Profound hearing loss + hearing aid questions - Page 2

Shadow · 02-01-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

With my intense research over the last couple days, for my hearing loss I've narrowed it down to the Oticon Sumo and the Phonak Naida III or V UltraPower. I'll discuss both of these in depth with my audi on Thursday. It appears the Oticon Sumo may actually help my left ear with its profound hearing loss, but of course I won't know for sure until I see what my audi says then. And I won't know anything even then...gotta try it on my left ear first.

Can anyone provide feedback about their experience with the Oticon Sumo along with details about their hearing loss (type of loss, dB range, bilateral or unilateral, etc.)?

Also, does the Oticon sumo really use those odd looking cords with the very small earpiece on the end rather than a real earmold? Since my ears have stopped growing since my last aid and I haven't had to get a new earmold for several years, that looks like a very very nice option to have.

Thanks a bunch for everyone's feedback and info!!!!

Those open fit not for profound loss.

hohDougRN · 02-01-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

deafdyke- Yeah, my speech perception is just fine. I function so well with my right ear that people don't even know I have a hearing aid unless I tell them. I believe the whole concern was that having my left ear with a hearing aid would have detracted from the good hearing in my right ear. I still don't see how that could be possible, especially with the new HA technology and once I've gotten used to it and had some additional training under my belt. I'm sure I'll need some additional speech training to get my ears working together properly like they're supposed to. I don't care...I just want to see if something finally works.

I'm certainly not against CI either...I'm just uncomfortable with something like that being performed on my ears until I know exactly what I can and can't do. If I find out that I literally can't use my left ear at all with an HA (even with the new aids reaching profound hearing loss levels) like they've been saying all these years then more than likely I'll end up getting a CI. At least I won't have lost anything if they screw something up with my left ear during surgery.

j/k I know that the chance of something going wrong with surgery is nill, but I still want to make sure of my options before I do something like that, you know?

If you can get ok speech perception from your right ear, I doubt anybody would approve you for CI. Plus why take that risk of the invasive surgery. At this point I wouldn't say the benefits don't outweigh the risks. The risk of complications of CI surgery are a little bit higher than 'nill'.

Hear Again · 02-01-2009, 09:04 PM

catually, the rsk of ci surgery is quiet small given thefact that it is suc a safe, outpatient surgery. in fact. it hapens to be one o f the qafest types of surgery thers is and only taks 2 or 3 hours to cpmplete. i'm not trying to say the op shld have ci srugery -- i'm only corectng streetypes that ci srugery is rsky.

Hear Again · 02-01-2009, 09:05 PM

the pticon sumo dos not use open fit earmlds since it is degined for severe to prfound or profiund losses.

etalton · 02-01-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

deafdyke- Yeah, my speech perception is just fine. I function so well with my right ear that people don't even know I have a hearing aid unless I tell them. I believe the whole concern was that having my left ear with a hearing aid would have detracted from the good hearing in my right ear. I still don't see how that could be possible, especially with the new HA technology and once I've gotten used to it and had some additional training under my belt. I'm sure I'll need some additional speech training to get my ears working together properly like they're supposed to. I don't care...I just want to see if something finally works.

The only way I can see it detracting is if your speech perception is "off" in that ear. I had that problem which is why I never wore a hearing aid in the left ear. I did try a loaner, but the sound was so garbled and mixed with the "good" ear (at the time) made things harder to understand.

faire_jour · 02-01-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hohDougRN

If you can get ok speech perception from your right ear, I doubt anybody would approve you for CI. Plus why take that risk of the invasive surgery. At this point I wouldn't say the benefits don't outweigh the risks. The risk of complications of CI surgery are a little bit higher than 'nill'.

Miss Kat had "speech perception" and she is approved (by the audiologist, looking for insurance now) for bilateral CI's. In a closed set test of very different words, (hot dog vs. toothbrush vs. airplane) with listening only she could get 80%. She got a CI with ZERO trouble, and now she has GREAT results with the CI.

Hear Again · 02-01-2009, 09:40 PM

kat was ble to her 80%of words correctyl with hearing aids before ci?

faire_jour · 02-01-2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

kat was ble to her 80%of words correctyl with hearing aids before ci?

