New member introduction and question...

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am a new member of this group, but not to the implant. I was

implanted on January 2, 1997 and have done very well with mine.

Minor problems and some what of a long term " learning to hear again "

but all in all its been a blessing to me.

My question is this, when I got my implant I was told that I was to

avoid static electricity at all costs---that it could short out the

internal electrodes and possibly cause me to have to have a new

implant put in. Now I do the laundry all the time and always have a

problem with static electricity so generally I hold on to something

metal at the same time I am folding clothes, removing them from the

dryer, etc...What I am asking is has anyone else learned a way to

deal with this? I do not go around my house without shoes because I

know you can get zapped by door knobs and such. I realize that there

are some adjustments we have to make in order to protect our

implants, such as no MRI's and certain things, but this has created

an everyday worry for me and would like to know if anyone has any

information or experiences about this subject.

I apologize if this has been discussed before but I just have not had

time to read all the archives and just thought I would bring this up

with the colder weather coming on and static electricity season seems

to be perking up here in Oregon.

Thanks for any infomation you can give me, and glad to meet you all.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

First let me welcome you to CI Hear. Congratulations on your implant. I'm so

glad to read that you are pleased with it.

I went to the manufacturers sites to get your answers about static electricity

and the CI. Here is what I found at the Cochlear and Advanced Bionic's sites.

I was only able to find the statement that at Med-El that CI users should avoid

static elecricity. I hope a Med-El user can update us with this information from

their company.

Cochlear - Question 1:

Can static electricity cause damage to a cochlear implant?

Response (posted 3/21/2002):

All electronic devices can be damaged by static electricity, even a cochlear

implant.

Always remove your child`s speech processor before they play on plastic slides,

tubes and plastic ball pits. Items with large plastic or vinyl can be potential

static producers.

Cochlear has developed booklet called Static Electricity and Cochlear Implants,

which is included in the documentation package for all speech processors.

If you need an additional copy go to Request More Info form on our website.

Advanced Bionics:

What are the concerns regarding Electrostatic Discharge?

Static electricity is the accumulation of electrical charge. It is a natural

occurrence and can collect on almost any material including clothing, furniture,

pets and even people. Factors such as composition of the material (e.g. plastic

or metal), relative humidity and friction can affect the level of charge that

gets built up. When static accumulates, it has the potential for discharging by

transferring to other objects that are charged to different levels or are

neutral. This transfer always follows the path of least resistance and results

in what is known as electrostatic discharge. Static Electricity has the

potential of damaging the electrical components of a cochlear implant system.

The CLARION has some built in anti-static safety measures, but nevertheless care

should be taken. If static electricity is present, patients should touch

something conductive (e.g. a metal object) prior to handling the external

equipment or before their cochlear implant system contacts another person or

object. Children should remove their headpiece and speech processor before

engaging in activities that commonly create static electricity, such as playing

on plastic play equipment.

My personal experience is that I have never been affected by static electricity

when washing clothes. I use fabric softner and/or dryer sheets with every load

and have done so since I had the implant. I was implanted in 1999.

Alice

-- New member introduction and question...

> Sent: 27 Oct 2004 04:45:49

>

> Hi,

> I am a new member of this group, but not to the implant.  I was

> implanted on January 2, 1997 and have done very well with mine.  

> Minor problems and some what of a long term " learning to hear again "

> but all in all its been a blessing to me.  

> My question is this, when I got my implant I was told that I was to

> avoid static electricity at all costs---that it could short out the

> internal electrodes and possibly cause me to have to have a new

> implant put in.  Now I do the laundry all the time and always have a

> problem with static electricity so generally I hold on to something

> metal at the same time I am folding clothes, removing them from the

> dryer, etc...What I am asking is has anyone else learned a way to

> deal with this?  I do not go around my house without shoes because I

> know you can get zapped by door knobs and such.  I realize that there

> are some adjustments we have to make in order to protect our

> implants, such as no MRI's and certain things, but this has created

> an everyday worry for me and would like to know if anyone has any

> information or experiences about this subject.

> I apologize if this has been discussed before but I just have not had

> time to read all the archives and just thought I would bring this up

> with the colder weather coming on and static electricity season seems

> to be perking up here in Oregon.

> Thanks for any infomation you can give me, and glad to meet you all.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

My2 yr old daughter was just activated yesterday with her Med-El

device.

When we asked the audie about static charges, playground equioment,

ect...she told me that the " old school " thought was to remove the CI

equipment before the child played on the equipment. I guess that

just seemed inconvenient & then children miss out on all of the

verbal interaction going on. Now they say, use common sense, but it

is OK to leave it on. Med-El has a function that should shut down

the processor automatically before a static charge could erase a

MAPping program. In case it ever did happen though, we have 2

processors, so we would send the " broken " one in to have the MAP re-

installed & use the back up processor in its place.

They did tell us not to change the batteries in front of a computer

though......

Regards,

Debby

DD; Lindsi

Med El on 9/23/04

Turn On 10/26/04

[Guest guest]

Hi Debby,

I occaisionally pop into this e-mail list, but am on several others.

I like the way your implant center addressed the issue. But I am

curious - why shouldn't you change the batteries in front of a

computer??? I don't have the same device, but I change my batteries

in front of a computer all the time and never thought anything of it.

B

[Guest guest]

I cannot use anti-cling products on my clothes. From time I encounter static

electricity on my laundry and have had no problems with CI.

Re: New member introduction and question...

>

>

> My2 yr old daughter was just activated yesterday with her Med-El

> device.

>

> When we asked the audie about static charges, playground equioment,

> ect...she told me that the " old school " thought was to remove the CI

> equipment before the child played on the equipment. I guess that

> just seemed inconvenient & then children miss out on all of the

> verbal interaction going on. Now they say, use common sense, but it

> is OK to leave it on. Med-El has a function that should shut down

> the processor automatically before a static charge could erase a

> MAPping program. In case it ever did happen though, we have 2

> processors, so we would send the " broken " one in to have the MAP re-

> installed & use the back up processor in its place.

>

> They did tell us not to change the batteries in front of a computer

> though......

>

> Regards,

> Debby

> DD; Lindsi

> Med El on 9/23/04

> Turn On 10/26/04

>

>

>

>

>

>

>