CI question

[ismi]

How sensitive are these things to static? Is it true that they can set off a car alarm??? Or was that the earlier models/??

If a baby gets an implant, and he is still growing, does it adjust or does it have to be replaced at some age?

I've never had an issue with static, and I work around (and in) electronics all day. Might be an issue if you were to go down a slide with the implant on, but all it could do is wipe the program - meaning you'd have to go back to the audiologist and redownload the program. Which is why parents of children with CIs generally have them take the CI off at the playground, or look for a playground with metal slides.

The cochlea matures quite early, so implants don't need to be adjusted or replaced for growth. The inside part of an implant is generally under warranty for 10 years (or at least mine is), which gives you some idea of how reliable they expect them to be; and there are people who've had their CIs for 15 years or so and still haven't needed to replace them.

 

[Boult]

ismi, there are few who had ci for more than 20 years that finally went dead and got them replaced with current implant then those person will continue to hear for another 20 years or longer(cuz of newer implant)

(you see, they started implanting back in the 80's with FDA regulation but researched and developed back in the 50's, yes from crude model to streamlined model.)

 

[dreamchaser]

I've never had an issue with static, and I work around (and in) electronics all day. Might be an issue if you were to go down a slide with the implant on, but all it could do is wipe the program - meaning you'd have to go back to the audiologist and redownload the program. Which is why parents of children with CIs generally have them take the CI off at the playground, or look for a playground with metal slides.

The cochlea matures quite early, so implants don't need to be adjusted or replaced for growth. The inside part of an implant is generally under warranty for 10 years (or at least mine is), which gives you some idea of how reliable they expect them to be; and there are people who've had their CIs for 15 years or so and still haven't needed to replace them.

Interesting,, I had heard that static electricity or magnetic things I guess, were a problem... thanks for the info

 

[R2D2]

I've never had an issue with static, and I work around (and in) electronics all day. Might be an issue if you were to go down a slide with the implant on, but all it could do is wipe the program - meaning you'd have to go back to the audiologist and redownload the program. Which is why parents of children with CIs generally have them take the CI off at the playground, or look for a playground with metal slides.

As a mother, I go down plastic slides all the time. My 5 year old daughter regularly bounces on the trampoline and I can see her hair stand up with all the static. The key is to make sure the static does not directly touch the processor itself and you can discharge it by touching a piece of metal, which I get my daughter to do. If you are careful and mindful then these activities will not be a problem as an adult.

I think children with CIs and playgrounds is a bit more tricky as children can be forgetful and often will slide down lying on their backs or tummies, hence the ease of contacting the processor with the static. However, as you say the program can be reloaded at the clinic if this happens.

 

[sr171soars]

...How do you feel about the chips they are putting in babies now to track their medical records>

Link?!?

I have a hard time believing that one. That is the kind of thing that gets a lot of people's dander up and be reported all over the news. This is probably what you are thinking of... Mandatory Implantation into Infant Craniums: reader comment from docksider - CNET News.com

Note: This is not saying that it occurs now but just somebody's opinion that maybe it should be done. Personally, I would be appalled anybody actually started doing it. We can't even keep computer systems straight and prevent fraud as it stands now. I should know as I have worked in software for almost two decades.

I much more believe a story such as the following... Hospitals tagging babies with electronic chips

I'm fine with the concept in the second link. The device attached to the ankle comes off when the baby leaves the hospital. Given the rarity of infant abductions and the high percentage of reunitements, it is probably overkill.

Er...back to regular programming...

 

[Pinky]

I have a question about CI user

I've been researching for CI device. Some of people do have CI with earmold and the some people don't have a earmold with CI. I am wonder why it's different between non earmold CI and earmold with CI. I saw these pictures. I want to know about CI. Do you have any question??

 

[R2D2]

I've been researching for CI device. Some of people do have CI with earmold and the some people don't have a earmold with CI. I am wonder why it's different between non earmold CI and earmold with CI. I saw these pictures. I want to know about CI. Do you have any question??

I was offered one. Apparently, some CI users who previously had hearing aids find it discomforting not to have ear molds anymore and like to have one anyway to "hold it on" better. The ear mold on a CI doesn't actually do anything.

I tried it but decided I didn't need it. One of the pluses about CIs is not having to bother with ear molds anymore and get fresh air in your ears!

 

[Pinky]

That's true. I am sick of ear mold bother me. I am very sensitive on skin. I like CI without ear mold to keep me a fresh air in ears and comfortable. I have another question for you. Is your BTE bulky or mini or regular??

I was offered one. Apparently, some CI users who previously had hearing aids find it discomforting not to have ear molds anymore and like to have one anyway to "hold it on" better. The ear mold on a CI doesn't actually do anything.

