So I'm making the decision...

Phi4Sius · 05-30-2009, 08:06 PM

I'm going to get a Cochlear Implant.

I'm not getting any real auditory signals from the hearing aid I'm trying in my left ear. They're all tactile responses and the environmental sounds I am getting are all tactile which doesn't help. I wanted it to work - and I guess I just really wanted it to work but it really wasn't working. At the very least, this experience has helped me solidify my decision by trying one of the most powerful HAs available for my loss.

I have an appointment with the audiologist with my insurance company on 06/15 to verify my hearing loss and hopefully move forward with the process of determining my CI candidacy.

deafdude1 · 05-30-2009, 08:17 PM

See the reply here in your old thread:

http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-...t-working.html

I will just say good luck. That was a wise thing trying the best HA first. Sorry it didn't work out. So it looks like your cochlea is just one big dead zone and any sounds simply vibrate your cochlea which can be felt instead of heard?

Hear Again · 05-30-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

I'm going to get a Cochlear Implant.

I'm not getting any real auditory signals from the hearing aid I'm trying in my left ear. They're all tactile responses and the environmental sounds I am getting are all tactile which doesn't help. I wanted it to work - and I guess I just really wanted it to work but it really wasn't working. At the very least, this experience has helped me solidify my decision by trying one of the most powerful HAs available for my loss.

I have an appointment with the audiologist with my insurance company on 06/15 to verify my hearing loss and hopefully move forward with the process of determining my CI candidacy.

Good luck Phi. Let us know how your evaluation goes.

Phi4Sius · 05-31-2009, 02:05 AM

deafdude1 - Yup. Had the wax taken out because I was getting no responses rather than just a tactile response. Once that happened I started getting tactile responses again. The beeping was being picked up by my right ear. I just hadn't noticed it or realized it until I put two and two together.

But yeah, you're pretty much dead on with that question. My left ear is basically one big dead zone.

Hear Again- Yeah. I'll certainly be keeping everyone updated on the process.

LuciaDisturbed · 05-31-2009, 03:49 AM

Good luck and I hope your CI candidacy and evaluation goes well and that it works out for you in the end.

cdmeggers · 05-31-2009, 03:45 PM

good luck!

overthepond · 05-31-2009, 04:04 PM

All the best of luck

deafdyke · 06-01-2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

My left ear is basically one big dead zone

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you do have usable hearing in your right ear right?
Good luck...I do wish you the best of luck. It may be very hard to get implanted in that ear, unless you have really good insurance. However, keep pushing for it. Your ear is basicly DEAD. There's basicly no other options available, right? Tell your audi to really emphasize that in their appeal to the insurance company.

Hear Again · 06-01-2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

I'm going to get a Cochlear Implant.

I'm not getting any real auditory signals from the hearing aid I'm trying in my left ear. They're all tactile responses and the environmental sounds I am getting are all tactile which doesn't help. I wanted it to work - and I guess I just really wanted it to work but it really wasn't working. At the very least, this experience has helped me solidify my decision by trying one of the most powerful HAs available for my loss.

I have an appointment with the audiologist with my insurance company on 06/15 to verify my hearing loss and hopefully move forward with the process of determining my CI candidacy.

Phi,

Please do not think I'm judging you, but how is your hearing aid working for your right ear?

If I remember correctly, you encountered a few problems with your hearing aid.

Were you able to resolve them? (If you already posted a thread about this, I apologize.)

Once again, I am not judging you either way and wish you all the best with your CI journey.

deafdude1 · 06-01-2009, 12:24 PM

He understands 100% speech in the right ear with an analog HA with a moderate 50db HL. This is why im gonna wait the 10 years for stem cells to improve my own hearing to 50db. I also will be able to hear some sounds unaided. If it takes more than 10 years, fine. I don't have a dead ear that would be nearly risk free. Phi4Sius does have a dead ear so he knows there's no risk of losing residual hearing when there's no residual hearing to begin with. Im afraid that losing my own residual hearing will make it much harder for stem cells to work properly. I am still young so there's no real hurry, ill have several decades to enjoy much improved hearing with tomorrow's technology.

