AllDeaf.com
Mobile - Perks - Store - Advertise - Spy  

Go Back   AllDeaf.com > Deaf Interests > Hearing Aids & Cochlear Implants
LIKE AllDeaf on Facebook FOLLOW AllDeaf on Twitter
  
Like Tree19Likes

Reply
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Unread 10-03-2011, 07:31 AM   #1 (permalink)
Registered User
 
KStiletto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Posts: 557
Has anyone read about the Esteem the new invisible implant?

Just saw it on the news today. I googled it Invisible Hearing® with Esteem®. For people who wanted an implant is this something you would consider? Just curious for your opinion on this.
KStiletto is offline   Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Deafness

Beitrag Sponsored Links

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com
   
Unread 10-03-2011, 07:39 AM   #2 (permalink)
41°17′00″N 70°04′58″W
 
GrendelQ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New England, USA
Posts: 3,419
Interesting discussion of it here, on Tina's site.
__________________
Quote:
Marschark : "The evidence has convinced me, more than ever, that there is never going to be a "one size fits all" solution for deaf children either educationally or in language."
GrendelQ is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 07:39 AM   #3 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,471
I saw an ad for it in a magazine.
dogmom is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 07:48 AM   #4 (permalink)
Registered User
 
KStiletto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Posts: 557
Yea, I just read the comments on it. Interesting.
KStiletto is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 08:35 AM   #5 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: In my time zone
Posts: 10,792
Interesting comments that follow.
AlleyCat is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:00 AM   #6 (permalink)
Registered User
 
VacationGuy234's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 2,785
It doesn't seem like this is for someone with profound hearing loss. And I think the other comments are correct, the person in the video only has moderate loss. It might be a good solution for someone with that type of loss. Obviously, they picked the best candidate to present the product they are trying to sell.

If I could get good hearing without the visibility of an implant, I would do it.

However, I'm really hoping for a hair cell regeneration solution. If they find I cure, I would at least have one ear back to normal.
VacationGuy234 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:02 AM   #7 (permalink)
Registered User
 
lovezebras's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,952
The Esteem is not new it just isn't popular so they must be upping their marketing
deafdyke likes this.
lovezebras is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:04 AM   #8 (permalink)
Registered User
 
DeafCaroline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,889
NBC Today is interviewing that woman, in fact, it's on tv right now and I'm just waiting for the interview to come up.
DeafCaroline is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:05 AM   #9 (permalink)
Registered User
 
KStiletto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Posts: 557
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeafCaroline View Post
NBC Today is interviewing that woman, in fact, it's on tv right now and I'm just waiting for the interview to come up.
I'm in NYC, and it played over here already.
KStiletto is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:28 AM   #10 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: In my time zone
Posts: 10,792
How was it?
AlleyCat is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:28 AM   #11 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,434
I could walk up to their office here right now and protest.
deafdyke likes this.
posts from hell is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:32 AM   #12 (permalink)
Registered User
 
KStiletto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Posts: 557
Quote:
Originally Posted by posts from hell View Post
I could walk up to their office here right now and protest.
Why are you protesting?
KStiletto is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:35 AM   #13 (permalink)
Registered User
 
KStiletto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Posts: 557
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlleyCat View Post
How was it?
It was okay. She had a slight Texan accent. They mainly showed her reaction to her hearing herself. She first thought she wouldn't like the sound of her voice. The medical reporter said that the woman with the implant was only at a particular level whatever that meant. Probably meant her speech/hearing would get better.. I dunno.
KStiletto is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:36 AM   #14 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,434
Quote:
Originally Posted by KStiletto View Post
Why are you protesting?
i said I could -- it is being developed right here in my home town. Not surprising since there are a lot of smarties here.

I am however disgusted that it is being developed here.
ash345 likes this.
posts from hell is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:36 AM   #15 (permalink)
Registered User
 
PowerON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 37.5, 126.9
Posts: 10,321
Blog Entries: 5
Send a message via AIM to PowerON Send a message via Yahoo to PowerON Send a message via Skype™ to PowerON
Quote:
Originally Posted by KStiletto View Post
Why are you protesting?
For rip off the head and install the machine inside?
LDNanna likes this.
__________________
• [Illustrator.Blog-alloon.com] •
Don't shoot me! I'm only blogger!
PowerON is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:38 AM   #16 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Jazzberry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: New York State
Posts: 761
Blog Entries: 2
I sent them this e-mail through their "contact us" text box on their web site.