Just very different words that she was introduced to before hand. And it had to be a closed set (like with pictures) of 6 or less. But yes, given those circumstances, she could get 80%.
Now she is getting open set words and only vowel differences. It is a HUGE improvement in 2 months. She also went from 30 db to 15, and the clarity difference is amazing.

AlleyCat · 02-01-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

catually, the rsk of ci surgery is quiet small given thefact that it is suc a safe, outpatient surgery. in fact. it hapens to be one o f the qafest types of surgery thers is and only taks 2 or 3 hours to cpmplete. i'm not trying to say the op shld have ci srugery -- i'm only corectng streetypes that ci srugery is rsky.

But there is always a risk with any surgery, regardless of what anyone says. I scored too well on my CI audi tests that I felt I could not take on the risks of surgery for any benefit of a CI (see my other threads regarding my scores.) This is just MY opinion. The CI audi outlined all the risks, as she should have. This is not a light decision to be made. I am not knocking getting a CI because I was very interested in it myself (and may re-visit it at a later time.)

hohDougRN · 02-01-2009, 10:15 PM

No, please, don't tell me Im wrong! I don't wanna be wrong, I can't be wrong, I won't be wrong. Oh shite Im wrong.

That was doug's satire, ok, don't nobody freak out

If I could get 15db perception with CI guaranteed- I'd do it tomorrow. But I have an illness called fear, and though Im a healthcare professional, it doesn't necessarily mean I trust them. (yes, I've seen CI audi and verified candidacy already) I have 70% perception aided and 60% in other ear, Aided. Almost nothing with noise.

Faire Jour, maybe I need to have interview with your family to alleviate my hesitancies. Im not trying to be weird, mabye wanting that last little thing to convince me. I often do contemplate the difficulties in my career and possible logical obtainable solutions. I am definately afraid of leaving the bubble I call my life. Could you maybe PM me?

Hear Again · 02-01-2009, 10:31 PM

i tought in order o be a ci candaite one must have 40% or less spech cdiscrmiination in the worseear and 60% or less in the better ear/

Hear Again · 02-01-2009, 10:32 PM

alleycat,

i never said getting a ci ws a lihgt decision. sigh. hec, i took 6 onths to decide that it was the right decion for me.

Hear Again · 02-01-2009, 10:33 PM

thast's wonderful faire jour. smile.

faire_jour · 02-01-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hohDougRN

No, please, don't tell me Im wrong! I don't wanna be wrong, I can't be wrong, I won't be wrong. Oh shite Im wrong.

That was doug's satire, ok, don't nobody freak out

If I could get 15db perception with CI guaranteed- I'd do it tomorrow. But I have an illness called fear, and though Im a healthcare professional, it doesn't necessarily mean I trust them. (yes, I've seen CI audi and verified candidacy already) I have 70% perception aided and 60% in other ear, Aided. Almost nothing with noise.

Faire Jour, maybe I need to have interview with your family to alleviate my hesitancies. Im not trying to be weird, mabye wanting that last little thing to convince me. I often do contemplate the difficulties in my career and possible logical obtainable solutions. I am definately afraid of leaving the bubble I call my life. Could you maybe PM me?

Taking the plung was scary, especially since I was making the decision for my child. I just knew that since she wasn't able to actually access and use spoken language, we really had nothing to lose. I also asked the audiologist if she could end up worse with the CI, and he told me "No. If she is a candidate, she will do better with a CI than she does with hearing aids".

Now, he never said that she would use the CI well, or develop spoken language, just that it would improve.

faire_jour · 02-01-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

i tought in order o be a ci candaite one must have 40% or less spech cdiscrmiination in the worseear and 60% or less in the better ear/

Not for children

Candidacy Criteria

Hear Again · 02-01-2009, 10:47 PM

that wbsite doesn't tell me aything faire jour.

faire_jour · 02-01-2009, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

that wbsite doesn't tell me aything faire jour.

