Re: amy- How much time? - Hal and /Amy

[Guest guest]

Hello Amy:

I seem to have missed the initial question somehow.

I'm a teacher who has used the CI for two years and used HA for 10 years

before that due to hearing loss caused by Menieres.

I teach high school, mostly seniors social studies.

Professional obligation: I wish I heard everything but I, like everyone,

miss stuff. Students need to figure out that they have something to learn from

people who are less than perfect. Our school houses the hearing impaired

program, altho I'm not part of that program, and part of its purpose is to

educate the general pop. about the value of dealing with people with

differences.

Having people like us as teachers is necessary for that to happen. Sure

some students, usually the ones not doing their homework, try to blame their

poor performance on the teacher--but they did the same thing before I had my

hearing loss. Most students laugh with me when I repeat what I think they

asked--usually it's " Can I go to the bathroom? " but I hear, " Why did Hitler

make

the same mistake that Napoleon did? "

Still, I wish it were easier.

Hal

[Guest guest]

Amy,

I'm adding Hal and 's names to the subject line because they are both

teachers who have cochlear implants. I think they will each give you some

insight into their own experiences. It's a vacation time right now so they may

not be reading but if they see their names, they will respond I'm sure.

I can briefly answer some of your questions.

Recovery is normally 7-10 days and with the small incision, they are doing

activations in some centers right at two weeks post surgery but your center can

best answer their procedure for you and I'm sure they will be honest about it.

You can share your concerns as you advocate for yourself.

You will hear something immediately at the activation. It's possible that you

will be amazed and go out the door hearing all those things you hope to hear,

but that doesn't happen to everyone and some people need a little time to get

good mappings. You will most likely find lip reading much easier, even with

children and definitely with adults. It's not going to sound like normal

hearing but it should be considerably better than the hearing aid. Everyone is

different so there is no way to predict what you can expect, but given the

alternative, we have a great deal to be grateful for because of this technology.

It's an unknown for you right now and a scary one but so many people who have

had the cochlear implant have been able to continue their jobs or start all over

again, going to college and onto wonderful careers. The CI brings them quality

of life.

I wish you the best and want you to know that we are here for you. It's natural

to have all these worries and fears. Let us help you thru them. It's going to

be fine and the professional obligation will be met. People also are much more

understanding than we sometimes realize as long as we explain what is going on.

It's a good time for you to educate them.

Alice

<I feel uneasy only because I do not know

how well I will do initially. Actually, I am okay with that part, it is just

there is a professional obligation I need to fulfill. If I struggle with

communication, am I fulfulling it?

Since my surgery is scheduled at the END of my vacation, I am

disappointed only because it would have been great to acclimate myself to a

different kind of hearing and to discover what my listening abilities and

limitations are and how to work with them BEFORE I go back to work.

Fortunately, the surgery is before my husband starts traveling again

with his job and he'll tend to the children and to me. That's a good thing.

-Amy>

[Guest guest]

Hal and others,

I had four questions:

How much time would one need to recuperate after surgery before

flying?

Is it possible to get 'turned on' two weeks post surgery?

How much time off from work is generally needed?

How much time before comprehension starts to kick in?

Questions three and four are my real concerns.

My surgery date is two weeks before school starts and I am a

non-classroom

teacher, there is much need to communicate with classroom teachers,

school

staff, parents and students. Coincidently, I work with students with

a hearing

loss, but now mine is much more severe than theirs. I need more

accomodations than my students!

I thought about taking a classroom position (deaf signing class)

since it

provides more structure, predictably and control of communication in

a

classroom. Not to mention complete access to communication. Although

that

was a definate bonus, I decided against it. For now. One thing at a

time.

My present job as an Itinerant means I visit a number of schools and

work in

various locations and with multitudes of people. Communication is

somewhat

spontaneous and usually occurs in the least desirable listening

areas. After

three months of working with a sudden loss in my better ear, the

thought of

repeating history and the reliving the high level of frustration is

excruciating.

This is why I was hoping for surgery and activation prior to the

start of school

so I have an idea of how I would hear and my new limitations.

So my other question was how did you handle your newly activation

with a

communicatively demanding career?