I tried it but decided I didn't need it. One of the pluses about CIs is not having to bother with ear molds anymore and get fresh air in your ears!

 

[TechBill]

I always felt ear mold was causing me ear infection when I had BTE hearing aid.

Now I been implanted with CI for over 4 year and no ear mold and no ear infection since I been implanted.

So it nice not having ear mold to deal with anymore and also they offer ear mold to keep your CI from falling off. I think it offered for kids who like to play rough so CI doesn't fling off thier ear.

My CI do fall off if I bend over to look under my bed or under my truck etc. My BTE hearing aid fell off same way but ear mold keep it hanging on and not hit the ground.


.

 

[R2D2]

That's true. I am sick of ear mold bother me. I am very sensitive on skin. I like CI without ear mold to keep me a fresh air in ears and comfortable. I have another question for you. Is your BTE bulky or mini or regular??

My BTE is a little bigger than the one I had for my hearing aid but feels lighter in terms of weight. So I don't really feel it more than with my HA.

One thing I have to say is that it definitely doesn't stay on the head as well as a hearing aid. I've dropped my CI several times now and sometimes on tiles :-o but it has survived the fall every time. I'm impressed! My HAs definitely would not have survived the same treatment.

 

[Pinky]

My BTE is a little bigger than the one I had for my hearing aid but feels lighter in terms of weight. So I don't really feel it more than with my HA.

That's so interesting to know. I don't like the heavy one. It's bother me. I thought I would like to a MINI CI. But I am not sure about BTE's size. I like to have a lightweight. I have a small ears about 2 inches.

One thing I have to say is that it definitely doesn't stay on the head as well as a hearing aid. I've dropped my CI several times now and sometimes on tiles :-o but it has survived the fall every time. I'm impressed! My HAs definitely would not have survived the same treatment.

I never have a problem with my HA fall off. I have an idea for BTE decorate with beads and string. You can check it out in other thread at Decorate BTE.

 

[faire_jour]

Also, the Advanced Bionic Harmony CI has an option to have the microphone placed at the end of the ear hook. It is called a T-mic. If you use that microphone, you can't use an ear mold.

 

[Pinky]

Was your ear infection got by wax inside?? I always clean the wax out with swab all the times. I don't want to get infection by fill the wax in my ears. I had an ear infection several times since I was baby.

Why not CI have an invent to prevent get fall off itself? is BTE heavier than coil cause pull it off?? I am learning about CI before I get a CI.

When I wear a hearing aids with earmold. It make me headache because no air in my ears. I am sick of itch. I like to wear CI without earmold but need to more invent for prevent of fall off.

I always felt ear mold was causing me ear infection when I had BTE hearing aid.

Now I been implanted with CI for over 4 year and no ear mold and no ear infection since I been implanted.

So it nice not having ear mold to deal with anymore and also they offer ear mold to keep your CI from falling off. I think it offered for kids who like to play rough so CI doesn't fling off thier ear.

My CI do fall off if I bend over to look under my bed or under my truck etc. My BTE hearing aid fell off same way but ear mold keep it hanging on and not hit the ground.


.

 

[TechBill]

Was your ear infection got by wax inside?? I always clean the wax out with swab all the times. I don't want to get infection by fill the wax in my ears. I had an ear infection several times since I was baby.

Why not CI have an invent to prevent get fall off itself? is BTE heavier than coil cause pull it off?? I am learning about CI before I get a CI.

When I wear a hearing aids with earmold. It make me headache because no air in my ears. I am sick of itch. I like to wear CI without earmold but need to more invent for prevent of fall off.

No ear infection was from my skin allergic reaction from ear mold material. Even special ear mold material for allergic people still give me ear infection.


BTE hearing aid falls off my ear sometime but ear mold prevent it for dropping to ground so it hangs out like a earring heh.


.

 

[vallee]

Also, the Advanced Bionic Harmony CI has an option to have the microphone placed at the end of the ear hook. It is called a T-mic. If you use that microphone, you can't use an ear mold.

I love my t-mic.

I wore hearing aids for 27 years and I don't miss the ear mold at all. I did have wear ear muffs during the winter as my ears were not use to the cold weather.

I find the CI not a hard transition from hearing aids. The advanced bionics 24 hour battery is a little heavy. Other than that, it fits great.

 

[Pinky]

No ear infection was from my skin allergic reaction from ear mold material. Even special ear mold material for allergic people still give me ear infection.


BTE hearing aid falls off my ear sometime but ear mold prevent it for dropping to ground so it hangs out like a earring heh.


