recognize what these sounds mean. This process is ongoing and is best achieved by wearing the speech processor continuously during waking hours. You may be given listening exercises to do at home. The difficulty level of these exercises varies, and some people may need weekly rehabilitation therapy to help retrain the brain to hear. Speech therapy may be recommended for people whose speech has been significantly affected by hearing loss.
I didn't mean to upset you @Ren Tanner. I was asking a real question about the implant. I meant if it didn't work right and you couldn't get used to it, etc. would the one getting the implant then be totally deaf? I don't blame you for doing whatever you think might help you hear....I was just asking a question about the implant...that's all.
@Babs Hunt Unless you are hard of hearing, or have been around someone so afflicted for a great length of time, you cannot imagine the strain such impairment places upon a relationship. It's hard to explain. I'm here in the kitchen, by the PC, my wife in the living room. She asks a question. Or, did she just state a fact? I await further input. Longer than necessary for her to realize I didn't hear it, she repeats it, somewhat louder. OK, what if it was a question, she expects an answer. I go, WHAT? As this thing goes tennis-balling back and forth, I see it is a real impediment to relationship between two people. Frank
I am experiencing hearing loss @Frank Sanoica, as I have mentioned in threads before. So what you explained I have and do go through....not with just my husband but children and grandchildren, etc. too. When it gets as bad as @Ren Tanner is experiencing I would consider the Implant too if it is covered by Medicare. I just wanted to know if the Implant didn't work out for whatever reason...would we then be totally deaf...that's all.
Your question did not upset me Babs, just surprised me. I have some hearing but very poor and cannot hear music at all. Implant or not, I can't see my hearing getting any worse and hopefully a big improvement with the implant.
I would continue wearing my bi lateral BTE hearing aids if the cochlear implant did not work for me .
After spending 8 nights in the hospital during the past two weeks and finishing my stay on the 5th with having a PaceMaker installed in my left shoulder to manage my Atrial Fib I am exhausted and had to reschedule my CI procedure for October or November.I am disappointed but happy to have the Atrial Fib taken care of.