I do like to have information about these sort of things, usually more than hearing product companies like to release.

I'll let you know if I get a comment back.

--

"It would be great if you could add additional information to your web site that would cover these topics:

1) How does your product deal with noise?

A healthy ear has an unimpeded two-way communication system between the brain and ear and a person can choose what to listen to unconsciously -- much as we don't really pay attention to how we move, remember facts or digest our food.

A digital hearing aid can use algorithms to decide how to process the sound picked up by a microphone. It doesn't work nearly as well as the normal hearing system (ear and brain) -- but there is a system in place.

2) What are the risks to having mechanical devices attached to the ossicular chain? I understand that because of the proximity to the nerve there is risk of facial nerve paralysis and lost of the taste sense. Are there additional risks? This may sound silly, but I can't help but wonder if there is risk of the ossicular chain "wearing out" because of the direct mechanical manipulation over the years. Or perhaps another side effect that I'm not aware of.

3) Personally, I see only two advantages of your product over the traditional hearing aid:

a) Ability to hear better while swimming or boating

b) Not having to deal with sound distortions introduced by physical limitations of a microphone or receiver (called the speaker in most other technologies).

Other advantages mentioned in videos on your web site by customers such as hearing children while asleep can easily be handled with assistive listening devices or a service dog. Bicycle safety can be handled with rear view mirrors intended to be worn on the helmut. Its well known that deaf drivers have a better safety record than non-deaf drivers so I don't think your marketing dept is doing the company any favors trying to present deafness as a safety risk. That assertion, quite frankly, just puts your company's credibility at risk.

Some of the disadvantages of using your product are serious:
a) Risks from surgery (facial paralysis, loss of taste, risks from general anesthesia)

b) No longer candidate for MRI.

c) No contact sports

d) For some people -- no scuba diving

I would think that your product would have to be able to offer far superior hearing than that provided by traditional digital hearing aids in order to compensate for the disadvantages and make it a reasonable choice.

I haven't seen any claims to that effect yet. If your product accomplishes that, I think it would be great to provide a link to the studies on your web site.

Best regards,"
deafdyke likes this.
__________________
I was a mainstreamed "solitaire". I'm currently learning ASL. My hearing loss ranges from moderate to profound; my audiogram and speech discrimination are posted here.
Jazzberry is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:51 AM   #17 (permalink)
Registered User
 
DeafCaroline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,889
Just looked up possible adverse effects of the Esteem hearing implant and whoa....

Important Safety Information
DeafCaroline is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 09:56 AM   #18 (permalink)
Registered User
 
DeafCaroline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,889
and p.s this live coverage of th Mersherk trial and that trial of the seattle girl in italy has taken over the show - I don't think I'm going to get to see the interview...argh.
DeafCaroline is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 11:13 AM   #19 (permalink)
Registered User
 
PowerON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 37.5, 126.9
Posts: 10,321
Blog Entries: 5
Send a message via AIM to PowerON Send a message via Yahoo to PowerON Send a message via Skype™ to PowerON
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeafCaroline View Post
Just looked up possible adverse effects of the Esteem hearing implant and whoa....

Important Safety Information
Ah-ha! Limited activate.
__________________
• [Illustrator.Blog-alloon.com] •
Don't shoot me! I'm only blogger!
PowerON is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 12:27 PM   #20 (permalink)
Registered User
 
candybrowneyes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,358
Blog Entries: 1
Send a message via AIM to candybrowneyes
Im out! Menieres and Vertigo plus tinnitus! crazy!
__________________
Love is the force that transforms and improves the soul of the world...
candybrowneyes is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 12:37 PM   #21 (permalink)
Joe's Friend
 
Bottesini's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: With Owl Sock
Posts: 37,523
Blog Entries: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by candybrowneyes View Post
Im out! Menieres and Vertigo plus tinnitus! crazy!
I think almost everyone I know would be out for one reason or another!
__________________
Bottesini is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 12:43 PM   #22 (permalink)
Adrenaline Junky
 
Daredevel7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 4,341
Even though I have a CI, this device freaks me out for some reason....

And I LOL'd at the commercial.
"I FEEL CURED!"
"Restore your life back to normal."

