Cons, as well as pros, of Cochlear implants

Hyperion357

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Hi, all,

I'm 45, a musician .... and I lost my hearing over 2 months ago, after surviving spinal meningitis.

I'm being considered for cochlear implants, at the House Ear Institute.

I've heard a lot of really good word about this procedure, and I would really *love* to be able to hear people talk again, and maybe even be able to make music again.

However, a friend of mine, a hearing child of deaf parents, tells me that there is a negative side to this procedure, which I may not have heard of, but which you folks are all to familiar with.

So ... what's the scoop? What is problematical about this procedure?
 
If you don't mind my asking, what did your friend tell you was the negative side to CI surgery?

There are some side effects, but in most cases, they disappear within a few days to a week.

Following my first CI surgery, I had mild dizziness, a migraine (most likely due to the pressure of the bandage as well as my history of migraines) and neck pain. All of these symptoms disappeared within a few days.

The recovery for my second CI surgery was a little more difficult. My entire body felt as if it had been run over by a truck. However, I was up and about within a week.

I've had my first CI for 2 years and my second for 1 year and my life has changed in so many wonderful ways. I'm now able to talk on the phone (after 10 years of being unable to do so), converse with others in a noisy restaurant and enjoy music. (I've even taken up private voice lessons for the past 2 years.)

I'm also able to hear environmental sounds that I haven't heard in 10 years: the voices of my friends and family, birds singing, rain, thunder, microwave beeping -- the list goes on and on.

The past 2 years have been nothing short of amazing. :)

I have a CI journal online. If you'd like to read it, visit:

Welcome to CI Hear 's Deafblind Information Page

and click on the link "New Beginnings." On that website, I also have several pieces in which I describe my activation day, first day of sound with my CI and bilateral surgery experience. To read them, click on the links that read, "Lisa's Activation Day," "Lisa's First Day of Sound" and "Lisa Has Bilateral Surgery."

You mentioned that you are being considered for cochlear implants. Are you looking into bilateral CIs?
 
There is always pros and cons of getting a CI. The answer is relative - every individual is unique in his/her reason for getting a CI.

I have a CI and dont have any negative outcome either physically or psychologically but then again you just lost your hearing and the negative outcome could be that you may not be able to hear the way you did before losing your hearing. Many late deafened people have too high expecations and end up bitterly disappointed that they did not return to their old ways. CI is a tool, not a cure.

Keep your expecations realistic and you will have less negative outcomes.
 
Welcome Hyperion,

You can read about the benefits and risks of cochlear implantation surgery here:
Cochlear Implants

I've had my CI for a year and had no problems either with the procedure and with the results. It's exceeded my expectations but then I was someone that was born deaf, had hearing aids and never knew natural hearing. You may have much higher expectations than me! :)

Its possible that your friend, being a child of deaf adults, is concerned about the cultural impact of cochlear implants on deaf people as a whole. However, you would not be seen as a problem since you were late deafened and not "culturally deaf" so to speak.

Good luck with your journey and we'd love to hear how you get on. Do you have a date for your surgery yet? What kind of musician are you?
 
Actually late deafened people are the perfect canidates for the implant.
 
Welcome Hyperion,

You can read about the benefits and risks of cochlear implantation surgery here:
Cochlear Implants

I've had my CI for a year and had no problems either with the procedure and with the results. It's exceeded my expectations but then I was someone that was born deaf, had hearing aids and never knew natural hearing. You may have much higher expectations than me! :)

Its possible that your friend, being a child of deaf adults, is concerned about the cultural impact of cochlear implants on deaf people as a whole. However, you would not be seen as a problem since you were late deafened and not "culturally deaf" so to speak.

Good luck with your journey and we'd love to hear how you get on. Do you have a date for your surgery yet? What kind of musician are you?


A harpist: Harp of Hyperion

I have two lovely harps at home ... at can only *faintly* ... hear the lowest octave of the largest one.

