A new take on CI's - Adult perspectives

[sr171soars]

...
Have you found anyone who had never heard of a CI? Everyone here in Australia that I've spoken to, even old ladies have heard of it because it has been very heavily exposed in the media here. But I've found that overseas relatives and friends in Canada in England have never heard of it!

Yea, I have run into people here who never heard of CIs. Doesn't surprise me any. I had one fellow ask me "If it were one of those newfangled HAs". I told him what it was and he really didn't know. They are just starting to mention it more here and there (news sources). Might be awhile before it is "common" knowledge.

 

[neecy]

I've run in to a few people who had no idea what a CI was- and they were absolutely fascinated. They had hundreds of questions for me and thought it was amazing. One thing I could never understand is why those who are against CI's use the arguement that people will tease or make fun of somebody who has an implant. Quite the opposite, I had people approach me and say "hey! my Mom/Dad/Brother/Aunt/Friend has a CI too!" they always seem so positive and I've not had one single bad experience talking to others. I've even had people ask me for the cochlear website so they can read up on the subject some more! My sweetheart's son, who is 9 did his science project on cochlear implants!

 

[Cloggy]

I had never heared about CI until my daughter was diagnosed as profoundly deaf.
Then the search & education began!

 

[neecy]

I had never heared about CI until my daughter was diagnosed as profoundly deaf.
Then the search & education began!

She's very very lucky to have two supportive parents like you and your wife!!!

 

[Superfroggy]

Believe it or not... one of my former ENT doctors had never heard of the CI either. I had gone to him to have my ears checked and an audiogram obtained, which was required before I could go in for my initial CI candidacy assessment in another city. When he asked my why I needed a hearing test, I told him I was planning on getting a cochlear implant, and the CI center that I planned to go to requested that I bring a current audiogram. He said, "what is a cochlear implant?" I was shocked that an Ear, Nose, and throat specialist would not know what it is. I spent about half an hour explaining it to him

I went to him one more time, after I had gotten my CI (I had a mild ear infection), and he was fascinated with it but knew nothing about it. Didn't even understand that once I took my CI off, I was deaf.. In fact, in the first visit to him that I mentioned above, we also had a 10 minute conversation revolving around the fact that he couldn't believe I was deaf because I could speak so well. He honestly kept repeating the question "You really are deaf??"

That explains why I said he is my former ENT doc *sigh*

 

[sr171soars]

SF...What decade is he from? That is unbelievable. Any ENT worth his salt should at least be aware of CIs.

 

[Boult]

Believe it or not... one of my former ENT doctors had never heard of the CI either. I had gone to him to have my ears checked and an audiogram obtained, which was required before I could go in for my initial CI candidacy assessment in another city. When he asked my why I needed a hearing test, I told him I was planning on getting a cochlear implant, and the CI center that I planned to go to requested that I bring a current audiogram. He said, "what is a cochlear implant?" I was shocked that an Ear, Nose, and throat specialist would not know what it is. I spent about half an hour explaining it to him

I went to him one more time, after I had gotten my CI (I had a mild ear infection), and he was fascinated with it but knew nothing about it. Didn't even understand that once I took my CI off, I was deaf.. In fact, in the first visit to him that I mentioned above, we also had a 10 minute conversation revolving around the fact that he couldn't believe I was deaf because I could speak so well. He honestly kept repeating the question "You really are deaf??"

That explains why I said he is my former ENT doc *sigh*

then this doctor should not be in ENT practice!

 

[Superfroggy]

SF...What decade is he from? That is unbelievable. Any ENT worth his salt should at least be aware of CIs.

My thoughts exactly. There's quite a few ignorant doctors that I've come across in my time, but this one was by far the most ignorant.. not just about CI's but about deafness and patients in general. I have no idea how he continues to practice his ENT specialty, unless he is one of those types of ENT's that are willing to see only the pathological aspects of their field, i.e., they view every patient as a walking, talking ear and are only interested in the ear's mechanics. Still, I'm baffled by it.

...Boult, yes I agree--I've warned a lot of people in my community not to go to him if they have an ENT issue.. especially my deaf friends because he has NO concept of the meaning of hearing loss and how it affects the patients. Very sad.

:|

 

[R2D2]

That is shocking. It shows that he doesn't read medical journals, go to conferences or keep up with new developments. He probably doesn't even read a newspaper. Scary!

 

[Angel]

Believe it or not... one of my former ENT doctors had never heard of the CI either. I had gone to him to have my ears checked and an audiogram obtained, which was required before I could go in for my initial CI candidacy assessment in another city. When he asked my why I needed a hearing test, I told him I was planning on getting a cochlear implant, and the CI center that I planned to go to requested that I bring a current audiogram. He said, "what is a cochlear implant?" I was shocked that an Ear, Nose, and throat specialist would not know what it is. I spent about half an hour explaining it to him

I went to him one more time, after I had gotten my CI (I had a mild ear infection), and he was fascinated with it but knew nothing about it. Didn't even understand that once I took my CI off, I was deaf.. In fact, in the first visit to him that I mentioned above, we also had a 10 minute conversation revolving around the fact that he couldn't believe I was deaf because I could speak so well. He honestly kept repeating the question "You really are deaf??"

That explains why I said he is my former ENT doc *sigh*

Did you double-check to be sure he has a doctor license?

 

[Superfroggy]

Did you double-check to be sure he has a doctor license?

Oh yes indeed he does have his license, and happens to work in one of the top hospital-affilated clinics in my city-- that's the most appalling thing about it!

I agree with R2D2, he probably does only the bare minimun to keep his practice running, and the rest of the time goes around with blinders on.

 

[neecy]

I've encountered general practitioners who knew nothing about Cochlear Implants either. Makes you wonder what rock they've been hiding under for the last 20 years.