Thanks,

Amy

>

> -Amy

> Hello Amy:

> I seem to have missed the initial question somehow.

> I'm a teacher who has used the CI for two years and used HA for 10

years

> before that due to hearing loss caused by Menieres.

> I teach high school, mostly seniors social studies.

> Professional obligation: I wish I heard everything but I, like

everyone,

> miss stuff. Students need to figure out that they have something

to learn

from

> people who are less than perfect. Our school houses the hearing

impaired

> program, altho I'm not part of that program, and part of its

purpose is to

> educate the general pop. about the value of dealing with people

with

differences.

> Having people like us as teachers is necessary for that to happen.

Sure

> some students, usually the ones not doing their homework, try to

blame

their

> poor performance on the teacher--but they did the same thing

before I had

my

> hearing loss. Most students laugh with me when I repeat what I

think they

> asked--usually it's " Can I go to the bathroom? " but I hear, " Why

did Hitler

make

> the same mistake that Napoleon did? "

> Still, I wish it were easier.

>

> Hal

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have been waiting for those answers too- being my surgery is next Tues. this

is what I can tell you.

Most people are not hooked up until 4-6 weeks after surgery. However, I have

only known 1 person to be hooked up at the 3 week mark.

People vary on their ability to comprehend. But if you still have residual

hearing or just recently lost your hearing, your have better chances of being

able to understand apeech more quickly (no guarentees though).

I have known some people who were deaf since birth and learned sounds and speech

quickly too though. It just depends.

Are you sure you can not move up your surgery date. I was just screened

(evaulated for Ci on June 22nd and my surgery is July 13th. and my CI center is

really booked but they made special accom. because I need to be hooked up in

order to return to work Aug. 25th. I teach in a general public school (no

disabilities) and therefore there aren't any accom. they can make as far as job

goes. Good Luck! taryn

abcardsinc <abcardsinc@...> wrote:

Hal and others,

I had four questions:

How much time would one need to recuperate after surgery before

flying?

Is it possible to get 'turned on' two weeks post surgery?

How much time off from work is generally needed?

How much time before comprehension starts to kick in?

Questions three and four are my real concerns.

My surgery date is two weeks before school starts and I am a

non-classroom

teacher, there is much need to communicate with classroom teachers,

school

staff, parents and students. Coincidently, I work with students with

a hearing

loss, but now mine is much more severe than theirs. I need more

accomodations than my students!

I thought about taking a classroom position (deaf signing class)

since it

provides more structure, predictably and control of communication in

a

classroom. Not to mention complete access to communication. Although

that

was a definate bonus, I decided against it. For now. One thing at a

time.

My present job as an Itinerant means I visit a number of schools and

work in

various locations and with multitudes of people. Communication is

somewhat

spontaneous and usually occurs in the least desirable listening

areas. After

three months of working with a sudden loss in my better ear, the

thought of

repeating history and the reliving the high level of frustration is

excruciating.

This is why I was hoping for surgery and activation prior to the

start of school

so I have an idea of how I would hear and my new limitations.

So my other question was how did you handle your newly activation

with a

communicatively demanding career?

Thanks,

Amy

>

> -Amy

> Hello Amy:

> I seem to have missed the initial question somehow.

> I'm a teacher who has used the CI for two years and used HA for 10

years

> before that due to hearing loss caused by Menieres.

> I teach high school, mostly seniors social studies.

> Professional obligation: I wish I heard everything but I, like

everyone,

> miss stuff. Students need to figure out that they have something

to learn

from

> people who are less than perfect. Our school houses the hearing

impaired

> program, altho I'm not part of that program, and part of its

purpose is to

> educate the general pop. about the value of dealing with people

with

differences.

> Having people like us as teachers is necessary for that to happen.

Sure

> some students, usually the ones not doing their homework, try to

blame

their

> poor performance on the teacher--but they did the same thing

before I had

my

> hearing loss. Most students laugh with me when I repeat what I

think they

> asked--usually it's " Can I go to the bathroom? " but I hear, " Why

did Hitler

make

> the same mistake that Napoleon did? "

> Still, I wish it were easier.

>

> Hal

>

>

>