today's appointments

cdmeggers

cdmeggers

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Today was a SUCCESS with both appointments. Hearing test first with the CI audie... she was impressed that I did better today than I did the last time (hearing aid has been adjusted since that testing, so I was hearing a bit more). But I still did badly enough that I'm still within the criteria for the implant.

Then saw Dr. Kelsall. Boy oh boy did he shock me! The results of the CT scan of my ears... NO OSSIFICATIONS, no blockages, nothing! :shock: that was my face. For so many years, audiologists and doctors all kept telling us I had ossification, for sure, most definitely! But they never had that actual proof. Oh no, they just made the assumption just because I had meningitis (ossification of the cochlea is common with meningitis). So I was deeply shocked to find out there's nothing, that both ears are 100% implantable. i'm still aiming to have the left (dead) ear done, just so I'd have sound coming into both ears, and I fully understand that it could take longer for the left ear to recognize sounds with the implant due to the fact I haven't worn a hearing aid in the left ear since 1995 (never got benefits from a hearing aid in the left so I didn't see the point haha). But wow.

Now, I'm going to try SSI again, see if I can get on SSI (if I can get on SSI, then in a year I could get Medicare, and then I could get the implant!). Dr. Kelsall was surprised I'm not already on some sort of assistance program or whatever, and he's fairly sure I can get on SSI due to the profoundness of my hearing loss. So I'm going to give it a shot again, and go from there. But I feel a lot better now just knowing my left ear IS indeed implantable, no doubt about it.
if SSI and other insurance options are still no-go, CNI assistance program for the donation of the implant, Dr. Kelsall will drop HIS charges for the surgery and he'd even work with the hospital on cutting some of the hospital costs to make it more affordable for me to get the implant. One way or another, I'll find a way.
 
cdmeggers said:
Today was a SUCCESS with both appointments. Hearing test first with the CI audie... she was impressed that I did better today than I did the last time (hearing aid has been adjusted since that testing, so I was hearing a bit more). But I still did badly enough that I'm still within the criteria for the implant.

Then saw Dr. Kelsall. Boy oh boy did he shock me! The results of the CT scan of my ears... NO OSSIFICATIONS, no blockages, nothing! :shock: that was my face. For so many years, audiologists and doctors all kept telling us I had ossification, for sure, most definitely! But they never had that actual proof. Oh no, they just made the assumption just because I had meningitis (ossification of the cochlea is common with meningitis). So I was deeply shocked to find out there's nothing, that both ears are 100% implantable. i'm still aiming to have the left (dead) ear done, just so I'd have sound coming into both ears, and I fully understand that it could take longer for the left ear to recognize sounds with the implant due to the fact I haven't worn a hearing aid in the left ear since 1995 (never got benefits from a hearing aid in the left so I didn't see the point haha). But wow.

Now, I'm going to try SSI again, see if I can get on SSI (if I can get on SSI, then in a year I could get Medicare, and then I could get the implant!). Dr. Kelsall was surprised I'm not already on some sort of assistance program or whatever, and he's fairly sure I can get on SSI due to the profoundness of my hearing loss. So I'm going to give it a shot again, and go from there. But I feel a lot better now just knowing my left ear IS indeed implantable, no doubt about it.
if SSI and other insurance options are still no-go, CNI assistance program for the donation of the implant, Dr. Kelsall will drop HIS charges for the surgery and he'd even work with the hospital on cutting some of the hospital costs to make it more affordable for me to get the implant. One way or another, I'll find a way.
Click to expand...

You also can get Medicaid if you go on SSI, and once you are on SSI there is no waiting period to get onto Medicaid - once you are on SSI you are eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid should pay for at least a good part of the CI expenses, as mine has. I have not yet to pay one red cent towards any CI expenses as everything has been paid for by Medicaid and Medicare. So, that's another option for you.

Also - even if you are not on SSI - you are an adult and if you have NO job or any other significant income you can apply for Medicaid even without SSI, I believe. Try that. The process of getting approved for Medicaid is much faster than getting approved for SSI.

Getting approved for SSI takes about 6 months for them to reach a decision as to whether you qualify for SSI or not, and if you get denied, you have to appeal. Some people I have known have had to appeal many times before they get successfully approved, and they have had to get a lawyer to help them and go to court and everything.

It'd be easier and quicker just to go straight for Medicaid and apply for it. it'll be faster. If you are poor enough or have no income you will most likely be approved. So I would say try Medicaid first. You'll have much better luck with Medicaid and while you are on Medicaid you can work on getting approved for SSI. Then you won't have to wait a year to get on Medicare.
 
I have a part time job, I do have the application for the state health assistance (similar to medicaid/medicare). I happened to notice someone I knew from school was working in the office when I stopped in to pick up a form, so I should see if she knows of the criteria for eligibility.

Thanks Lucia
 
cdmeggers said:
I have a part time job, I do have the application for the state health assistance (similar to medicaid/medicare). I happened to notice someone I knew from school was working in the office when I stopped in to pick up a form, so I should see if she knows of the criteria for eligibility.

Thanks Lucia
Click to expand...

Even with a part time job you could be eligible for the state health assistance. Go for it!
 
