How did you choose which implant?

ismi

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I'm going through the candidacy process now - the audiologist cleared me, so now I just need to be cleared by the surgeon (which may not happen - but I'm hopeful). If it happens, I'll be implanted in May.

The surgeon I'm talking to works with Nucleus and AB, so I've been reading the material for the Freedom and the HiRes (assuming it's similar to what the Harmony will be when it's released), and it's all sort of confusing. If I understand correctly, there's really no way to know in advance which processing strategies a patient will prefer, so sound quality is out as a deciding factor. Nucleus claims that their product is far more reliable, but elsewhere I've read that those stats are based on old products, and the new ones are pretty similar in terms of reliability. And now AB's product is also water resistant/proof, so that's not a factor (boy, am I looking forward to not worrying about rain anymore!).

So for those posters here who have made this decision: how did you make that decision? What features of your CI are you happiest about, and which ones do you think could have been done better?
 
Try those websites: Cochlear Nucleus and Advanced Bionics if you haven't already.

I chose the Nucleus Freedom because of its track record and I love it, but I sometimes wonder if I am missing out by not getting the AB CI...I think, if I ever go bilateral, I might go for Harmony this time. Some people actually have both brands.

But ultimately it's your decision, and both brands are very good. Good luck! :)
 
ismi

I have AB Auria but don't have Harmony yet but will get them when I go bilateral this year as I yet have to get ball rolling.

however, here's are some info on Harmony
http://bionicear.com/harmony.asp

and there will be some webinars (online seminars)
http://www.bionicear.com/support/bea2006.asp under web classes

and more specifically about harmony;
http://www.bionicear.com/support/harmonywebinars.asp
you may want to register now before this Wednesday rolls around

http://www.bionicear.com/professionals/library.asp
click "HiRes with Fidelity 120 Sound Processing"

finally this one;
Wired 13.11: My Bionic Quest for Boléro written by Michael Chorost

Have a great week!
 
You can't go wrong with any of the 3 implant brands.

I chose Nucleus for several reasons: reliability, Cochlear's 20+ year history, excellent customer service (my questions were always answered in a prompt and professional manner), the ability to use disposable batteries (which fit my lifestyle best given my previous HA use), the ability to use 4 different speech strategies, 800,000 different mapping combinations (the most offered by any of the 3 implant brands) and Cochlear's Advocate Program (pairs new CI candidates with experienced CI users in their area).

Overall, I couldn't be happier with my decision. If I had to choose Nucleus all over again, I would in a heartbeat. :)

If you have questions about any of the 3 CI brands, you may want to join the CIHear list. To subscribe, send a blank message to:

subscribe-CIHear@yahoogroups.com

You can also learn more about the experiences of other CI users by visiting:

Welcome to CI Hear - A website for those wanting to learn about Cochlear Implants

You might also wish to join the Nucleus Forum (an e-mail list for those who are interested in or use Nucleus CIs) by visiting Cochlear's website at:

Cochlear: innovator of the Nucleus Freedom cochlear implant system
 
ismi

I have AB Auria but don't have Harmony yet but will get them when I go bilateral this year as I yet have to get ball rolling.

however, here's are some info on Harmony
HiResolution Bionic Ear Cochlear Implant System -- with the AURIA BTE

and there will be some webinars (online seminars)
HiResolution Bionic Ear Cochlear Implant System -- with the AURIA BTE under web classes

and more specifically about harmony;
HiResolution Bionic Ear Cochlear Implant System -- with the AURIA BTE
you may want to register now before this Wednesday rolls around

HiResolution Bionic Ear Cochlear Implant System -- with the AURIA BTE
click "HiRes with Fidelity 120 Sound Processing"

finally this one;
Wired 13.11: My Bionic Quest for Boléro written by Michael Chorost

Have a great week!

Congratulations, Ismi! And Boult -- you going bilat? Wow, congratulations to you too!

I'll forward this thread to Fragmenter for when he has time to read the links.

Happy SOnday!
 
Boult,

Congratulations on your decision to go bilateral!! Trust me, you are going to *love* bilateral hearing!! (I know I do!! :))
 
Boult,

I just re-read your message and noticed that you will be going bilateral. Congratulations!! Trust me, you are going to *love* bilateral hearing!! (I know I do!! :))

Hear Again, I have a question . Does bilateral hearing with CIs make a significant difference in quiet situations such as home ?
 