Definitely more for the late-deafened.......
deafdyke and stormpraiser91 like this.
Daredevel7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 12:59 PM   #23 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 20,225
no surgery for me. thats all.
Frisky Feline is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 01:07 PM   #24 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: In my time zone
Posts: 10,792
Not for me either (at least not now, anyway). I guess if it brings some happiness to some, then that's what it is.
AlleyCat is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 01:07 PM   #25 (permalink)
Potterhead and Janeite
 
sallylou's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: My own private Idaho
Posts: 6,653
Wirelessly posted (droid)

You must have working cochlea and middle ear. Leaves me out. Plus $30k price tag. Ouch!
__________________
sallylou is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 01:44 PM   #26 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Jazzberry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: New York State
Posts: 761
Blog Entries: 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jazzberry View Post

<snip>

I'll let you know if I get a comment back.

<snip>
I got a an e-mail and a 44 page Adobe brochure.


The e-mail looked liked it was adapted only to include my name, none of my questions or comments were addressed. The brochure did make this claim:

Quote:
Word Recognition Scores (WRS)

In clinical trials, Esteem® recipients scored up to an average of 86% improvement over their pre-implant hearing aid at 50dB (normal conversation level).*

Speech Reception Threshold (SRT)

In clinical trials, the Esteem®, compared to the pre-implant hearing aid, improved speech reception threshold up to an average of 17 dB.*

* Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with the implantation of the Esteem®. Please see the Envoy Medical website at www.
envoymedical.com for a full list of benefits and risks regarding this device.
They provided NO citations. When a medical company promotes a medical device but provides less sources than a typical 8 year old's science report, that leaves me feeling ... concerned.

They didn't even attempt to explain why they think their device provides better sound fidelity then conventional hearing aids. That left me feeling a little patronized. Until Im given studies that prove otherwise, I'm inclined to believe that their isn't a difference in quality in sound between their product and the top of the line hearing aids that have little distortion. Most hearing aid manufacturers make that information available on their products tech specifications.

Most of the information in the brochure is already available on their web site. A few things they added were:


* About 10% of their customers experienced interference with their cell phones

* Electroconvulsive Therapy can never be used after implantation

* The device must be turned off before electrocautery is used.

They invite the customer to ask for another brochure and send in their audiogram to see if they qualify.
__________________
I was a mainstreamed "solitaire". I'm currently learning ASL. My hearing loss ranges from moderate to profound; my audiogram and speech discrimination are posted here.
Jazzberry is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 01:49 PM   #27 (permalink)
Registered User
 
Jazzberry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: New York State
Posts: 761
Blog Entries: 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by sallylou View Post
Wirelessly posted (droid)

You must have working cochlea and middle ear. Leaves me out. Plus $30k price tag. Ouch!
They are targeting people with a sensineural loss -- so I don't think you need to have a "healthy" cochlea. But since the hearing loss has to be stable, my guess is that they are going for people that have a hearing loss due to a past virus or noise damage. My guess is that people with cochlear otosclerosis wouldnt have a stable hearing loss and wouldnt qualify.
__________________
I was a mainstreamed "solitaire". I'm currently learning ASL. My hearing loss ranges from moderate to profound; my audiogram and speech discrimination are posted here.
Jazzberry is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 06:51 PM   #28 (permalink)
Registered User
 
lovezebras's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,952
I wouldn't qualify for this either....not that I'd want it ..having to replace batteries, no MRI, way too many contraindications and risks with this type of implant..meh
lovezebras is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 06:57 PM   #29 (permalink)
Registered User
 
KStiletto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Posts: 557
Quote:
Originally Posted by AliciaM View Post
I wouldn't qualify for this either....not that I'd want it ..having to replace batteries, no MRI, way too many contraindications and risks with this type of implant..meh
Replacing batteries?! Oh hell no!
KStiletto is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-03-2011, 07:44 PM   #30 (permalink)
Registered User
 
lovezebras's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,952
Quote:
Originally Posted by KStiletto View Post
Replacing batteries?! Oh hell no!
ya you need surgery to change the battery every few years or something like that..no thanks..rather have a CI than this esteem implant
cdmeggers and bbaseballboy123 like this.
lovezebras is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:28 PM.


Join AllDeaf on Facebook!    Follow us on Twitter!

AllDeaf proudly supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Copyright © 2002-2013, AllDeaf.com. All Rights Reserved.