Re: 13 year old with c-toma

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/28/2006 7:39:02 A.M. Central Standard Time, psmorris@... writes:

One thing that I'm worried about is sensory overload after surgery. it has been a few years since she has heard from that ear..

She will adapt! After 39 years of diminished hearing I finally agreed to doing something about it. My left ear had a 90% loss and over the years the reconstruction in the right ear ( post ctoma) had began to "crumble". Right ear loss was greater than 60% leaving me barely functional! And, I had been that way for years. I was scheduled for bone density testing in prep for a BAHA when I backed out and settled on an open ear aid. For me, this was a less radical approach, and offered the possibility of further improvements while I wait and use the aid as long as it will help. I received my aid and when the adjustments were made I left for home - via air - as my doc is in St Louis and I live in Houston. (He's been my doctor for 25 years and I won't part with him even though I no longer live in the city, I travel twice annually to see him) The first thing I noticed was how noisy the airport was! I couldn't believe it and ended up turning the aid off. Second was the plane! Oh my Gosh! I fly regularly for business and never noticed all the noise. Third, my CAR - what a rattle trap! It is a rather nice car, which I always thought, was fairly quiet! And my grandfather clock- I would about jump out of my skin every time it chimed. There were so many new noises! I talked with the audiologist, she said that my brain would filter out the "junk" and I wouldn't notice all of the noises in a few days. She was exactly right! Now, 8 months into wearing the thing, I don't notice the noises anymore. When I take my ear off to sleep, I really feel "deaf". I can't believe how much I was missing. The loss came over much time from reconstructive surgery in the 70's when my good ear functioned with only about a 20% loss down to a 65% loss. I knew I was having more trouble hearing but just didn't want anymore surgery. The aid has been wonderful for me - a new life of hearing. As far as sensory overload - I would advise staying away from the venues that generate overload naturally - concerts, arena events, autocross, etc. Give her brain time and it will take over and automatically and "turndown the junk noise". Good luck, happy hearing, and Happy New Year

Sandi

Lochner

[Guest guest]

Hi, My daughter is now 13.5. She had the prosthetic inserted three

years ago at age 10.5 It did not work for more than a few weeks. We

have made the choice to have her compensate with her " good ear " . This

has worked fairly well. She is beginning to play club volleyball and

seems to be able to cope well with any necessary hearing . Sallie

[Guest guest]

One thing that I'm worried about is sensory overload after surgery. it has been a few years since she has heard from that ear..

Don't worry. People are very adaptable. It's true that you become habituated to hearing loss and that you're "protected" somewhat from all that the noise out there that everyone else has to cope with. Getting your hearing back can be exhilirating and a little scary. You suddenly have to contend with multiple noises and sound everywhere. Things that you never suspected of making any sound are now clanging and plinking. It's a liitle overwhelming initially but you soon get used to it. If it's just too intrusive at first then you can always resort to stuffing your ears with cottonwool.

Phil

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