Hear Again · 06-01-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdude1

He understands 100% speech in the right ear with an analog HA with a moderate 50db HL.

If this is true, then Phi may have difficulty qualifying for a CI.

That being said, it doesn't hurt to be evaluated since the CI team is the one who will make the final determination.

Phi4Sius · 06-02-2009, 01:16 AM

Actually, I'm told by my regular audie about people with less of a hearing loss than mine actually getting CIs.

So, I'm thinking (and hoping) that requirements have relaxed a little on that front as of late.

BTW, my last audiogram as of Feb. of this year showed a speech recognition score of only 85% with my aided hearing in my right ear.

Hear Again · 06-02-2009, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

BTW, my last audiogram as of Feb. of this year showed a speech recognition score of only 85% with my aided hearing in my right ear.

85% speech discrimination is actually very, very good.

If you can hear 85% of speech aided with your right ear, I don't think you'll qualify for a CI since the criteria is 60% or less aided with the better ear and 40% or less aided with the poorer ear.

Hear Again · 06-02-2009, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

Actually, I'm told by my regular audie about people with less of a hearing loss than mine actually getting CIs.

Keep in mind that they may have very poor speech discrimination.

Just because someone has moderately-severe or severe hearing loss does not automatically mean they can understand speech well.

Furthermore, there are some people with profound hearing loss who understand speech better than those with moderate loss.

Degree of hearing loss does not dictate how well or poorly someone understands speech. It's the clarity of what they hear that determines this.

Bionicgal · 06-02-2009, 11:33 AM

Congratulations. Getting a CI was life changing for me. There are some things to remember (Practice, Patience, and more Practice.... communicate with your audiologist helps too!)

Phi4Sius · 06-03-2009, 12:36 AM

Hear Again- Is that qualification criteria for the CI audies/insurance companies in general or for actually being able to receive a cochlear implant from the CI companies themselves?

Even after researching Cochlear Implants for months now, I'm still quite unclear regarding what qualification criteria are used by the insurance companies and CI companies to determine whether someone would benefit from a cochlear implant or not. From what I understand, insurance companies in general have FAR stricter requirements for Cochlear Implantation than anybody else that can provide them to the general population w/severe hearing loss, without extremely high costs involved.

Hear Again · 06-03-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

Hear Again- Is that qualification criteria for the CI audies/insurance companies in general or for actually being able to receive a cochlear implant from the CI companies themselves?

Both.

Hear Again · 06-03-2009, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

Even after researching Cochlear Implants for months now, I'm still quite unclear regarding what qualification criteria are used by the insurance companies and CI companies to determine whether someone would benefit from a cochlear implant or not. From what I understand, insurance companies in general have FAR stricter requirements for Cochlear Implantation than anybody else that can provide them to the general population w/severe hearing loss, without extremely high costs involved.

This is true and is why CI audis and surgeons write detailed information about a person's hearing loss, level of functioning, ability to understand speech and any progressive nature of a condition/disease/illness that may make a person's loss progressive or cause sudden deafness.

Phi4Sius · 06-03-2009, 01:03 AM

I'm fairly certain my audiologist wouldn't have gotten so excited about cochlear implants for me unless they would help me a great deal and that I would at least pass qualification for them.

But still, we'll see what happens.

Hear Again · 06-03-2009, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

I'm fairly certain my audiologist wouldn't have gotten so excited about cochlear implants for me unless they would help me a great deal and that I would at least pass qualification for them.

But still, we'll see what happens.