I don't have a date for the surgery, yet.
 
Like Hear Again has mentioned already, what was the nature of the negative aspect?

Shooting in the dark...

1) It could be possible facial paralysis - Temporary paralysis is very uncommon and permanent paralysis is extremely rare.
2) It may not work at all or very poorly. Highly unlikely scenario but possible.
3) One might hear environmental noises but never get speech down. This depends more on one's spoken language development than anything else. In your case, this should not be an issue.
4) One's body may react to the device or other medical complications and cause serious health issues (i.e., metal allergies). Again extremely rare.
5) The device (inside the head) could just fail. It happens but rarely so. They will replace it. A hassle but not earth shattering.

To put this in perspective, I've been a HOHer all my life and received my CI over two years ago. Can't believe how it has changed my life compared to my HA days. I hear so much better than ever before. One totally happy camper!!!
 
It's all about expectations. People with meningitis don't always get as good of results as people with other sources for their hearing loss. Have you had a CT yet to see whether or not there is any cochlear ossification present? This is extremely important for folks who've had meningitis. At first, it definitely won't sound like you remember, and you may find that frustrating (I know I would, though my hearing loss is nowhere hear CI territory yet). HEI is one of the top CI centers in the country, so you are with experts, which has to provide some level of comfort.

I always recommend folks in your particular situation read Michael Chorost's book on the process of implantation as an adult, he is also a significant music lover, and so many of his stories may resonate with you.

Amazon.com: Rebuilt: My Journey Back to the Hearing World: Books: Michael Chorost

for the book

and

Wired 13.11: My Bionic Quest for <em>Boléro</em>

for his story about working with engineers at Advanced Bionics to come up with better sound processor software for listening to music

Sheri
 
A harpist: Harp of Hyperion

I have two lovely harps at home ... at can only *faintly* ... hear the lowest octave of the largest one.

I don't have a date for the surgery, yet.

Is that your website? Wow, it really sounds like music was a very important part of your life. It must have been devastating for you to lose your hearing in that way. For those of us born deaf, it's all we've known, it's a part of our lives and part of us but I can imagine for a person for whom hearing is a very strong part of their identity and livelihood, it would be very difficult.

Best wishes. I hope you are able to get candidacy and decent results with the CI.
 
Hi, all,

I'm 45, a musician .... and I lost my hearing over 2 months ago, after surviving spinal meningitis.

I'm being considered for cochlear implants, at the House Ear Institute.

I've heard a lot of really good word about this procedure, and I would really *love* to be able to hear people talk again, and maybe even be able to make music again.

However, a friend of mine, a hearing child of deaf parents, tells me that there is a negative side to this procedure, which I may not have heard of, but which you folks are all to familiar with.

So ... what's the scoop? What is problematical about this procedure?

Welcome....
As you've noticed, there's plenty of advice here... and more to come since I still haven't seen some CI-users...

Would be interested to hear from you what the negative sides are according to your friend (or your friends parents..), since there might be some misinformation in there.

See all the way down about facts and myths regarding CI.... (CI nonsense..)
 
I just got activated Thursday and so far I'm loving it. I'm so glad I went thru post surgery to get to where I am now. Everyone else has mentioned the cons of CI's and like most said, I too, am interested to hear in just what your friends/s said on the negative side of CI? They simply may be misinformed.
 
Hi I was implanted about 14 months ago, and I'm loving it.

The new CI's are actually pretty good with music. With being able to program them for 4 different programs one shoudl be able to have one program just for music if one wants. (well the freedom has 4 I assume the new harmony from AB ha's about the same) The companies are constantly working on new programming stratigies.

I will say that you would have to go through a learning process for hearing music through a CI (it really isn't that fun at first, lol) but time does help and your auditory memory would hopefully natualize the sound. I've finally found the speed and program options that make music sound normal to me. :)

I hope that your are able to take advantage of the CI. There are always risks in everything we persue, we just have to decide if the risks worth it. In your case you will have to decide if the 'possiblity' of hearing people speak again outweighs the possible negative risks of actual surgery.
 