Yeah!!!!!!!! AWESOME.....No ossification!
i'm still aiming to have the left (dead) ear done, just so I'd have sound coming into both ears, and I fully understand that it could take longer for the left ear to recognize sounds with the implant due to the fact I haven't worn a hearing aid in the left ear since 1995 (never got benefits from a hearing aid in the left so I didn't see the point haha
Click to expand...
Awesome.
And you know.......you do have an advantage over other deaf adults who were deaf as kids, since you were postie as a two year old (right?)
Your brain still remembers how to process sound the way a hearing person's does. And yes, it's been a long time.....but there's still the advantage there, that you wouldn't have to start from scratch.
Are you going to look into bilaterals later or just play it by ear? (no pun intended)
 
Thats fantastic Megs, I really hope you get your finiancal suitation sorted very soon.

DD is quite right and it's possible. As my friend was deafen by menigitis at 5, 14 years later and had been without a sound for whole of that time, she had CI at 19.... She remembered the sounds! It's amazing how brain works!! We compare notes now and then. She's now 31. I have known her for 20 years!!

I was surprised at my CT scan too... Surgeon said I had very good sized cochlear but sadly there is no hairs... I had no signs of problems assocaited to the cause of my deafness like EV. He said the interstion would be very easy..... and he was right, My op was easy (but very long...4 hours!)

All the best for rest of the journey... look forward to hear more...
 
That's awesome about your cochleas and there being no issification! That's great. Hope u get the finances worked out!
 
Yay!!! :fruit:
You get to have what you wanted! (Advanced Bionics)
If you apply for medicare you pay like 95 dollar a month? But yeah try for ssi if you earn less than 975? (Forgot the amount limit) from part time job you'll be eligible for ssdi, you have to have no job to get ssi itself along with ssdi (you get 2 checks 1 on 1st of every month and 2nd on 3rd of every month.... its complicated)
But even with just ssdi you should get 450-550 in check and still will automatically get medicare (it take few months to get card in mail but it will have the effective date on the same month you get approved for ssdi on the card)
 
I'm still clueless with the whole SSI business, but I'll work on it. :) thanks everyone!
 
have an appointment set for May 22, 12:45 p.m. to fill out SSI application and to go over disability report that I filled out and sent in through the Social Security website in Feb. We'll see how things work out. Any advice from any of you that have gone through the SSI process?
 
I'd also look into trying to get the supplemental insurance. Due to the fact that the ecnomy's in the toilet, it might be harder to get approved for disablity unless you're profoundly or severely disabled. Do you have a VR counselor? Maybe they could help.
 
pft our local VR is useless and not helpful in any way. Believe me... I've already tried. meh.
 
went to the appointment, answered the questions (and had the dude repeat some of the stuff he said cause I couldn't understand him, etc.), gave him copies of hearing test results as proof of deafness (including the one from May 5 WITH CI audie's notes of how I hear etc., and a few older ones to document I have been deaf for a long time). Now, just gotta wait for the Cheyenne office to make their decision. I hate waiting. *tries to be patient*

I keep having too many dreams of getting the implant lately haha. Kind of annoying really! :)
 
was just approved for SSI. I went in and gave them my paycheck stubs. Now to wait I guess... I have no idea what to expect or what to do. the SSA office called the house yesterday and my sister talked to them (I was at work).
 
cdmeggers said:
went to the appointment, answered the questions (and had the dude repeat some of the stuff he said cause I couldn't understand him, etc.), gave him copies of hearing test results as proof of deafness (including the one from May 5 WITH CI audie's notes of how I hear etc., and a few older ones to document I have been deaf for a long time). Now, just gotta wait for the Cheyenne office to make their decision. I hate waiting. *tries to be patient*

I keep having too many dreams of getting the implant lately haha. Kind of annoying really! :)
Click to expand...

Well hope you make your dreams come true! What % did you get on speech tests? By the way, a belated congrats on no ossification! Now you can get CI in your dead ear and hear with both ears!
 
thanks deafdude. I can't remember the percentage right now, and I'm at work so I can't check the papers. Just remember that I did a bit better this time with the testing than I did the last time, since my HA audie adjusted my HA since the first testing so I was hearing some more speech sounds. Still am within the elegibility criteria though.
 
LuciaDisturbed said:
You also can get Medicaid if you go on SSI, and once you are on SSI there is no waiting period to get onto Medicaid - once you are on SSI you are eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid should pay for at least a good part of the CI expenses, as mine has. I have not yet to pay one red cent towards any CI expenses as everything has been paid for by Medicaid and Medicare. So, that's another option for you.

Also - even if you are not on SSI - you are an adult and if you have NO job or any other significant income you can apply for Medicaid even without SSI, I believe. Try that. The process of getting approved for Medicaid is much faster than getting approved for SSI.

Getting approved for SSI takes about 6 months for them to reach a decision as to whether you qualify for SSI or not, and if you get denied, you have to appeal. Some people I have known have had to appeal many times before they get successfully approved, and they have had to get a lawyer to help them and go to court and everything.

It'd be easier and quicker just to go straight for Medicaid and apply for it. it'll be faster. If you are poor enough or have no income you will most likely be approved. So I would say try Medicaid first. You'll have much better luck with Medicaid and while you are on Medicaid you can work on getting approved for SSI. Then you won't have to wait a year to get on Medicare.
Click to expand...

"Should" doesn't mean payment is gauranteed. She should contact the Medicaid office in her state to see what they will/won't cover. I say this because where I am Medicaid WILL NOT pay for an implant.

I wish you luck, though! :D
 
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