Problems with cochlear implant

Isn't that why it is discussed with audiologist in one's first visit at the start of the Cochlear Implant discussion re: individual suitability?

Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
 
Wow...

I haven't had even one of these implants, and I have wondered what they would be like if I could get them. (Right now out of my financial range.) Seems to be mixed reviews and some weird side effects...but for the most part they sound worth the effort.
 
Yes like everything else there are pluses and minuses and yes there are risks like most every thing else. You can step off a curb and get hit by a car so stuff happens. I had my first CI not quite a year ago and am due for my second one in a couple of months. I'm looking forward to it. I wore HA's for about 50 years and if I was not impressed with CI I surly would not get another one. I have been one of the lucky ones, not all folks are as lucky as I am. Every one is different and you pays your money and takes your chances. I have seen one failure and many with successes, all positive, some more so than others. Depends on what one expects and how much patiences one has I guess. It does not happen or improve over night but steadily improves or seems to improve over time and I'm told up to 5 years. I'm currently being studied in some research projects at the university. Guess one could say Guinea pig? Interesting and I'm learning things as well. As to risks, one of your biggest risks is getting in a car and going out in traffic. Maybe I should say getting out of bed in the morning? :)
 
Ramprat is correct. We take risk's every single day. It all depends on what risk you are willing to take. Nothing in life is ever guaranteed. The success of a implant greatly depends on the person being implanted. Like ramprat I am having superb success with my implant. My audi told me it can take a long time for some people to achieve what I have in 4 months with my implant. It surely is not a device suited for every individual. Hence having to be evaluated to determine if a person is a canidate or not.
 
Beowulf said:
I cannot quite put my finger on the why, but I agree with the bolded, even though many people here insist it works best with toddlers. I feel I am at the point where I will no longer research negative effects of CI's; rather, I will personally talk with the CI users who fit my age and personality type and find out how they succeeded. I talked with a couple CI users who bemoaned their feelings of vertigo after receiving their implants, but I suspect it was pre-existing conditions: they were finicky types of guys so I will practically disregard their experiences. I look at the people who have the CI's. Tomorrow I will meet a successful deaf stockbroker from Chicago: I talked with him on VP and he was implanted four years ago. He is sharp as a tack and made it clear it was his determination to succeed that let him overcome the obstacles. I will find out exactly what obstacles they were. I am not poo-pooing CI's. I just think one needs the right stuff to make it work.
Click to expand...

Beo,

Because a late deafened person has heard for most of their lives (usually, and depending on your idea of the term "late-deafened". To ME, that means someone who has lost their hearing in their 20s or later)... Anyway, the person has the ability to recall what certain things sound like and therefore, perhaps, the training is easier once the person is implanted. In a pre-lingually deaf child, they have to be TAUGHT what sounds mean; whereas a late deafened indvidual already has that ingrained.

Does that make sense?
 
Beowulf said:
It is nice finding this post immdiately upon my return from my out-of-town trip. :lol:
To answer your questions require a rather lengthy response, so I will spare you the agony, hah. You had to be there with me when I was being interviewed by the doctor, two interns, and an audiologist to see that no mention of negative aspects of acquiring a CI was made. Their eyes shone like those of evangelists as they told me the benefits, and I felt like raising my arms and crying Hallelujah etcetera. But then, this was in the early stage, and I have more follow-ups to go through, and now I am loaded for bear, lol.
This morning I had a long conversation with a stockbroker from Chicago, and he was implanted four years ago. He was my age, very articulate, and knew Sign Language. I asked him if the CI's made any difference n his life, and he looked me squarely in my eyes and said "Yes and no." I will not get into the details for his statement, but I came away with a much better understanding of the CI's potential, limited though it may be. I will meet more people with the CI experience, but I am realizing that it is solely dependent on the individual's capability to meet problems head on and improvise ways of overcoming them. 'Nuff said.
I still am not decided on getting CI's and I don't care what the rest of the world thinks.
Click to expand...

:gpost: I wish more people had your attitude!

The point here, I think, is to have realistic expectations of the device. I wish you well no matter what you decide! :)
 
Sound worth the effort to me...

I am what is apparently a "late-deafness" person. I started noticing hearing problems in my early to mid 30s. I just turned 42 in Oct. and I am now called "legally" deaf...(as opposed to what? "illegally" deaf? LOL :dunno2:) While my ear drums are intact no sound gets to them because all the little hearing hairs in my ears have died. I can not hear without some sort of aid and only then if I can crank the volume up on the device and the tip goes well into my ear(s). I am curious, what is the average cost of an implant and "installation" fees? And, how would someone go about getting help to get implants?
 
