I am proud of myself.

[dreama]

I went to get 2 hearing evaluations done this morning. One was for getting my audiogram updated, and the other is to see whether I can get hearing aids or not.

After all the testing was done, they sat me down and said I am a candidate for cochlear implants. They asked me to consider making an appointment to fit hearing aids on me while they do more testing to prepare me for getting a cochlear implant. I was taken aback a little bit because I only came for an audiogram and see if I can use hearing aids or not.

I smiled, "No, thanks! I would rather try regrowing the hair cells than to remove the ear bones from my head. I don't want to permanently lose my residual hearing!"

Good for you! People shouldn't be pushed into getting CI if they don't want one or even HA's.

If you don't really want hearing aids maybe you could just dig out your old ones and remove the batteries.

 

[sr171soars]

...
And thanks for pointing out when regenerative therapy would happen. I can wait that long!

That was just a guess at that. Who knows when it would actually be? If you want to wait for something that may or may not come in your lifetime, its your choice. Remember, they thought other things would have been by now medically speaking and they are nowhere near it yet.

 

[Deaf258]

Good for you! People shouldn't be pushed into getting CI if they don't want one or even HA's.

If you don't really want hearing aids maybe you could just dig out your old ones and remove the batteries.

I don't have those old hearing aids anymore. They're gone.

I don't know if I want new hearing aids or not. I never tried the new digital ones. I am stuck between getting them and not getting them. Why? If I got the hearing aids, then they may help me get hired. It is a sad fact most hearing people tend to hire Deaf with hearing aids than those without.

 

[neecy]

Yep the drilling is through the mastoid bone. The inner ear bones are not touched.

I've seen a CI implant live, as well.

 

[Roadrunner]

Interesting to see how your 'testing' went...being informed of the possibilities for you. However, it's anyone's soverign right to decide/accept whatever he/she will be comfortable with...as well as the respect so deserved for what choices is made on his/her behalf.

As for you...whatever you desire or want, I can only hope the 'best' for the choices you make for yourself-- Hang in there--




~RR

(pssttt...if you went with hearing-aids, you'll most likely be able to 'hear' me-- )

 

[Cheri]

I went to get 2 hearing evaluations done this morning. One was for getting my audiogram updated, and the other is to see whether I can get hearing aids or not.

After all the testing was done, they sat me down and said I am a candidate for cochlear implants. They asked me to consider making an appointment to fit hearing aids on me while they do more testing to prepare me for getting a cochlear implant. I was taken aback a little bit because I only came for an audiogram and see if I can use hearing aids or not.

I smiled, "No, thanks! I would rather try regrowing the hair cells than to remove the ear bones from my head. I don't want to permanently lose my residual hearing!"

Good for you dude.

 

[Rollover]

I don't have those old hearing aids anymore. They're gone.

Why? If I got the hearing aids, then they may help me get hired. It is a sad fact most hearing people tend to hire Deaf with hearing aids than those without.

Wow! What a statement! Is this legal? Is this discrimation? How would the employer know? Do they actually ask you if you are wearing an aid? In all my employment years, I don't ever recall this question put forth to me. When I say I am deaf, they shouldn't expect anything of me, no less of a hearing device. Suzi

 

[Liebling:-)))]

Great to know that you are happy, Deaf258

 

[Capmeister]

I agree with you.

It's a conspiracy out there! Those audiologists probably make more money referring you to getting cochlear implants than to sell you a normal hearing aid.

I hear just fine with hearing aids, but one of my audiologists tweaked my hearing test a bit enough to say "you qualify for cochlear implants." I'm sitting there thinking... WTF?

Interesting. I'm not shocked. I think the same is done with the recent upsurge in gastric bypass for overweight people.

 

[Capmeister]

Deaf258, what's with the cat in your avitar? Is that a deaf cat with a test CI?

(One of my cats is all white--and deaf.)

 

[Deaf258]

Deaf258, what's with the cat in your avitar? Is that a deaf cat with a test CI?

(One of my cats is all white--and deaf.)

My avatar is a pic of a Deaf cat undergoing experiments and testing for cochlear implants. It's real.

