CI Orientation and Info

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Johnjoe1011

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Guys/gals,

I am deaf from the right side and 85% deaf from the left side. I became deaf late in my life when i was in my sophomore year high school. Like some 32 years ago... anyway. I use a digital hearing aid on the left side and it works pretty good. But later i have been going to problems understanding people etc.

On my last visit to the doctor we talked about the Cochlear Implant. Since i can hear a little bit on my right side he recommended to have the implant on the right side.

After reading this wonderful forum and many positive post regarding the CI I am seriously considering the CI. However, i am not very comfortable having a magnet on my under the skin of my skul. Not sure how to describe it. I don't like people staring at me because i have a bionic ear.

Also my activities are auto racing, boating and fishing i was wondering how a CI would impact on my hobbies and activities.

Thanks again for your opinion.

John
 
Hi,
Welcome to AllDeaf.
I'm the father of a child with CI, so I will not be able to give you firsthand info on it. There are plenty others that can - as you allready found out.

I can recommend the book "Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human" by Michael Chorost - 2006 (See here for more books) He has a lot of thoughts about the implant.

Regarding activities, one of the few problems with CI is scuba-diving BELOW 30m (I think that was a limit) so I guess you're OK for your stuff.

But relax and read what the real experts have to say. There's quite a few of them here.
 
Hi John,

Welcome, I'm glad you posted here :wave:

Your concerns are perfectly normal. I remember when I was first asked to consider the idea of a CI I too had some initially difficulty getting used to it. But now 3 months since my surgery I have no regrets so far!

The magnet isn't noticeable, there is just a slight bump in the skin from the outside and that's all.

This is what the internal part of one brand looks like to give you an idea:

sm_ImplantGloves.jpg


And the magnet part of it is this:

MRI_magnetout.jpg


I haven't noticed anyone staring at me any more than they did with hearing aids but that could be because I live in Australia and everyone knows what a CI is. The external speech processor looks like a hearing aid but with no mold (I have suddenly taken a big dislike to molds now!). Some people think that a CI is a bluetooth thingy :ugh3:

It does take time to get used to the new medium of sound and you need to be prepared to put in some patience and hard work. Not everyone has the same results so it's important to have a realistic expectation. Those who have had some experience of hearing (both normal hearing and with hearing aids) tend to do the best with it.

For me the benefits have been very positive. I have noticeably more energy now as my hearing had got a lot worse and I was tired every day trying to keep up. My speech has improved so I've been told and conversation is much easier generally to the point that my confidence has increased.

I think that as long as you don't go in the water too often the CI shouldn't impact on your activities. My CI the Freedom is certified water resistant, which means that splashes are fine. A friend of mine puts double sided medical tape on to secure her CI when she does physical activity and it works well for her. I'm not too sure about car racing though. The issue might be getting a helmet over your head but then you would have had the same issue with hearing aids?

Best wishes with whatever you decide. It's your personal choice. As other people have pointed out its possible to live a happy and satisfying life without sound as well so you have a number of choices.
 
I still ride my motorcycle and I got my CI in May of this year. Doesn't change much at all. I sometimes wear the processor (helmet holds it on) and sometimes not (helmet is tight and presses processor into head and after awhile it hurts)

There is really no reason to give up things you do. All my Ent/surgeon said when he heard I was riding my cycle was do you wear a helmet? :LOL: when I said yes. he said good. :)
 
I'm more concerned about protecting my head from blows these days, and G-forces and pressure does funny things with your implant.
I doubt you have the urge to go down plastic slides these days ;)... But seriously, dont. Static electricity=death of implant
Those security scanners stores have--make sure your processor doesn't go through them, lift it above your head. Otherwise your map will be wiped out (and that's very bad!) Weird looks? To the hell with them! Odds are, you will never see these people again.
 
fyborg said:
I'm more concerned about protecting my head from blows these days, and G-forces and pressure does funny things with your implant.
I doubt you have the urge to go down plastic slides these days ;)... But seriously, dont. Static electricity=death of implant
Those security scanners stores have--make sure your processor doesn't go through them, lift it above your head. Otherwise your map will be wiped out (and that's very bad!) Weird looks? To the hell with them! Odds are, you will never see these people again.
Click to expand...
OUr experiences with the CI of our daughter:
"Static electricity=death of implant"... not so. Have you ever tried to keep a child away from a slide.... not a nice experience.. Nowaday's I think that the processors can deal better with it. She's 4 now, has CI for the last 2 years. Never a problem.
"Security scanners"..... I don't recall taking them off. Thinking about it, digital camera's go through the really powerful scanners... and your pictures are still there. On the other hand... taking them off for 10 seconds is not a problem.
 
I get odd interference with the scanners, and I knew a boy who shorted out his implant by sliding down a plastic slide.
 
fyborg said:
I get odd interference with the scanners, and I knew a boy who shorted out his implant by sliding down a plastic slide.
Click to expand...
I stand corrected. Guess our daughter is lucky...

But "Otherwise your map will be wiped out (and that's very bad!)" is quite far away from "I get odd interference with the scanners".
But thanks for that feedback because I have no idea what she hears when going through these king of scanners. I can see she's not bothers AND I notice that she can hear me just as well.

By the way.. when static is building up, do you hear that on your CI?
 
Think it as a car radio and you're driving through a bad spot--that's kind of what it feels like.

I've noticed that the interfernce can be cumilative--kinda like say smoking, to use a bad analogy-- and does over time mess up the original programing. Sorry if my first comment did not make that clear.
 
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