AlleyCat
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- Jun 18, 2005
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I'd been mentioning lately that I was seriously considering a CI. To me, this was a 3-step process. First, deciding whether I even wanted a CI. Second, whether I even could, from a financial standpoint. And, third, whether I even qualified/could have a CI from a medical standpoint.
I finally reached the point, after many, many months of research (some of which is right here on AD, so thank you all for that,) of WANTING to do a CI. I'm amazed at myself, because a year ago I would have said NO WAY. It's amazing what research can do to change your mind. For me, it was about weighing the benefits versus potential side effects. I believe I have tremendous potential for realizing the benefits a CI has to offer, what with my very minimal hearing and practically no speech discrimination. I have almost no place to go but "up" from where I'm at. However, I was worried about the potential side effects, primarily vertigo and tinnitus. I've been very blessed to not have had any health issues with this all my life, and I was worrying about "bringing that on." Yet, I finally decided the potential benefits of the CI outweigh the potential side effects. And if things don't work out this way, well, that's the way it goes. You don't know until you try.
Secondly, once I reached this decision, I checked into whether my medical insurance covered this, and it is indeed fully covered. So that was an easy step.
Now, I'm at the final step. I have yet to meet with the audiologist, ENT, surgeon, etc. Because I'm starting school in January, I decided to "phase in" all my appointments while attending school, and try to get surgery scheduled for as soon as school is out for the summer. So, it is still at this point I could be determined not to be a candidate, whether it's by the MRI or other reasons.
So, wish me luck! This will be a new and exciting journey for me -- regardless of the outcome, hopefully!
I finally reached the point, after many, many months of research (some of which is right here on AD, so thank you all for that,) of WANTING to do a CI. I'm amazed at myself, because a year ago I would have said NO WAY. It's amazing what research can do to change your mind. For me, it was about weighing the benefits versus potential side effects. I believe I have tremendous potential for realizing the benefits a CI has to offer, what with my very minimal hearing and practically no speech discrimination. I have almost no place to go but "up" from where I'm at. However, I was worried about the potential side effects, primarily vertigo and tinnitus. I've been very blessed to not have had any health issues with this all my life, and I was worrying about "bringing that on." Yet, I finally decided the potential benefits of the CI outweigh the potential side effects. And if things don't work out this way, well, that's the way it goes. You don't know until you try.
Secondly, once I reached this decision, I checked into whether my medical insurance covered this, and it is indeed fully covered. So that was an easy step.
Now, I'm at the final step. I have yet to meet with the audiologist, ENT, surgeon, etc. Because I'm starting school in January, I decided to "phase in" all my appointments while attending school, and try to get surgery scheduled for as soon as school is out for the summer. So, it is still at this point I could be determined not to be a candidate, whether it's by the MRI or other reasons.
So, wish me luck! This will be a new and exciting journey for me -- regardless of the outcome, hopefully!
The University of Minnesota is supposed to have a very comprehensive program for CIs, so that is where I am going. If it wasn't that, then the Mayo Clinic (which is even more famous, but much further away.)