Young children: 12 months to 2 years

Profound sensorineural hearing loss (nerve deafness) in both ears
Lack of progress in development of auditory skill with hearing aid or other amplification
High motivation and realistic expectations from family
Other medical conditions, if present, do not interfere with cochlear implant procedure

Children: 2 to 17 years

Severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss (nerve deafness) in both ears
Receive little or no benefit from hearing aids
Lack of progress in the development of auditory skills
High motivation and realistic expectations from family

Adults: 18 years and over

Severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears
Receive little or no useful benefit from hearing aids
Qualified candidates are those scoring, with a hearing aid, 50 percent or less on sentence recognition tests in the ear to be implanted and 60 percent or less in the non-implanted ear or bilaterally.

Hear Again · 02-01-2009, 11:04 PM

i undrstand that faire jour but t does not tell me percentages./

Hear Again · 02-01-2009, 11:05 PM

a for the requirments for adults, if one has medicaid, their speech discrimination must bt 40% or less in the poorer ear and 60% or less in thebetter ear..

Phi4Sius · 02-01-2009, 11:07 PM

Well, I guess I have another question. This is more for those that have had unilateral hearing with a hearing aid in one ear most of their life (like me) and then finally were able to obtain a hearing aid that gave them a useful benefit out of their profound ear (in my case it's my left ear that's profound). I think I have a ton of questions that I probably haven't thought about yet. Hehehe. This forum is great, BTW!!! Gotta love Google!!

What was it like when you first turned on that hearing aid? Were you able to notice any discrimination in sounds (such as speech, etc.)? Or, did it take awhile to adjust to such new circumstances? How long did you have that profound loss for? What is it like to finally have binaural hearing after all those years? I'm sure it took quite a period of adjustment and speech/sound training to finally have some discriminatory abilities after having no use out of that ear for so long.

faire_jour · 02-01-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

i undrstand that faire jour but t does not tell me percentages./

Kids don't have specific percentage requirements. They just have to meet the criteria listed.

Hear Again · 02-01-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faire_jour

Kids don't have specific percentage requirements. They just have to meet the criteria listed.

oic. thank yo for the explnation.

deafdyke · 02-02-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

if one has medicaid, their speech discrimination must bt 40% or less in the poorer ear and 60% or less in thebetter ear..

Oh so that's where you got the implantation criteria from. As I have stated before, I think that's a very good baseline for implantation. HOWEVER, with private plans there can be a lot of wiggle room, for implantation canidates.
I do think that the percentage of "wiggle room" CI canidates is low. It's probaly akin to the number of people who claim that their wittle Smashlie has "ADD" to explain why she needs special accomondations to get into an Ivy League school. Meaning I don't believe that EVERYONE who's interested in a CI, is automaticly a "Smashlie". However, I do think that private insurances need to be a little stricter as to who gets a CI. That way, it will be easier for the people who REALLY need a CI to get it....see what I mean?

faire_jour · 02-02-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdyke

Oh so that's where you got the implantation criteria from. As I have stated before, I think that's a very good baseline for implantation. HOWEVER, with private plans there can be a lot of wiggle room, for implantation canidates.
I do think that the percentage of "wiggle room" CI canidates is low. It's probaly akin to the number of people who claim that their wittle Smashlie has "ADD" to explain why she needs special accomondations to get into an Ivy League school. Meaning I don't believe that EVERYONE who's interested in a CI, is automaticly a "Smashlie". However, I do think that private insurances need to be a little stricter as to who gets a CI. That way, it will be easier for the people who REALLY need a CI to get it....see what I mean?

Why?
You respond this way a lot and I want to know why? Who are these people that you know with great hearing who are running out to get implants? It is a surgery! People don't take that lightly. I think I once read that less than 2% of CI candidates will ever be implanted. Why do you think it should be stricter? I think insurance should be easier! I think there are people out there fighting to get the proper amplification they need and want, but are being held up by paperwork and burocrasy. Why should it be more difficult?

Hear Again · 02-02-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faire_jour

Why?
You respond this way a lot and I want to know why? Who are these people that you know with great hearing who are running out to get implants? It is a surgery! People don't take that lightly. I think I once read that less than 2% of CI candidates will ever be implanted. Why do you think it should be stricter? I think insurance should be easier! I think there are people out there fighting to get the proper amplification they need and want, but are being held up by paperwork and burocrasy. Why should it be more difficult?

