Parent and HA/CI issues

Oh, and jag, while it's good that some clinics are very strict as to picking who quafies for a CI, the standards are still very very loose. People can clinic/doctor shop for CIs and available implantation procedures.
Oh, and I am 100% A-OK with implanting kids who have auditory nereopathy, even early on. Auditory nereopathy is a condition where aids don't tend to help.

DeafDyke: I would suspect that the 80% guy you mentioned is a rarity. And here's the thing: let's say a child can hear well enough with an HA to communicate, but not in certain situations, or only with great effort, or only to the point where their English skills will be limited. If a CI is going to give them that much more access to language, isn't that a good thing?

Cyber: I had a mastoidectomy a month ago - the incision, from what I've read, is very much like the old method of implantation that created a larger scar. I can barely feel the scar at all with my fingers, and it is placed such that it would be impossible to see without actually pulling my ear forward. Actually, it only took the cut about a week to heal, though it was tender a while after that. Too, I grew up with some scars that were quite obvious - on my shins, knees and thighs - when I wore shorts, and some that were less obvious (around my head at the forehead level and the midline of the back of my neck). Didn't "scar me for life" (pun intended); nor did my many surgeries, ranging from minor to far more major than CI implantation. The most major was done when I was three, and it barely fazed me (I was running around sooner than my doctor was entirely happy with, heh); other major surgeries were at ages 5, 8, 13 and 19, with minor surgeries inbetween. Again, *not* a major impact on my life, except that they gave me access to bodily functions (no, not that type of bodily function) that I wouldn't have access to.

That argument amounts to the same argument as "the processor will make them a target for hearing", and *that* argument applies just as well to hearing aids, BAHAs, FM systems, signing, deafness - ANY difference from "the norm".

It's why they don't know how to tell me, because they are tooo young. It's important for me to know what they feel at that tender age, but no it's too young and they will not be able to tell me exactly what they feel.

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What does it MATTER what are the kid's feelings at this age- would you also want to know how they feel about vaccination, current school system, world poverty and global warming?

Those are little, stupid, unexperienced KIDS, of course they don't know how to make head from azz yet! let alone asking them for an opinion on CI.
They are capable to tell you they want an ice cream, not broccoli!

But if you wait long enough for them to know what they want, you are robbing them from an opportunity to benefit from CI best. and, remember, Forever.



Fuzzy

Scars?! What, are you serious?

I have scars all over my body from traumas I suffered my whole life. I'm sure you all have scars, too.

Did they stop you from living your life? I doubt it.

Audiofuzzy said:

They are capable to tell you they want an ice cream, not broccoli!

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They'd want gym, lunch and recess all day at school instead of all the usual subjects they should learn.

It's all about the balance!

Fragmenter said:

Scars?! What, are you serious?

I have scars all over my body from traumas I suffered my whole life. I'm sure you all have scars, too.

Did they stop you from living your life? I doubt it.

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Well, it's true about scar. My oldest daughter had one scar on her navel and it was caused from surgery ( knife ) when she was around 9 years old. She had a hernia in her navel. She wasn't happy with it when I took her to the hospital for surgery. It bothered her when she wore 2 pieces of bathin' suit. In her teen, I could still see a scar on her navel. She refused wearin' 2 pieces of bathin' suit, except for one piece to cover it all.

If, it were me -- it doesn't bother me at all, because I am kinda of an old-fashioned ( not really 100% old fashioned, ya know ). My daughter is really " modern-day " kid. She is very self-conscious. She is very exotic young lady with beautiful olive skin on her body. Many men were chasin' her for datin'. I shooed them off like I would to flies. LOL Anyways, it DID regret me and I don't like it ( about the scar on her navel ). I just want to see her happy. If, she is happy, then I will be happy.

One could have used Neosporin or similar ointment that heal and make scar disappear

That's what I used to apply to my incision line after surgery.... make my scar more less noticeable.

For those that have scar, use "Scar Solution" by Neosporin. maybe your daughter can try that.

CyberRed said:

Well, it's true about scar. My oldest daughter had one scar on her navel and it was caused from surgery ( knife ) when she was around 9 years old. She had a hernia in her navel. She wasn't happy with it when I took her to the hospital for surgery. It bothered her when she wore 2 pieces of bathin' suit. In her teen, I could still see a scar on her navel. She refused wearin' 2 pieces of bathin' suit, except for one piece to cover it all.

If, it were me -- it doesn't bother me at all, because I am kinda of an old-fashioned ( not really 100% old fashioned, ya know ). My daughter is really " modern-day " kid. She is very self-conscious. She is very exotic young lady with beautiful olive skin on her body. Many men were chasin' her for datin'. I shooed them off like I would to flies. LOL Anyways, it DID regret me and I don't like it ( about the scar on her navel ). I just want to see her happy. If, she is happy, then I will be happy.

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Scar on her navel? I have over 9 scars all over my stomach and side from surgeries. I wore 2 peice bathing suit, didn't bother me. Now I have my CI scar, I call it my battle scar to improving my life, and mighty proud of it.
Yeah, I was self consious at first, but my scars make me who I am also.
Thanks
Stacie

You suppose it was better to leave the hernia in and let it degenerate, possibly let serious complications happen?

Sure sure. sheesh, vanity. She can always save money and do cosmetic surgery later on.


Fuzzy

Audiofuzzy said:

You suppose it was better to leave the hernia in and let it degenerate, possibly let serious complications happen?

Sure sure. sheesh, vanity. She can always save money and do cosmetic surgery later on.


Fuzzy

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You don't understand. You can keep up sayin' somethin' else in circles. End of discussion.