Mine was $45,000 usd.. but with insurance its $1,400 so really not much different than the cost of a HA. only difference is I have to be programed ever so often which is pretty costly.. something to the tune of $150 a hr.. for 1 hour every 3months- 1 yr. Let it be known its not just a one shot deal and ur fixed. It is a constant process.
 
Daaaaaaaamn...I don't have insurance...not in the position to be able to afford insurance right now. And as far as I know, it is still policy with such companies not to cover pre-existing conditions or insure someone with pre-existing conditions. *sigh* Looks like I'm back to square one at this point. Thanks for the info Deaffy!
 
Now I'm really confused. I'm late deafend. It's only been 6months. It happened over night. But, I have a terrible loud noise in my brain and or ears that's driving me crazy and it's getting worse. I say brain because I'm deaf due to an illness that caused a couple seizures which caused brain swelling. At first wouldn't consider CI because I'm frightened my brain might be affected. But, I just started to consider CI because the noise makes me feel like my brains going to blow. See specialist 12/13/2011. I don't know what to do. HELP!!!!!!
 
Angle1989 said:
Now I'm really confused. I'm late deafend. It's only been 6months. It happened over night. But, I have a terrible loud noise in my brain and or ears that's driving me crazy and it's getting worse. I say brain because I'm deaf due to an illness that caused a couple seizures which caused brain swelling. At first wouldn't consider CI because I'm frightened my brain might be affected. But, I just started to consider CI because the noise makes me feel like my brains going to blow. See specialist 12/13/2011. I don't know what to do. HELP!!!!!!
Click to expand...

It is up to you, Angle1989.
Do you want to restore your hearing? If you do, then get a CI or specialized Hearing Aid. Also with the CI you don't return to normal hearing levels. You only get like 20-30 channels (that I've read) out of the 100+ possible with normal hearing. You also have to go in for sound re-mapping on an every now and then basis. I don't have a CI so I can't tell you how it feels like, you would be better off asking someone who was later deafened and got one. Keep in mind that implants run several thousands, in the double digits.

If you want to live with it, (the cheaper, health-safe option) then pick up a sign language and drop your speaking friends, and meet deaf people who communicate with sign language and writing/typing.
 
Angle1989: I am bilateral late deafened since December 20, 2006. Unlike you- didn't have the various problems you described. Just silence.The operation was July 12, 2007-Sunnybrook/Toronto.

You should raise every point in your above comment with the specialist who should be able to answer your questions re suitability- Cochlear Implant.

Much success on December 13, 2011.

Implanted A B Harmony activated Aug/07
 
Angle1989 said:
I just started to consider CI because the noise makes me feel like my brains going to blow. See specialist 12/13/2011. I don't know what to do. HELP!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Not sure if I am understanding you correctly but are you thinking the CI is going to help with the noise in your head?
 
Thats what i thought so. It did not work for my hub which was why he got a CI in the first place. noise in head is like tinnius. i believe so.
 
Me too I think CI doesn't stop the sounds because it's not real sound, it's something related in the brain. That's how tinnitus is made.
Too complicated for me to know the answer how it works.
 
Sometimes, doctors recommend CIs for people with Menieres. Whether it really helps vertigo and other symptoms of Menieres, I have no idea.

I'm blissfully unaware of the whole scene and I intend to stay that way.:P
 
Angle1989 said:
Now I'm really confused. I'm late deafend. It's only been 6months. It happened over night. But, I have a terrible loud noise in my brain and or ears that's driving me crazy and it's getting worse. I say brain because I'm deaf due to an illness that caused a couple seizures which caused brain swelling. At first wouldn't consider CI because I'm frightened my brain might be affected. But, I just started to consider CI because the noise makes me feel like my brains going to blow. See specialist 12/13/2011. I don't know what to do. HELP!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Wait until you see your specialist and see what he/she says. CI's do not work for everyone.

I ain't no neurologist, but, I am pretty sure that if your inner ear & cochlea are unaffected, a CI most likely will not help, since it stimulates the cochlea only. If the damage is between the cochlea and your brain, an implant or hearing aid is not going to help much.

Again, wait until you see your neurologist before worrying about CI's.
 
Thanks again. When I finally see the specialist I'll be prepared with all this information you have supplied. I just started thinking about CI since I am totally deaf. But, I heard from many that the a CI have helped greatly with the noise. Have to wait and see......
 
Angle1989 said:
Thanks again. When I finally see the specialist I'll be prepared with all this information you have supplied. I just started thinking about CI since I am totally deaf. But, I heard from many that the a CI have helped greatly with the noise. Have to wait and see......
Click to expand...

If the problem originates in your brain... I have a hard time seeing CI's will help.
 
Hopefully Angle1989 gets all the answers of her specific condition from the specialist and can "go from there" which course best for her in the circumstance.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top