Hear Again · 02-02-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdyke

Oh so that's where you got the implantation criteria from. As I have stated before, I think that's a very good baseline for implantation. HOWEVER, with private plans there can be a lot of wiggle room, for implantation canidates.
I do think that the percentage of "wiggle room" CI canidates is low. It's probaly akin to the number of people who claim that their wittle Smashlie has "ADD" to explain why she needs special accomondations to get into an Ivy League school. Meaning I don't believe that EVERYONE who's interested in a CI, is automaticly a "Smashlie". However, I do think that private insurances need to be a little stricter as to who gets a CI. That way, it will be easier for the people who REALLY need a CI to get it....see what I mean?

to be honest, i don't know what you mean. if someone is a ci candidate, they're a ci candidate and deserve to be implanted. let's not differentiate one ci candidate from another because as long as they meet the criteria for implantation, that's all that counts.

Hear Again · 02-02-2009, 08:25 PM

i've never met a ci candidate who rushes to be implanted because they have good hearing. ci centers won't implant anyone who is able to function with hearing aids. my ci audi told me about someone who came in for a ci evaluation and had moderate hearing loss. needless to say, she was written off as a candidate immediately and told to come back again if her hearing reached the severe-profound range. furthermore, even though my ci center is the largest in the midwest, they only implant 7 people/year. that means they don't implant everyone who comes walking through their door.

etalton · 02-02-2009, 09:51 PM

While it is true that "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch" I don't think that is a big problem with CI. Yes, there are people out there that "want the newest gadget" but unless the doctor/audi is dishonest, they are not going to get an implant. I can't speak for "private" insurance, as mine is through the military. My first audi has a special sound booth set up where you can't see what he is doing. Your back is totally to him. All you have is the headphones. You have no notion of his body language or anything. No way to cheat. (Since it is the military, they think ahead and know there will be cheaters looking for an easy out of active duty.) It just becomes the norm for him, even when dealing with retirees, dependents, etc. He even mentioned it to me when I had my first hearing test.
Anyway, the criteria is strict and any reputable audi/doctor will not recommend a CI implant on anyone that can still hear/comprehend speech, even if they are frustrated or don't like wearing a ha.
Also, most insurance companies are super tight with their money and will not agree to pay without the proper medical proof.
Like I said..there may be a few out that there that will try, but what person in their right mind would want to have their scalp peeled back and have an implant with a magnet that means you can't go through airport security without hassles, can't have an MRI without special procedures/precautions?? It's not for vanity, since the processor is bigger than a normal hearing aid. jmho

Hear Again · 02-02-2009, 09:55 PM

...not to mention the fact that 99% of the time, all residual hearing is lost in the implanted ear.

etalton · 02-02-2009, 09:57 PM

very true Lisa

02-01-2009, 10:15 PM	#40 (permalink)
hohDougRN Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: utah Posts: 3,257	No, please, don't tell me Im wrong! I don't wanna be wrong, I can't be wrong, I won't be wrong. Oh shite Im wrong. That was doug's satire, ok, don't nobody freak out If I could get 15db perception with CI guaranteed- I'd do it tomorrow. But I have an illness called fear, and though Im a healthcare professional, it doesn't necessarily mean I trust them. (yes, I've seen CI audi and verified candidacy already) I have 70% perception aided and 60% in other ear, Aided. Almost nothing with noise. Faire Jour, maybe I need to have interview with your family to alleviate my hesitancies. Im not trying to be weird, mabye wanting that last little thing to convince me. I often do contemplate the difficulties in my career and possible logical obtainable solutions. I am definately afraid of leaving the bubble I call my life. Could you maybe PM me? __________________ *Doug*

