Cochlear Implant [Advices, Discussions or whatever]

1.It has nothing to do with your deaf identity.

2. It will merely hopefully enable you to hear better, at that's that.
3. Indeed if you will be able to hear better, it will be easier for you mainstream anywhere.

And you do not need to apologize for your choice- it's YOUR LIFE,
you can do with it what you want, what you need.


Your mom is understandably worried about "what if" - well, there are no guarantees in life, but what if it does work????


If you feel so strongly this is what you need, then go for it!
Otherwise there will be lifetime of regret.


Fuzzy
 
It is nearly a month since when my cochlear implant was switched on. I totally love my implants, I would just put it on my left ear and hear everything every day and after. I am really excited to go to the speech therapies. Everything is so perfect, my brain is so flexible and adapted very well with the implants.

My audiologists, CI-specialised audiologist, CI doctor and speech therapist was shocked on how fast I was picking up the sound and how fast I was moving in with the implant. I think I have the brain age of 5 years old because it just adapted very fast with the implant.

I now have the VERY positive experience being deaf and with a CI. To tell you honest, I am actually considering to bid myself to get myself a second cochlear implant. Even though it is so quick, but everything is so successful already and I love it - and I want to hear more. So I thought I'd should get the second one soon as possible while my brain is still very flexible. Yet, I am nearly 17.

I am implanted with the Freedom CI5 System and the processor is Nucleus 5. I really love the sound I am hearing, even though there are only one or two bits where I am really annoyed - the sound of drying machine. -.-

I now firmly "decided" that if I have a deaf child/ren, I would have it implanted as soon as possible and use sign language as prime choice of communication. I mean, deaf people NEED sign language so bad for language development - I just don't understand why medical experts avoid that fact and letting all of the babies suffer with no access to sign language as foundation of language development and acquisition.

I do understand that I have a LONG way to go to change my voice tone from deaf accent to normal speech. My speech therapist do have a hope on me lol.

Anyway, good night.
I am looking forward to wear my cochlear during the Christmas - just to hear what it is like, tinkle noise and stuff like that. :)

Merry Christmas, All Deaf.
 
By the way, I am a he. Not she. I don't know where you got the "fact" that I am a girl. I am a dude.
 
Just wondering.....have you tried going bimodal with CI? I mean I know you have poor speech perception in the unimplanted ear.....but on the other hand, wouldn't that speech perception work with the 90% speech perception in your implanted ear? It's not like you have NO speech perception or extremely poor perception in that ear.
 
Good luck with your CI. Glad you got to make the decision.
 
cochlear implants ae costly

hi everyone, first let me say I really do not know much about deafness and deaf culture. I was not born deaf. In 2009 I was prescribed a medication call amikacin, I took this medication over a period of 3 months during which I started experiencing problems with my hearing such as noises in my ear and sounds sounding differently. eventually communication became impossible suddenly I was plunged into a world of silence I am un able to listen to music or look at television unless there is caption. I live in Trinidad and I was referred to a government based organization that deals with deaf and hoh people. there I did a hearing test and was diagnosed with severe hearing loss in both ears. I was also fitted with an analog hearing aid for my left ear..
however my hearing aid does nothing but to add to my frustrations.. all I hear are noises! communication is still very difficult and i don't know sign language nor can I read lips. I have become very depressed.. I don't work or go out any more unless I have to.. I receive a social welfare check from the government which can barely meet my needs and all I want is to be able to start living my life again.
Recently I started seeing a private audiologists here in my country, I told them I have been reading about cochlear implants and i wanted to know if i were a candidate. she decide to first try me with a pair of digital aids to see if they will be of use to me.. unfortunately these were no different to my analog aid that I have for just one ear *sighs* my audiologists did test with the aids and the results were very poor I can barely make words out even if I am wearing the aids so she said yes i am a candidate for CI. so my next step is to have a ct scan done..after which I have to be referred to a facility and surgeon in the U.S.A because CI's are not done in my country.
today I found out about the cost of CI's and now I'm gone into another depression wondering how can I raise that amount of money along with traveling expenditure to get this surgery done. I knew they were costly but had no idea they cost so much. My mind is really made up I have done alot of research and seen alot of testimonies about people who have had implants and I am determined to get implants. I know it will not cure my deafness but at least i will be able to function in the hearing world again..
but after learning of the costs I think it will be awhile still before I actually get cochlear implants.
 
Username, sorry dude! I don't know why I thought you were a girl either, haha. Awesome to hear of your progress with your CI, sounds like you are doing amazingly well! Keep at it!
 
Ksha, at least be evaluated fully by the surgeon if you can. There is a Cochlear Implant Assistance Program in which the program will work with the implant manufacturer of your choice and have the device donated to you. All you would need is to have enough money to pay for the surgery/hospital/etc.

Here is the info about the program: ShowArticle - Colorado Neurological Insititute

You do have to an actual candidate, having met with the surgeon and all that jazz, in order to fill out the paperwork and get the referrals/letters from the surgeon and audiologist. Just thought I'd share this info with you, so you can look into it.
 
cdmeggers said:
Ksha, at least be evaluated fully by the surgeon if you can. There is a Cochlear Implant Assistance Program in which the program will work with the implant manufacturer of your choice and have the device donated to you. All you would need is to have enough money to pay for the surgery/hospital/etc.

Here is the info about the program: ShowArticle - Colorado Neurological Insititute

You do have to an actual candidate, having met with the surgeon and all that jazz, in order to fill out the paperwork and get the referrals/letters from the surgeon and audiologist. Just thought I'd share this info with you, so you can look into it.
Click to expand...
thank you very much for the info
 
I agree with CDMeggers........see if you can get it donated somehow.
 
I can hear enough in my right ear, but cannot hear in left ear. I was told that can't get a CI in my left ear due to nerve damage. My aid helps for the right but not for the left.
 
amc5754 said:
I can hear enough in my right ear, but cannot hear in left ear. I was told that can't get a CI in my left ear due to nerve damage. My aid helps for the right but not for the left.
Click to expand...


People need CI because they have damaged nerves. If thier nerves were fine , they don't need it. I don't understand.:hmm:
 
stream2525, you are a bit wrong.
CI needs functional auditory nerve, because the electrodes are stimulating auditory nerve fibres.
It is the inner ear (hair cells) what doesn't work, so it is "bypassed" with CI.

If the auditory nerve is damaged, CI can't work. People can get ABI (Auditory Brainstem Implant) then.
 
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