Aren't we wasting time with HAs...

ismi said:
I don't know that it's so clear that CIs are better than hearing aids.

Obviously, I haven't fully adjusted, but the sound quality through my hearing aids when I was a kid was far superior to the quality through my CI now - and even if the experience ends up being the same or equivalent once I'm done rewiring, hearing aids took a *lot* less time to get used to. That right there is a big plus. At this point, the CI is better for me because hearing aids don't function nearly as well as I'd like in the range that my hearing loss is; but that doesn't mean that CIs don't function better for other kinds of losses. Nor does it mean that the cons associated with a CI are outweighed by the benefits of a CI for everyone who might have a 'better' auditory experience with a CI.
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Interesting point! To me this is a very subjective issue. Some of us took off like a duck in the water as far as adapting to a CI. I basically was a going concern on the second day with speech and about four for all around sounds. So from that standpoint, I could say it was soooo much better than my HA hands down.

Now, are CIs perfect? No and even I will admit that there are some things a CI can't quite do as well as a HA. One such is handling lots of sounds in a complicated mix and one can tell there is some oddness in what one hears. It doesn't bother me but I know it isn't perfect.
 
jillio said:
Because not everyone is focused on hearing only. Because not everyone qualifies. Because doctors have to stick to certain criteria in deciding candicacy. Why don't you have a CI?
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:gpost:

I was pushed into getting one by a CI specialist but I turned it down. Why? Because I didn't want it. Not everyone wants a CI. I am happy for those who are happy with theirs but it doesn't mean that I should get one for myself.

I have always wondered why Audiofuzzy isn't getting herself a CI if she is so obssessed with it.
 
IslandGal said:
I have always wondered why Audiofuzzy isn't getting herself a CI if she is so obssessed with it.
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Because of her migraine, doesn't know rather or not having cochlear implant would effects her migraine.
 
Kaitin said:
Me too, Shel. I think "settle for HAs" is negative and judgement of those who don't want CIs. Maybe this wasn't the meaning and was not written clearly in first post.
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That's exactly what I'm seeing here too...*sigh*
 
I will stand by my opinion that all other options should be exhausted before a CI is considered.
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Excellent..........excellent. I also have to add that I think a psychological evalution should be a part of the process.
Most of the people here, are VERY down to earth about their implants. If EVERYONE was as down to earth about the decision, I wouldn't even be trying to offer a word of caution, about trying everything first.
As I've said before, everyone's different in regards to how they respond to hearing aids. I even know someone who couldn't even hear ENVIORMENTAL sounds with one of those old skool body worn aids (back in the '80s) She tried a digital aid, and she could hear some speech!
I think also a good idea for ambigious canidates would be an intensive hearing aid clinic. Like the audi would test the ambigious canidate on a whole range of hearing aids in the soundbooth.
Oh, and the debate over whether HAs are better or CI is better is very much a matter of personal experiance. Its just like the debate about ten years ago when digitals became popular. There were people who were hardcore digi fanatics, but then again there were a lot of folks who were still loving analogs!
 
Audiofuzzy said:
The many happy and excited posts made by many CI users here made me think - aren't we wasting time settling for HAs when better and better CI is available.
Sure it requires surgery but the quality of hearing is without hesistation so much better.
So why still settle for HAs?

Fuzzy
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Convience.

CI- Surgery, Metal on the skull, shallow valley behind the ear, anything magnetic will go on your head, probably have to have something hanging on your clothes such like FM or the battery, WAY expensive!!!

HA- No metal inside head, no surgery, just put the machine thingy behind the ear, install the mold on the ear. Sometimes it cause the ear wax problem, that's all really. Oh I forgot that it is cheaper than the CI. Much much much cheaper..
 
Negative title... :ugh3:

You should write "pros/cons between HA and CI" or "advantages/disadvantages between HA and CI" instead of "Aren't we wasting time with HAs"...
 
Liebling:-))) said:
Negative title... :ugh3:

You should write "pros/cons between HA and CI" or "advantages/disadvantages between HA and CI" instead of "Aren't we wasting time with HAs"...
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I agree with you on that one to post the pros and cons. Thre are a few type of cochlear implants. 1. Med-el, 2. Nucleus Freedom, 3. Baha implants, and 4. Bilateral implants is all I heard so far.
 
Liebling:-))) said:
Negative title... :ugh3:

You should write "pros/cons between HA and CI" or "advantages/disadvantages between HA and CI" instead of "Aren't we wasting time with HAs"...
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I absolutely agree with you on that! ...she's trying to force us to get a CI...:roll:
 
If the doctor or whomever connected to the world of CI's said, "It COULD work for you..........". The word, "could" is not an assurance that it will. The rest is largely (say, 90%) up to the implantee. The implantee's job is much greater than the doctor's and the audiologist's.
 
shel90 said:
I dont feel the same as you and I know many deaf people who feel the same as me about their HAs...they are happy with them. If u want to desire to hear better that is your own personal choice. Not everyone has the same desires as u.
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*nodding agreement*
 
Audiofuzzy said:
And no of course I am not being argumentative- I just find it as very interesting topic..

Fuzzy
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But you created a negative title...

If you find it interesting topic then do pros/cons but you didn't. Why?
 
Cheri said:
Hearing aids does not involves any surgery as cochlear implants does, there's a differences.
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I agree, but then the level of benefit is much different, too.

What if the signals to the hearing nerve, doesn't work how is the user allow to hear? Is it worth to go though all that for nothing? Is it worth for a re-implanted?
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that is certainly a risk, but from what I see a lot more people are successfully implanted than not.

No one can predict if the cochlear implant is gonna work for this person and not for the other person. We don't want to give people high expectations or high hopes that it's a guarantee device for everyone.
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Like I've said I was thinking mainly fo those who rather could be helped.

Fuzzy
 
PuyoPiyo said:
Convience.

CI- Surgery, Metal on the skull, shallow valley behind the ear, anything magnetic will go on your head, probably have to have something hanging on your clothes such like FM or the battery, WAY expensive!!!

HA- No metal inside head, no surgery, just put the machine thingy behind the ear, install the mold on the ear. Sometimes it cause the ear wax problem, that's all really. Oh I forgot that it is cheaper than the CI. Much much much cheaper..
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True, but like I've said hearing thru CI is nothing like thru HAs...

Fuzzy
 
Kaitin said:
When is "right away"? After failing newborn screen? After hearing loss is "severe" but before any HAs? Before knowing about the auditory nerve? Before explaining complications? Before education about CI and process? Before knowing risks of surgery? Before insurance?
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yeah, I would say - if SOME kind of assistive device is unavoidable- why not the best right away. yes the tests should determine who is the best candidate, the earlier the better. why spend years hearing so-so with HAs,
if that can be avoided, and spent hearing much much better rigth away?

Fuzzy
 
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