02-02-2009, 09:51 PM	#58 (permalink)
etalton Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Eastern North Carolina Posts: 790	While it is true that "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch" I don't think that is a big problem with CI. Yes, there are people out there that "want the newest gadget" but unless the doctor/audi is dishonest, they are not going to get an implant. I can't speak for "private" insurance, as mine is through the military. My first audi has a special sound booth set up where you can't see what he is doing. Your back is totally to him. All you have is the headphones. You have no notion of his body language or anything. No way to cheat. (Since it is the military, they think ahead and know there will be cheaters looking for an easy out of active duty.) It just becomes the norm for him, even when dealing with retirees, dependents, etc. He even mentioned it to me when I had my first hearing test. Anyway, the criteria is strict and any reputable audi/doctor will not recommend a CI implant on anyone that can still hear/comprehend speech, even if they are frustrated or don't like wearing a ha. Also, most insurance companies are super tight with their money and will not agree to pay without the proper medical proof. Like I said..there may be a few out that there that will try, but what person in their right mind would want to have their scalp peeled back and have an implant with a magnet that means you can't go through airport security without hassles, can't have an MRI without special procedures/precautions?? It's not for vanity, since the processor is bigger than a normal hearing aid. jmho __________________ E.T. Left Ear Implanted 11-07-08 (Nucleus Freedom) Activation 12-18-08 Right Ear Implanted 3-3-2010(N5) Activation 3-11-10 http://et-mybionicjourney.blogspot.com/

02-02-2009, 09:57 PM	#60 (permalink)
etalton Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Eastern North Carolina Posts: 790	very true Lisa __________________ E.T. Left Ear Implanted 11-07-08 (Nucleus Freedom) Activation 12-18-08 Right Ear Implanted 3-3-2010(N5) Activation 3-11-10 http://et-mybionicjourney.blogspot.com/

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02-01-2009, 09:04 PM	#33 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	catually, the rsk of ci surgery is quiet small given thefact that it is suc a safe, outpatient surgery. in fact. it hapens to be one o f the qafest types of surgery thers is and only taks 2 or 3 hours to cpmplete. i'm not trying to say the op shld have ci srugery -- i'm only corectng streetypes that ci srugery is rsky.

02-01-2009, 09:05 PM	#34 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	the pticon sumo dos not use open fit earmlds since it is degined for severe to prfound or profiund losses.

02-01-2009, 09:40 PM	#37 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	kat was ble to her 80%of words correctyl with hearing aids before ci?

02-01-2009, 10:31 PM	#41 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	i tought in order o be a ci candaite one must have 40% or less spech cdiscrmiination in the worseear and 60% or less in the better ear/

02-01-2009, 10:32 PM	#42 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	alleycat, i never said getting a ci ws a lihgt decision. sigh. hec, i took 6 onths to decide that it was the right decion for me.

02-01-2009, 10:33 PM	#43 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	thast's wonderful faire jour. smile.

02-01-2009, 10:47 PM	#46 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	that wbsite doesn't tell me aything faire jour.

02-01-2009, 11:04 PM	#48 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	i undrstand that faire jour but t does not tell me percentages./

02-01-2009, 11:05 PM	#49 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	a for the requirments for adults, if one has medicaid, their speech discrimination must bt 40% or less in the poorer ear and 60% or less in thebetter ear..

02-01-2009, 11:07 PM	#50 (permalink)
Phi4Sius Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 477	Well, I guess I have another question. This is more for those that have had unilateral hearing with a hearing aid in one ear most of their life (like me) and then finally were able to obtain a hearing aid that gave them a useful benefit out of their profound ear (in my case it's my left ear that's profound). I think I have a ton of questions that I probably haven't thought about yet. Hehehe. This forum is great, BTW!!! Gotta love Google!! What was it like when you first turned on that hearing aid? Were you able to notice any discrimination in sounds (such as speech, etc.)? Or, did it take awhile to adjust to such new circumstances? How long did you have that profound loss for? What is it like to finally have binaural hearing after all those years? I'm sure it took quite a period of adjustment and speech/sound training to finally have some discriminatory abilities after having no use out of that ear for so long.

02-02-2009, 08:25 PM	#57 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	i've never met a ci candidate who rushes to be implanted because they have good hearing. ci centers won't implant anyone who is able to function with hearing aids. my ci audi told me about someone who came in for a ci evaluation and had moderate hearing loss. needless to say, she was written off as a candidate immediately and told to come back again if her hearing reached the severe-profound range. furthermore, even though my ci center is the largest in the midwest, they only implant 7 people/year. that means they don't implant everyone who comes walking through their door.

02-02-2009, 09:55 PM	#59 (permalink)
Hear Again Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,122 Blog Entries: 6	...not to mention the fact that 99% of the time, all residual hearing is lost in the implanted ear.