Questions for the CI surgeon...

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Phi4Sius

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So...being that my CI evaluation is set for this Friday (Holy sweet Jesus), I had a question:

For those that have a CI, what questions did you ask your surgeon during the evaluation and prior to surgery? What questions are essential? Which questions are not super ultra important and can be saved for the CI audiologist or for later, assuming I am determined to be a candidate?
 
Phi4Sius said:
So...being that my CI evaluation is set for this Friday (Holy sweet Jesus), I had a question:

For those that have a CI, what questions did you ask your surgeon during the evaluation and prior to surgery? What questions are essential? Which questions are not super ultra important and can be saved for the CI audiologist or for later, assuming I am determined to be a candidate?
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I actually didn't ask anything because I read up everything about it online and I really didn't have much to say. I had surgery the week after I saw the surgeon (she worked quick!).

Anything that has to do with surgery/medications/medical stuff can be put on hold until you see the surgeon.

Other than that, ask away. Many audiologists have been experienced with what to expect for surgery, so you can ask them that. You can ask recommendation of a surgeon.

That's all I can think of. I hardly asked a bunch of questions because I knew what to expect and I didn't want to get myself overworked by analyzing every single thing.
 
I wish my computer's hard drive didn't crash or else I could have copy and pasted the e-mail I sent to my CI surgeon with various questions.

If I remember correctly, some of the questions I asked were:

1. How many CI surgeries have you performed?

2. Do you feel more comfortable implanting one brand vs. another?

3. What is involved with CI surgery? (i.e. waking up in recovery, recovery process, etc.)

4. How often will I need to see you after my CI is activated?

5. What is the cause of my hearing loss? (I was curious to have this question answered since I never knew the cause of mine until my CI evaluation and conversation with my CI surgeon)
 
I only saw my CI surgeon at my intial appointment (acceptence appt before full CI candiacy envaulation) and didn't see him again until the pre op the day before my operation. So didn't have a chance to question him.
 
Phi4Sius said:
So...being that my CI evaluation is set for this Friday (Holy sweet Jesus), I had a question:

For those that have a CI, what questions did you ask your surgeon during the evaluation and prior to surgery? What questions are essential? Which questions are not super ultra important and can be saved for the CI audiologist or for later, assuming I am determined to be a candidate?
Click to expand...

http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids...id-like-learn-more-about-cis-have-some-s.html

Some of the above questions might be suitable to ask your surgeon. Id also ask him about the risks and what results you can expect as well as if you should wait a year or two for better CI technology(such as 128 electrodes, fully implantable CI, fiber optic/laser CI)
 
More electrodes do not necessarily mean better speech understanding.

Furthermore, CI technology is always improving, so no matter when someone decides to be implanted, they will always be slightly behind in terms of the latest technology.

Having said that, Cochlear makes all of their implants backwards compatible, so even if someone were to receive a CI in 2009, they could still utilize a newly developed speech processor and/or CI software.
 
As far as fully implantable CIs are concerned, researchers are still trying to determine how to power such an implant. Even if this technology were to come to fruition this year, it would still take another 5-10 years before it sees the light of day since it will take time to find people who are willing to participate in research studies let alone the testing that is required in order to determine risks vs. benefits.
 
Hear Again said:
As far as fully implantable CIs are concerned, researchers are still trying to determine how to power such an implant. Even if this technology were to come to fruition this year, it would still take another 5-10 years before it sees the light of day since it will take time to find people who are willing to participate in research studies let alone the testing that is required in order to determine risks vs. benefits.
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Exactly. If it comes with a headband of some sort where you have to "plug yourself" at night..there's no way in hell I'm gonna do that. I move around too much, I change places when I sleep and I sleep in different rooms at times. So no.

Plus, for implantable CI that has battery powered inside will ALWAYS need to go through surgery to remove the battery to replace it. Batteries die...even rechargeable ones. The CI's now, do not have ANY type of mechanical stuff, which is one reason why I do not wait.

128 electrodes? DAMN..that seems a bit much...
 
I feel the same way Lady. Besides, I love having 100% silence at night when I sleep. :D
 
You could also ask questions that may have to do with an upcoming event or hobby of yours. Think about all the things that you do that could possibly affect your CI. For example, I go scuba diving and skiing, so I asked my surgeon about whether I can go diving and if so, how deep can I go, and how soon can I go skiing. That type of thing. Most nurses/assistant doctors do not know the answers for these specific questions I asked. They simply said "uhhh ask the surgeon."
 
Hear Again said:
More electrodes do not necessarily mean better speech understanding.

Furthermore, CI technology is always improving, so no matter when someone decides to be implanted, they will always be slightly behind in terms of the latest technology.

Having said that, Cochlear makes all of their implants backwards compatible, so even if someone were to receive a CI in 2009, they could still utilize a newly developed speech processor and/or CI software.
Click to expand...


New Cochlear Implant Could Improve Hearing - Medgadget - www.medgadget.com

This article talks how much of a breakthru 128 electrodes are! I read that more electrodes is good for many, many reasons not just speech. Music is one big reason, youd hear alot more different frequencies. The speech processor can be upgraded easily but not the CI itself so it makes sense to get the best. Isn't todays best 4 year old technology? So why not wait another year and get brand new technology?