>>LOL Anyways, it DID regret me and I don't like it ( about the scar on her navel ). I just want to see her happy. If, she is happy, then I will be happy.<<

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I think I do understand. Your daughter is unhappy with the navel scar. The scar is from hernia surgery. Hernia surgery probably was neccessary.

There is always some price to be paid for everything. The question is, is the price worth to be paid?

And sometimes parents must decide for their children - this exactly.

Fuzzy

Better and improved explanation what this graph means:


dark green = 1 year after implant
light green = 5 years after implant

it shows how long the child is implanted and thus how long it learns speaking and hearing and this way recognizing sounds

From the bottom up to the top on the left = performance % = how well the implanted kids did from 0% to 100%

On the bottom from the left to the right the age of implanted children.

It shows how much the children benefit from being implanted at that age:

Children who were implanted at the age from 0 to 3 years old after ONE YEAR understood over 70% of words (left column) and after FIVE YEARS (right column) over 80 % of words.

Children who were implanted at the age from 7 to 10 after ONE YEAR understood about 3% of words and after FIVE YEARS about 10% of words.

Children who were implanted at the age from 11 to 14 years old after ONE YEAR understood about 5% words and after FIVE YEARS understood almost 10% words

Children who were implanted after the age of 14 years old after ONE YEAR understood about 2% of words and after FIVE YEARS less than 10% of words.


It shows that children who are implanted after the age of 3 does not receive as much benefit and does not improve over long term.

The difference in benefits from CI is rather huge when it comes to 0-3 age and the other ages.

If you have any questions regarding graph please ask.



bisyllabic words - mama daddy, kitten -etc.
one syllabic- cat, dog, one -etc..

Thank you Greema for creating this graph's new explanation for us !

Fuzzy

TrippLA said:

Just discuss about parent issue, implant on toddlers and children are supposed be against by FDA, then postpone to after 18th Birthday. Parents are not supposed to forces their children or toddlers to get CI without any benefits with HA, Who want benefits for CI then wait until after 18th Birthday.

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I disagree to wait my children until they are 18 years old then make their decision.... I rather to fulfill my children´s wishes to have CI instead of wait them until they are 18 years old.

Audiofuzzy said:

Have you seen this, TrippLA? do you understand what does it mean?

Fuzzy

ps dang I have it I forgot about it! thanks, Gnu!

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Well, this is doctor´s opinion.

I rather to collect and focus CI user´s experience than listen doctor´s opinion.

Audiofuzzy said:

"Mommy, if you weren't wasting time I would hear so much better now... now I will NEVER be able to hear thru CI as well as if you have me implanted at the age 0 to 3 years old.. -NOW it's TOO LATE!!! I will NEVER hear that good!! why did you do that to me?.. WHY?!.."..

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Nope, it will NEVER too late! I know many deaf children have CI accord their own wishes between 7 and 9 years old. They speak well because they WILLING to learn to speak and hear the sounds.

I withnessed AGAIN last week thru my best friend´s 6 years old deaf daughter. She SAID she don´t want to have CI. How could 6 years old says such like this? She is not only one who says that but most children says like this here in Germany until they learn later that they want to have CI... their parents fulfilled their wishes what they can instead of wait them until they are 18 years old.

EXACTLY, this is called MATURITY and that is why adults are responsible for their children until the kids are at least 18.

MATURITY is the ability to asses what is what and it's consequnces.


Fuzzy

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Do you mean that children are immaturity enough to have their wishes?

Would you not fulfill their wishes ?

Of course we parents are responsible for our children until they are 18 years old. The children would become immaturity if you carry on to show no trust on them.

Well, what's so big about scars? I have MANY scars from operations and things like that....I think they are cool.
ismi, Actually most sucessful oralists are the product of private schools. It's not nessarily how much hearing you have that equates with good speech and language. Many dhh kids have what is called apraxia, which is a nereological disabilty that inhibits their spoken language.

deafdyke said:

ismi, Actually most sucessful oralists are the product of private schools. It's not nessarily how much hearing you have that equates with good speech and language. Many dhh kids have what is called apraxia, which is a nereological disabilty that inhibits their spoken language.

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I have to disagree. While it's certainly possible to have good hearing and difficulty learning speech, or vice versa, having access to auditory input will make learning to speak - and, even more so, hear - that much easier. Much less of the "boo ba bee" you've mentioned before.

Liebling:-))) said:

Well, this is doctor´s opinion.

I rather to collect and focus CI user´s experience than listen doctor´s opinion.

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It's not opinion in any way, shape or form. It is objective, quantitative evidence. Now, the opinion part would come in the form of "children who get CIs early are better off than those who don't" or "children who get CIs early will have a better grasp of spoken language in the long run". But the graph itself is not opinion.

While it's certainly possible to have good hearing and difficulty learning speech, or vice versa, having access to auditory input will make learning to speak - and, even more so, hear - that much easier.

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True, but I mean I could have sworn that I read that apraxia is very common in dhh kids in general. Apraxia is basicly the reason why many dhh kids can't speak well.

Well, this is doctor´s opinion.

I rather to collect and focus CI user´s experience than listen doctor´s opinion.

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This is NOT one doctor opinion, and probably not Cloggy's dr either.

This is STATISTIC - meaning they had to test at least a hundred if not more children to come up with this result.

in other words, this is EXACTLY....:

I rather to collect and focus CI user´s experience

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...collected evidence.

Do you mean that children are immaturity enough to have their wishes?

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We have been thru it before, Liebling. But I will say it again:
If they wanted a hamster I would fulfill their wishes, no plm.

But we are talking about CI, something far more serious than a hamster.

Fuzzy