Quote:
Originally Posted by zebadee2010
...
So to my question. To those with cochlear implants
How was the pain after surgery?
|
Not too bad. I took pain meds for a 1 1/2 day and then stopped. It was quite manageable after that.
Quote:
|
Did you have ringing in your ears afterwards?
|
None. I was mildly affected by tinnitus before and went to nothing.
Quote:
|
Are you able to greatly understand at concerts?
|
If you are referring to music, very good. If you are referring to understanding lyrics, that depends on the song and singer.
For example, "I can see clearly now that the rain is gone" is a pretty easy song to listen to and understand. On the other hand, Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" isn't easy in terms of the words. FYI - Obviously, I'm a 70's child. ;-)
From what I understand, there are many hearing who don't get all the lyrics either. I only knew of one hearing friend that could understand any song/lyric that was sung.
Quote:
|
How long did it take you to be able to hear again?
|
I heard on day one and never looked back. Speech was also on day one as well. What befuddled me at first was classifying all the environmental sounds as I was hearing the higher pitches I really didn't hear before. That took a little longer as all the sounds I was used to via my HA I had to relearn with my CI. FYI - I always had a HA since three starting off mildly severe to very severe and essentially profoundly deaf prior to my CI at age 47.
Quote:
|
What do you do as far as taking showers and or swimming or getting in the ocean?
|
Whether one has a HA or CI, you simply take it off and do your thing. Somethings never change!
Quote:
|
Which company do you prefer Cochlear, Advanced Bionics, or MED-EL? (we chose med el but the doctor told us we should get cochlear.)
|
You just have to go with your gut feeling after asking many questions and talking with others who have one. I went with Cochlear. It was the right decision for me...hands down.
Quote:
|
For the musically advanced is the frequency range great or highly limited?
|
A CI is definitely limited as it's focus is on speech. It has been in the last couple of years where they now are trying to get better results with music. Due to the limitations of the dynamic range, one can only go so far.
Having said that, I love music and it sounds great with my CI.
Bottomline...it varies from person to the next. You should do pretty well as you had been hearing until very recently. But since you had hearing, you will notice the difference more dramatically that I ever would have. For me, I was hearing better than before. For you, you will know what you are "missing". Still, a CI can be very good means to regain a good bit of hearing.