Are you currently using the strongest hearing aids possible? How many Db is your loss?

cochlear implants can be great for late-deaf people, but like any surgery, especially one involving your head- they carry risks. You have to understand that you'll never hear your music in the same way again. Weigh that against the pros (not needing to learn sign or speechreading?) and make a choice that you and your doctor feel is best.

Good luck!
 
My CI surgeon explained to me that CI surgery is relatively safe -- and one of the easier surgeries to perform. While CI surgery carries risks, those risks are minimal compared to other, more complicated kinds of surgeries.

Aleser said you'll never be able to hear music again the same way with a CI as you did prior to losing your hearing. That may or may not be true. Since you are late-deafened, there is a strong likelihood that you will be able to hear and enjoy music the way you did before losing your hearing because you already know what it's supposed to sound like.

In my case, I *do* hear music the way I used to before I wore HAs and it sounds wonderful. In other words, it sounds 100% normal to me. I'm able to hear lead vocals, background vocals, harmony, melody and instruments whether they are played alone or in unison. The only two exceptions to this are the fact that I can't hear bass or very low frequencies (CIs are designed to primarily emphasize middle and high frequencies). Despite that, listening to music has been nothing short of amazing. :)

I would suggest that if you receive a CI, have high hopes and low expectations. Do not expect to understand speech or enjoy music right away. In my case, it took 2 weeks to understand speech (with my first CI) and 6 months before music sounded like the way I remembered it to be.
 
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Although I've been hooked up for a litte over a month, I can understand speech much better than with my HA. I really hadn't expect to do so well so soon. It took me 2 weeks for music to stop sounding like static to me. It was depressing to listen to music for the first time after I got hooked up but now I rarely drive anywhere without the radio on.

I remember the day of my third mapping, I had turned on the radio and this guy kept talking bout how the LORD built his church. I realized I was listening to a sermon so I switched stations.
 
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Wow that is so great, Deafskeptic considering that you are still early on. I can remember you saying that your dad didn't think it would work for you so it was good that you had the courage to do it for yourself to get those pleasing results. Is he less skeptical about CIs now?
 
Wow that is so great, Deafskeptic considering that you are still early on. I can remember you saying that your dad didn't think it would work for you so it was good that you had the courage to do it for yourself to get those pleasing results. Is he less skeptical about CIs now?
uh, it was my first audiologist who said that and it was my father who called her and told me. My first audiologist isn't a trained CI audiologist
 
hyperion, you should consider Harmony implant by Advanced Bionics, it claims that music appreciation is the biggest reason that implantees liked about Harmony thanks to higher spectral resolution mapping.

HiRes users reported that CIS (old mapping) sounded unpleasant while they liked the HiRes and they were surprised that HiRes 120 provided even better music appreciation but their speech comprehension has not improved signicifantly compared to HiRes vs CIS. So bascially, while HiRes provides excellent speech comprehension, HiRes 120 only adds a bonus feature - significant music appreciation.
 
With all 3 CI brands (Med-El, Advanced Bionics and Cochlear), there are no guarantees as to how well music will sound no matter what any of the companies claim.

Instead of selecting a CI based on how well you *might* enjoy music, base your decision on the individual features of each CI and how they fit into your lifestyle. For example, do you prefer rechargeable batteries to disposable, are you happy with the customer service of company A, B or C, do you want a processor that is water resistant, does your audi have more experience mapping one CI brand over another, etc.?

These are just some things to consider. :)
 
Sorry to hop back on the ossification bandwagon, but Hyperion needs to figure that out first. If they are partially ossified, they may be limited in their choice of implant manufacturers. . . It would really stink to convince yourself that you want implant manufacturer "A" only to discover that because you are partially ossified you are limited to implant manufacturer "B".

Sheri
 
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