.

Yeah, It's different with CI and HA between. That's weird! My bte never fall off. Because of earmold and tube plug lock it. I want to have a mini bte for CI. It's fit on my ear size. I don't want to have a big bulky BTE and heavy.

I am curious is HA and CI are same weight or what?

 

[MomToDeafChild]

Yeah, It's different with CI and HA between. That's weird! My bte never fall off. Because of earmold and tube plug lock it. I want to have a mini bte for CI. It's fit on my ear size. I don't want to have a big bulky BTE and heavy.

I am curious is HA and CI are same weight or what?

A hearing aid and a CI are pretty comparable in size, though the different power options could make it a little bigger. My daughter has a Harmony. It runs on rechargable batteries. The PowerCel Slim lasts around 14 hours before needing to be recharged, and the PowerCel Plus lasts around 24 hours.

My daughter (who just turned 8) uses the Plus batteries because she has a malformed cochlea and her map is power hungry. The Slim batteries only gave her about 7-8 hours before needing to be recharged, which was a big pain. The Plus batteries last from the time she gets up until she goes to bed, so don't need to be changed at all during the day.

The Plus battery is slightly larger/heavier than the Slim, so pulls back on the BTE more, but I found using the T-mic earhook counteracts this. The T-mic curls around the ear and puts the microphone directly in front of the ear canal. Also, I think whether it falls off or not has a lot to do with the size/shape of your ears. People with tiny ears are going to have a harder time keeping a BTE on.

I also use a Kids Clip (available through Phonak) that are for hearing aids, but work for the CI too. It has a rubber ring on one end that attaches to the processor, and a metal clip that attaches to the back of your shirt on the other end. Between that is a stretchy cord. If the BTE DOES fall off, it will only go as far as the cord and not hit the floor/ground. Plus it won't wind up in the toilet, lol. I like this clip the best of all the options out there because it really keeps the processor from getting lost, which is great with kids.

 

[Pinky]

That's interesting. I am learning about CI before I get it in the future. I am open-mind about CI. My hearing aids' battery size is 675 now. My cousin has 2 CI. I have no idea about his batteries kind. That's good question.

If your daughter have problem with CI goes fall off from ear. If you're interest to go check it out at website here
http://www.gearforears.com/ They have color whatever your daughter like to pick a favorite color. I love these color and fashion for all ages. What is your daughter's CI's brand? I am curious.

A hearing aid and a CI are pretty comparable in size, though the different power options could make it a little bigger. My daughter has a Harmony. It runs on rechargable batteries. The PowerCel Slim lasts around 14 hours before needing to be recharged, and the PowerCel Plus lasts around 24 hours.

My daughter (who just turned 8) uses the Plus batteries because she has a malformed cochlea and her map is power hungry. The Slim batteries only gave her about 7-8 hours before needing to be recharged, which was a big pain. The Plus batteries last from the time she gets up until she goes to bed, so don't need to be changed at all during the day.

The Plus battery is slightly larger/heavier than the Slim, so pulls back on the BTE more, but I found using the T-mic earhook counteracts this. The T-mic curls around the ear and puts the microphone directly in front of the ear canal. Also, I think whether it falls off or not has a lot to do with the size/shape of your ears. People with tiny ears are going to have a harder time keeping a BTE on.

I also use a Kids Clip (available through Phonak) that are for hearing aids, but work for the CI too. It has a rubber ring on one end that attaches to the processor, and a metal clip that attaches to the back of your shirt on the other end. Between that is a stretchy cord. If the BTE DOES fall off, it will only go as far as the cord and not hit the floor/ground. Plus it won't wind up in the toilet, lol. I like this clip the best of all the options out there because it really keeps the processor from getting lost, which is great with kids.

 

[dreamchaser]

there is so much to know about CIs that you don't learn in everyday conversation... Lots to consider.. IT is soooo cool that they have colors and all... hot dang.. I hope that the technology gets better because I want them to have a range that will give more depth tosound. With all of the fancy equipment that musicians have that changes sounds, and makes it fatter, or thicker, and changes the key just from speeding it up, you would think that they could make CIs do the same... Just give them time... I hope

 

[MomToDeafChild]

My daughter has Advanced Bionics and wears the Harmony BTE. We've never really had a problem with the processor falling off, so she's never had to wear an earmold. But since she is only a child I always worry that it COULD fall off, which is the reason we use the Kids Clip to secure it to her clothing. I'll probably keep that on her until she is old enough to be completely responsible with her equipment, and it is hidden by her hair anyway. At least for now, if we are kicking in the surf at the beach I don't have to worry about it landing in the water if it happens to drop, lol.