Hear Again, I have a question . Does bilateral hearing with CIs make a significant difference in quiet situations such as home ?

Highlands,

In my case (being totally blind), I think they do. With two CIs, I can hear environmental sounds more clearly than I can with one CI. With one CI, sounds are "tinny" and "distant." With two CIs, environmental sounds are much easier to hear because they have a fuller, richer quality to them and sound closer to me in proximity than they do when I'm only wearing one CI. For example, while I'm able to hear a knock at the door with one CI, I can hear it much easier with two CIs -- especially if I have the TV or radio playing in the background. I'm also able to hear the fire alarm outside my apartment much easier with two CIs vs. one. If my CI isn't facing the direction from where a sound is coming from, I can't hear it as well (and sometimes I don't hear it at all). With bilateral CIs, I don't have to worry about where a sound is coming from since I'm able to hear on both sides. :) Granted, there are unilateral CI users who don't have problems with sound localization or environmental sounds sounding "distant," but I'm one who does. (I've been told my blindness is partly responsible for that since I can't look for the source of a sound.) I've always had bilateral hearing (even though one ear was poorer than the other), so it's something I've become used to. When the HA I wore in my nonimplanted ear no longer provided any benefit, it clearly had a negative impact on my ability to localize sound and travel safely. Once my second CI was activated, the benefits I received were immediately apparent.
 
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Highlands,

In my case (being totally blind), I think they do. With two CIs, I can hear environmental sounds more clearly than I can with one CI. With one CI, sounds are "tinny" and "distant." With two CIs, environmental sounds are much easier to hear because they have a fuller, richer quality about them and sound closer to me in proximity than they do when I'm only wearing one CI. For example, while I'm able to hear a knock at the door with one CI, I can hear it much easier with two CIs -- especially if I have the TV or radio playing in the background. I'm also able to hear the fire alarm outside my apartment much easier with two CIs vs. one. If my CI isn't facing the direction from where a sound is coming from, I can't hear it as well (and sometimes I don't hear it at all). With bilateral CIs, I don't have to worry about where a sound is coming from since I'm able to hear on both sides. :)

Means u can locate the source of the sound? With my HAs, I am unable to do that.
 
Shel,

Yes I can. However, prior to receiving my CIs, I couldn't localize sound because I couldn't hear from a distance. Now I have no difficulty with sound localization or identifying environmental sounds from a distance.
 
Shel,

Yes I can. However, prior to receiving my CIs, I couldn't localize sound because I couldn't hear from a distance. Now I have no difficulty with sound localization or identifying environmental sounds from a distance.

cool. :)
 
Shel,

:) Now that I'm able to hear all kinds of environmental sounds, I feel much safer (especially when traveling outdoors) and it makes me wonder how I was able to travel with my guide dog without being able to see or hear. Yikes! Totally deafblind people can travel independently, but now that I'm able to hear, I've found that it has made a considerable difference in my overall comfort level when traveling.
 
Shel,

:) Now that I'm able to hear all kinds of environmental sounds, I feel much safer (especially when traveling outdoors) and it makes me wonder how I was able to travel with my guide dog without being able to see or hear. Yikes! Totally deafblind people can travel independently, but now that I'm able to hear, I've found that it has made a considerable difference in my overall comfort level when traveling.

True...

Like u said in another post, if I remember correctly..people are able to make amazing adaptations to make up for the loss of a sense, body part, or motor functions.
 
Shel,

Yes that's true. When people tell me the kinds of acts they'd consider if they lost their sight and hearing (for example, suicide), I always tell them, "You might be surprised at how well you adapt. People have an amazing way of learning how to cope when faced with challenges."
 
Congrats on your decision Ismi and best wishes with the process.

As others have said you can't lose with any of the three main implants available and what you go for will depend on what is important to YOU. For me in general when I check out any product reliability comes to the top of my list.

The thing I like about CIs compared to hearing aids is that you aren't left behind. I have a Nucleus and I'm impressed with the fact that they've been really good about making new developments backward compatible in a prompt manner. In contrast I bought a hearing aid 3 years ago and I can't even get it repaired for use in the unimplanted ear because it's now obsolete :pissed:

I don't think anyone should be worried about missing out though if they go for one brand or the other. The way the manufacturers develop new products over time they do keep up with each other. I've heard lots of good feedback about the Harmony though so that's worth a serious check out!
 
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