There are so many opinions on Cochlear implants. I think it's important to separate the facts from the non-experienced opinions. By that I mean you can browse the internet and research about Cochlear implants and most of what you'll read are written by people who have no personal experience with a CI. Another common problem with this research is you'll also read a lot of out dated information. What was true ten years ago is not necessarily true today. Many advances have been made in recent years.
Now, who am I to talk about this. Well, I'm someone who has real life experience in this matter. I was HOH most of my young life but with hearing aids it was a minor issue. As I got older my hearing continued to decrease until I became deaf in my late teens and early twenties (Was a significant drop during those 4 or 5 years). I'll be 40 years old next month and I just had my CI activated last December (2009). So I lived almost 20 years deaf. The last voice I heard before my CI was when I was about 21 years old (I could hear a little then if it was very loud and low pitched).
So the short of it is I spent the first half of my life hearing (With mild hearing loss) the second half of my life deaf up till last year when I got my CI.
So here are some of the misconceptions I see as I research around online and even in this forum.
"I was tested and they said it won't work for me".
This could be true for some of you. But how long ago where you tested? I was tested back when the CI was first available and they told me that at the time the CI wouldn't work for me. They said I'd be able to hear "Some sounds" but not enough that it would be worth my time to get it done. So I didn't get it. Well, fast forward two years ago I talked to people who have the CI and found out how much they've advanced. So I got tested again and now they work for me. Today I'm talking on the phone, listening to music and having no trouble with everyday conversations. So, if it's been a long time since they said it won't work for you. I suggest you go in and find out if they'll work for you now if it's something you've always thought you might do someday when the technology advances. I'm not suggesting everyone should get it. I'm only saying that if you're going by what they said a long time ago then you should find out if that's still true for you today. If you have insurance it won't coast anything to find out. Just a hearing test basically. And if they say you are eligible that doesn't mean you have to. It just means that option is open to you now. Just don't depend on past advice. Go by what's true today.
"Getting the CI is dangerous".
Of course it is. It's surgery. But it's a low risk surgery. Most of the scary stories you might find are either very old ones from the days when the CI was new and experimental. Or are very, very rare cases. When you go through the process they'll give you a list of the risks involved and also the likelihood of those risks based on statistics. The highest percentage or risk was about 7% chance of that happening. And even if they did the effects are not permanent. OF all the people I've talked to who have a CI, the most serious side effect any of them have had is the temporary facial paralysis. And they no longer have that issue. Is it possible to happen? Sure it is. Not likely but possible. So many of these CI surgeries have been done that they've pretty much got it down to a standard procedure as far as surgery goes.
So what I'm saying here is to know the risks that exist TODAY. Not the risks that existed when they first came out.
"I read deaf people don't like people who have a CI."
So what! It's not their life you're living. It's your life. If you wanna hear and there's a technology that can give you that ability. Don't let anyone else opinion stop you. Besides, that negativity has died down a lot lately. It's still there of course but not as dominant as it was just 5 years ago.
I read things don't sound right with a CI.
FALSE!
Ok, sound with a CI doesn't sound like someone with "Normal hearing" would hear. But I've had mine a year and everything I hear sounds natural to me. I'm hearing music, I'm hearing peoples voices. I can tell this persons voice from that person.
Here's what happens. What you hear with a CI will not sound right at first. This is because you basically have to relearn how to distinguish sounds. Also know that the CI is not turned up all the way the first day. At first it's set very low then at each mapping session it's turned up and adjusted to your level. As you progress sounds start to sound clearer and clearer. By the time you're adjusted what you hear will sound "Normal" and "Natural" to you.
How I explain this to people is to use a metaphor. Have you ever put sun glasses on that have a colored lens? For example yellow lenses. When you first put them on you can still see the world around you, but it'll look strange to you for a while. But if you keep them on for a few hours things will start to appear normal to you. So much to the point that when you take them off again the way you see the world without the colored lens will look strange to you for a while. That's kind of what it's like. Once you're adjusted to it the way you hear then will be normal to you.
I want to wait for something better.
I look at it this way. Sure, technology will continue to improve. Something better always comes along. That's always going to be the case. If I wait another ten years there's still going to be "Something better" coming out after that. So it's a never ending wait. You'll never obtain the end of that process. So, let's assume for a moment that in ten years something better comes up and you get it. You've just lost ten years of sound (Assuming that's what you want).
Besides. Todays CI's are upgradeable without any additional surgeries (Which is another misconception that's floating around). Again, that comes from outdated information.
The funniest one to me is those who are waiting for stem cells. Sure, work is being done on that and some progress is being made. But you will not be able to have that done yourself for many, many years. For most of us the wait will be to long. Even if they have it perfected tomorrow it'll still be years before it's available to the general public. So much more research will be needed for that. Even when it works there will still be research on side effects. Perfected techniques, public opinion (Which as we know, it's not accepted by many today, especially some religious aspects). It's a "Someday" that makes as much sense as waiting to buy a car until they can fly. It can be done today but it'll be a long time before we have highways in the sky. So they'd spend the next couple decades walking or taking the bus simply because their waiting to get a flying car.
So basically make sure you're "Wait for something better" is a realistic expectation.
I've learned a lot from my experiences when it comes to my hearing. I'm so glad I got my CI and I couldn't be happier with it. I know there's a huge difference between someone like me who use to be able to hear, went deaf then got their hearing back and someone who was born deaf and never "Lost" their hearing. I knew what I was missing and I did miss sound. I missed the ease of communication and the sounds around me. What I've come to realize is that after the years of struggling to come to terms with my deafness (Because I lost the sense I once had) I finally was able to be happy with my life. But now that I can hear again I also realize that in some ways I was living in "Survivor mode" during most of my deaf years. I was doing the best I could with what I had and eventually learned not to dwell on what I lost. I know a person can live a happy and fore filled life without sound. But now that I got my hearing back I'm no longer in that "Survivor mode". What I lost is now back and the world has gotten much larger and easier to deal with for me. This is why I'm so glad I got mine and I encourage anyone who does want to hear to look into what's possible TODAY and only rely on the accurate facts. Don't take anyones word for it including mine. Do you're own research, ask your own questions and make your own decision. But, don't listen to anyones "Opinion" who doesn't have an experience in the matter. That includes the people here in AD. Listen to the reason they say they won't get one. But don't suspect they are an expert on a CI unless they've had one. Their reasons may be true to them and I respect that. But we each have our own minds and should make our own decisions on facts that are current.
Just thought I'd share some of my thoughts on this. I know there are some in here on AD that fit some of the things I mentioned above. Still some might find this during their "research" for I know I looked all over before I made my decision.
Just wanted to speak my mind on this.
Ron
(Although, my personal view is that of JennyB and PFH, I don't want a CI even if I was eligible for one)
And his follow up comment
at the not bolded.
It is all about respect.