Good luck.

deafdude1 · 06-03-2009, 02:26 AM

I also pointed out in previous threads that insurance requires the non-implanted ear to have up to 60% speech. His dead ear has 0% speech which passes the 40% maximum but his good ear is way above 60%. However he is still going to try and I agree it's worth trying. If insurance wants to pay for his dead ear, he's getting a CI. If insurance won't pay, he will need to come up with $50,000 or wait a while.

deafdyke · 06-03-2009, 09:58 PM

On the other hand, it's possible that Phisis' docs are gonna go "off label" for him.
I gotta say....I do think that 85% hearing with a hearing aid is decent.

Hear Again · 06-03-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdyke

I do think that 85% hearing with a hearing aid is decent.

I agree.

If they implant him "off label," that will validate deafdude's arguments about CI candidacy qualifications being loosened.

I don't mean to sound rude or judgmental, but if Phi is implanted with 85% aided speech discrimination, I will be very surprised.

Phi4Sius · 06-03-2009, 11:26 PM

I should be clear, however.

The only test my audie performed on me was a speech without noise test via headphones in a soundbooth, where I got 85%. In the real world, I do have a fairly hard time getting everything (especially when additional noise is around) even when I'm lipreading on the TV because the camera switches to a different angle and doesn't show the person's face. I can't really use captions on the work TV set.

IMO, it's probably not 85% when I'm asking myself "What?" after nearly every other convo (sentence) with another person and I have a very hard time discriminating speech from women (especially quiet women and quiet individuals).

Hear Again · 06-04-2009, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

The only test my audie performed on me was a speech without noise test via headphones in a soundbooth, where I got 85%.

With the use of an FM system (which blocks out background noise and brings sound directly into your ear), you could still end up hearing 85% or thereabout.

Has your audi ever mentioned FM systems to you before?

By the way, I'm not trying to discourage you from being evaluated for a CI. I'm just mentioning other possibilities you may be unaware of.

deafdyke · 06-04-2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

I agree.

If they implant him "off label," that will validate deafdude's arguments about CI candidacy qualifications being loosened.

I don't mean to sound rude or judgmental, but if Phi is implanted with 85% aided speech discrimination, I will be very surprised.

As I've said, I think that "offlabel" implantation can be a good thing. (eg tinnituas, and significent recruitment....and I do think that those conditions should be OK'd for implantation by the FDA)
Yes, there are plenty of people who decide to get implanted after a long hard decision making journey. But, it does seem like there's a significent minority who think that the CI overcomes ALL the disadvantages of hearing aids/being hoh.

Phi4Sius · 06-04-2009, 12:22 AM

Hear Again,

Actually, my audie and I have discussed all of these possibilities (including bi cross hearing aids) already.

And yes, I know you're only making sure I'm aware of the other possibilities. I appreciate the thoroughness!! My audie was flabbergasted when he learned of the ENT with my insurance company that tried to tell me about the BAHA route even though I have a sensorineural loss.

However, the FM system or other options available won't solve the profound sensorineural loss in my left ear.

I realize CIs may or may not solve the loss in my left ear completely, and I'm aware that I may be in the very few minority where the CI doesn't work at all.

Hear Again · 06-04-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phi4Sius

However, the FM system or other options available won't solve the profound sensorineural loss in my left ear.

You could use it for your right ear.

Hear Again · 06-04-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdyke

As I've said, I think that "offlabel" implantation can be a good thing. (eg tinnituas, and significent recruitment....and I do think that those conditions should be OK'd for implantation by the FDA)

People aren't considered CI candidates because they have tinnitus or recruitment.

I had recruitment prior to my CI surgeries, but that isn't what made me a candidate for implantation.

deafdyke · 06-04-2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

People aren't considered CI candidates because they have tinnitus or recruitment.

Offically, no.......but I do know that some people have gotten it "off label" due to severe recruitment or tintintuas......(they've found for example that implantation cures Meinure's)
And Phi4is, no it wouldn't help in your totally deaf ear......but the fact remains that you have decent hearing in your aided ear. Have you tried a power aid in that ear? I know it wouldn't help your deep profound ear.....but on the other hand it does seem like a lot of the issues you're complaining about, are basicly everyday hoh issues, that even unilaterally dhh folks deal with.