Hear Again said:
As far as fully implantable CIs are concerned, researchers are still trying to determine how to power such an implant. Even if this technology were to come to fruition this year, it would still take another 5-10 years before it sees the light of day since it will take time to find people who are willing to participate in research studies let alone the testing that is required in order to determine risks vs. benefits.
Click to expand...

CiteULike: Initial clinical experience with a totally implantable cochlear implant research device.

It's already been done and now they are trying to improve upon that design. There's not much info yet as it's new.

LadySekhmet said:
Exactly. If it comes with a headband of some sort where you have to "plug yourself" at night..there's no way in hell I'm gonna do that. I move around too much, I change places when I sleep and I sleep in different rooms at times. So no.

Plus, for implantable CI that has battery powered inside will ALWAYS need to go through surgery to remove the battery to replace it. Batteries die...even rechargeable ones. The CI's now, do not have ANY type of mechanical stuff, which is one reason why I do not wait.

128 electrodes? DAMN..that seems a bit much...
Click to expand...

It's supposed to be recharged electromagnetically, you sleep as normal with the charger inside your pillow. As for the internal battery, one article says it's supposed to be good for 10 years. By then, there will be much better technology you can upgrade to, perhaps a cure or you can always use the external reciever like a regular CI when the battery dies. 128 electrodes is alot in a good way! :D:cool2:
 
Nevermind. I had a couple things to say, but this thread is not about waiting. It's about what questions to ask. So I withdraw my statements.
 
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deafdude1 said:
New Cochlear Implant Could Improve Hearing - Medgadget - www.medgadget.com

This article talks how much of a breakthru 128 electrodes are! I read that more electrodes is good for many, many reasons not just speech. Music is one big reason, youd hear alot more different frequencies. The speech processor can be upgraded easily but not the CI itself so it makes sense to get the best. Isn't todays best 4 year old technology? So why not wait another year and get brand new technology?

That article may discuss the potential of having 128 electrodes, but research has proven that more electrodes do not equal better speech understanding. In regards to music, most people who choose to receive a CI do so in order to increase their speech understanding. As far as new technology is concerned, why wait? If you're going to wait a year for new technology, why not wait another 5 years for even better technology? If you keep waiting for new technology, you will be wasting a number of years that you could have been able to hear.

CiteULike: Initial clinical experience with a totally implantable cochlear implant research device.

It's already been done and now they are trying to improve upon that design. There's not much info yet as it's new.

Like I said, it's still in the developmental stages. Three patients using this device does not give enough credibility to its' efficacy.
Click to expand...
.
 
Hear Again said:
As far as fully implantable CIs are concerned, researchers are still trying to determine how to power such an implant.
Click to expand...


So, the battery is the problem?



Hear Again said:
Even if this technology were to come to fruition this year, it would still take another 5-10 years before it sees the light of day since it will take time to find people who are willing to participate in research studies let alone the testing that is required in order to determine risks vs. benefits.
Click to expand...


Another 5-10 years?


Hire more scientists. Get it commercially approved in 2009.


D'oh. It's almost 2013
 
LadySekhmet said:
Exactly. If it comes with a headband of some sort where you have to "plug yourself" at night..there's no way in hell I'm gonna do that. I move around too much, I change places when I sleep and I sleep in different rooms at times. So no.

Plus, for implantable CI that has battery powered inside will ALWAYS need to go through surgery to remove the battery to replace it. Batteries die...even rechargeable ones. The CI's now, do not have ANY type of mechanical stuff, which is one reason why I do not wait.

128 electrodes? DAMN..that seems a bit much...
Click to expand...

hello implantable ci that has battery power inside will always need through surgery to remove battery replaced it ,i am sorry where u got that information from i think is not true ,u have use speech processor (ha) they use battery to supply power through magnetic implant .The implant will produce electric simulation through electrode
 
Phi4Sius said:
So...being that my CI evaluation is set for this Friday (Holy sweet Jesus), I had a question:

For those that have a CI, what questions did you ask your surgeon during the evaluation and prior to surgery? What questions are essential? Which questions are not super ultra important and can be saved for the CI audiologist or for later, assuming I am determined to be a candidate?
Click to expand...

if i remember r8 i did ask hime few question
1- how can CI be secured ? he explained to me how but i was bit thick should have know that haha
2 - u think that CI will be lots benefit to me ?
3- how long operation take .

if u not sure something just tell them and they r willing explained to you ;)
have u beeen for cat scan and mri ?
 
eggy, this thread is from 2009, phi4sius was just going to keep using hearing aids if I remember that right, and he also doesn't come here very often. I think he decided to wait on the CI.
 
cdmeggers said:
eggy, this thread is from 2009, phi4sius was just going to keep using hearing aids if I remember that right, and he also doesn't come here very often. I think he decided to wait on the CI.
Click to expand...


oh i see ok thank u 4 letting me know ;) thank cdmegger
 
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