I would never do that to my cat!

 

[Deaf258]

[/U][/B]Wow! What a statement! Is this legal? Is this discrimation? How would the employer know? Do they actually ask you if you are wearing an aid? In all my employment years, I don't ever recall this question put forth to me. When I say I am deaf, they shouldn't expect anything of me, no less of a hearing device. Suzi

It was a topic on DeafRead a couple weeks ago. If you put "Deaf" on the application, you won't get hired. If you put down "hearing impaired", you'll have a better chance of getting hired.

It's most of the hearing people's mentality that Deaf must wear hearing aids or cochlear implants to "function" in the workforce.

One example, I was scolded by a school administrator for not having hearing aids when I worked as a teacher's aide. Fortunately for me, the students I worked with are Deaf, so my deafness was never the issue of my job. The administrator made it an issue!

 

[jillio]

If you think I was misinformed, you're mistaken. All I had to do was watch my exwife's CI surgery tape. I SAW the ear bones were drilled and taken out. I still would rather save my ears for the nerve regrowth therapy than to use a CI surgery that would limit the things I want to do.

Again, I wouldn't want to run into the risk of getting Bell's Palsy, face paralysis, meningitis, exposure to electromagnetic fields, and worst of all, the egomaniacal attitude that I see so prevalent in many (in my estimation of people I have met and known, 90%) CI users! That's the word?? Oh yeah, it is called, "Ethnocentrism"!

Way to go!

 

[Angel]

LOL, you're funni, I'm glad you're happy with this decision pal,


psst? I had no clue that they really take a piece of bone out...yike...Thanks for telling me this..

 

[neecy]

LOL, you're funni, I'm glad you're happy with this decision pal,


psst? I had no clue that they really take a piece of bone out...yike...Thanks for telling me this..

Angel - in the surgery, a small incision is made in the skin just behind the ear and the surgeon drills into the mastoid bone and the inner ear where the electrode array is inserted into the cochlea. The surgeon then shapes a shallow depression in the mastoid bone with the drill to seat the internal processor. No bones are removed.

Some information on CI surgery:

Google Image Result for http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2006/01/09/GR2006010900784.gif

Cochlear Implant Central - How a CI Works

 

[Deaf258]

Angel - in the surgery, a small incision is made in the skin just behind the ear and the surgeon drills into the mastoid bone and the inner ear where the electrode array is inserted into the cochlea. The surgeon then shapes a shallow depression in the mastoid bone with the drill to seat the internal processor. No bones are removed.

Some information on CI surgery:

Google Image Result for http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2006/01/09/GR2006010900784.gif

Cochlear Implant Central - How a CI Works

That's what the doctor drilled and pulled out from my exwife's ear. Please note the attachment.

 

[neecy]

WHEN was your wife implanted? Perhaps she had occification in some areas that required the removal of the hammer/anvil/stirrup? Personally I've never heard of these needing removal (though I won't say its impossible.) Its not STANDARD procedure, however, especially nowadays - the implantation is now considered outpatient, with the implantee being able to go home after a few hours post-surgery observation.

 

[Deaf258]

WHEN was your wife implanted? Perhaps she had occification in some areas that required the removal of the hammer/anvil/stirrup? Personally I've never heard of these needing removal (though I won't say its impossible.) Its not STANDARD procedure, however, especially nowadays - the implantation is now considered outpatient, with the implantee being able to go home after a few hours post-surgery observation.

I think it was 1989.

 

[neecy]

Well - technology has come a LONG way in the almost-20 years since your wife was implanted - look at how far COMPUTERS have come!!! And all other sorts of technology!

When I was implanted in 2005, I got to go back to my hotel the very same day, and my experience has been wonderful. I'm sorry you've had a bad experience with other people - but why not try to read some of the posts by people and parents here? Its really a fantastically positive group of people, if you are willing to open your eyes.

Mod Note: Unrelated comment removed.

 

[VamPyroX]

It pisses me off to no end when insurance companies would be more willing to cover cochlear implant surgeries rather than to cover hearing aids costs!!

They're actually willing to pay for cochlear implants than hearing aids? Where did you hear that?