05-30-2009, 08:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Phi4Sius Technology Buff Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 352	So I'm making the decision... I'm going to get a Cochlear Implant. I'm not getting any real auditory signals from the hearing aid I'm trying in my left ear. They're all tactile responses and the environmental sounds I am getting are all tactile which doesn't help. I wanted it to work - and I guess I just really wanted it to work but it really wasn't working. At the very least, this experience has helped me solidify my decision by trying one of the most powerful HAs available for my loss. I have an appointment with the audiologist with my insurance company on 06/15 to verify my hearing loss and hopefully move forward with the process of determining my CI candidacy.

05-30-2009, 08:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
deafdude1 Getting stem cells soon! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,269 Blog Entries: 1	See the reply here in your old thread: http://www.alldeaf.com/hearing-aids-...t-working.html I will just say good luck. That was a wise thing trying the best HA first. Sorry it didn't work out. So it looks like your cochlea is just one big dead zone and any sounds simply vibrate your cochlea which can be felt instead of heard? __________________ My reasons for choosing stem cells over CI are numerous. Many thousands have gotten stem cells for all conditions with 90% success rate. I have emailed/contacted stem cell centers, read articles, did my research and know the facts. Chloe got such good results she can hear well without HAs! My hearing loss is the same in both ears. Recent audiogram: 125Hz=55db, 250Hz=70db, 500Hz=90db, 750Hz=110db, 1000Hz-8000Hz=NR at 110db. I discuss my deafness and stem cells in my blog

05-31-2009, 03:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
LuciaDisturbed ¡Féliz Año Nuevo! Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 6,770	Good luck and I hope your CI candidacy and evaluation goes well and that it works out for you in the end. __________________ "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - Philosopher George Santayana. Implanted left ear 10/11/06, activated 10/16/06 - Nucleus Freedom My own CI experience, my views on CI and ASL and Deaf Culture and Society DeviantArt

05-31-2009, 03:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
cdmeggers CD Meggers Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 856	good luck! __________________ My Ear Blog

06-01-2009, 12:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
deafdude1 Getting stem cells soon! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,269 Blog Entries: 1	He understands 100% speech in the right ear with an analog HA with a moderate 50db HL. This is why im gonna wait the 10 years for stem cells to improve my own hearing to 50db. I also will be able to hear some sounds unaided. If it takes more than 10 years, fine. I don't have a dead ear that would be nearly risk free. Phi4Sius does have a dead ear so he knows there's no risk of losing residual hearing when there's no residual hearing to begin with. Im afraid that losing my own residual hearing will make it much harder for stem cells to work properly. I am still young so there's no real hurry, ill have several decades to enjoy much improved hearing with tomorrow's technology. __________________ My reasons for choosing stem cells over CI are numerous. Many thousands have gotten stem cells for all conditions with 90% success rate. I have emailed/contacted stem cell centers, read articles, did my research and know the facts. Chloe got such good results she can hear well without HAs! My hearing loss is the same in both ears. Recent audiogram: 125Hz=55db, 250Hz=70db, 500Hz=90db, 750Hz=110db, 1000Hz-8000Hz=NR at 110db. I discuss my deafness and stem cells in my blog

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05-31-2009, 02:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
Phi4Sius Technology Buff Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 352	deafdude1 - Yup. Had the wax taken out because I was getting no responses rather than just a tactile response. Once that happened I started getting tactile responses again. The beeping was being picked up by my right ear. I just hadn't noticed it or realized it until I put two and two together. But yeah, you're pretty much dead on with that question. My left ear is basically one big dead zone. Hear Again- Yeah. I'll certainly be keeping everyone updated on the process.

05-31-2009, 04:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
overthepond Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Great Britain Posts: 1,359	All the best of luck

06-02-2009, 01:16 AM	#12 (permalink)
Phi4Sius Technology Buff Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 352	Actually, I'm told by my regular audie about people with less of a hearing loss than mine actually getting CIs. So, I'm thinking (and hoping) that requirements have relaxed a little on that front as of late. BTW, my last audiogram as of Feb. of this year showed a speech recognition score of only 85% with my aided hearing in my right ear.

06-02-2009, 11:33 AM	#15 (permalink)
Bionicgal Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 8	Congratulations. Getting a CI was life changing for me. There are some things to remember (Practice, Patience, and more Practice.... communicate with your audiologist helps too!)

06-03-2009, 12:36 AM	#16 (permalink)
Phi4Sius Technology Buff Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 352	Hear Again- Is that qualification criteria for the CI audies/insurance companies in general or for actually being able to receive a cochlear implant from the CI companies themselves? Even after researching Cochlear Implants for months now, I'm still quite unclear regarding what qualification criteria are used by the insurance companies and CI companies to determine whether someone would benefit from a cochlear implant or not. From what I understand, insurance companies in general have FAR stricter requirements for Cochlear Implantation than anybody else that can provide them to the general population w/severe hearing loss, without extremely high costs involved.

06-03-2009, 01:03 AM	#19 (permalink)
Phi4Sius Technology Buff Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 352	I'm fairly certain my audiologist wouldn't have gotten so excited about cochlear implants for me unless they would help me a great deal and that I would at least pass qualification for them. But still, we'll see what happens.

06-03-2009, 02:26 AM	#21 (permalink)
deafdude1 Getting stem cells soon! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,269 Blog Entries: 1	I also pointed out in previous threads that insurance requires the non-implanted ear to have up to 60% speech. His dead ear has 0% speech which passes the 40% maximum but his good ear is way above 60%. However he is still going to try and I agree it's worth trying. If insurance wants to pay for his dead ear, he's getting a CI. If insurance won't pay, he will need to come up with $50,000 or wait a while. __________________ My reasons for choosing stem cells over CI are numerous. Many thousands have gotten stem cells for all conditions with 90% success rate. I have emailed/contacted stem cell centers, read articles, did my research and know the facts. Chloe got such good results she can hear well without HAs! My hearing loss is the same in both ears. Recent audiogram: 125Hz=55db, 250Hz=70db, 500Hz=90db, 750Hz=110db, 1000Hz-8000Hz=NR at 110db. I discuss my deafness and stem cells in my blog

06-03-2009, 09:58 PM	#22 (permalink)
deafdyke So NOT a Princess! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 7,736	On the other hand, it's possible that Phisis' docs are gonna go "off label" for him. I gotta say....I do think that 85% hearing with a hearing aid is decent.

06-03-2009, 11:26 PM	#24 (permalink)
Phi4Sius Technology Buff Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 352	I should be clear, however. The only test my audie performed on me was a speech without noise test via headphones in a soundbooth, where I got 85%. In the real world, I do have a fairly hard time getting everything (especially when additional noise is around) even when I'm lipreading on the TV because the camera switches to a different angle and doesn't show the person's face. I can't really use captions on the work TV set. IMO, it's probably not 85% when I'm asking myself "What?" after nearly every other convo (sentence) with another person and I have a very hard time discriminating speech from women (especially quiet women and quiet individuals).

06-04-2009, 12:22 AM	#27 (permalink)
Phi4Sius Technology Buff Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 352	Hear Again, Actually, my audie and I have discussed all of these possibilities (including bi cross hearing aids) already. And yes, I know you're only making sure I'm aware of the other possibilities. I appreciate the thoroughness!! My audie was flabbergasted when he learned of the ENT with my insurance company that tried to tell me about the BAHA route even though I have a sensorineural loss. However, the FM system or other options available won't solve the profound sensorineural loss in my left ear. I realize CIs may or may not solve the loss in my left ear completely, and I'm aware that I may be in the very few minority where the CI doesn't work at all.

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