Which ear?

[Guest guest]

Now that my implant surgery is booked I would like some input into which

ear to have implanted . I would like to have my right ear implanted for a number

of reasons. 1)I am the primary driver & it would enable me to pick up

conversation from my passenger. 2)My Service Dog is on my left so she has that

covered for me.3). My power wheelchair is right hand drive & I have better use

of that hand for putting on my CI. 4) When I did use a HA I was successful with

that side while the left ear has always caused problems & I never really

benefited from a HA on that side . 5) the way our house is laid out more sound

comes at me from the right & people usually sit on my right although I can move

my wheelchair . ( Mentor stays on my left.) . The only thing that has been

mentioned by my audie & my surgeon is that my left ear was the last to receive

any sound so it may be the better ear to implant. I have a little residual

hearing on that side but it is not improved by using a HA . When I was assessed

last year I was wearing a HA on the left & was told it wasn't doing me any good

which I agreed with . I had it for about a year before I went to be assessed for

the CI as I knew they would want to know if I had tried a HA & it was a high

powered BTE.I lost my hearing in 1984 for your thoughts & suggestions as well as

your experiences would be most helpful. I see Kim, my audie & Dr. Parnes, my

surgeon on June 16th prior To my surgery on June 21st . My husband thinks if the

right side was implanted I couldn't lie on that side although I usually sleep on

my back on a special mattress.

I know that Pam , who I met in London & who has been a great support,

says her ear gets sore sometimes so she has a longer cord & wears it on the

opposite ear to give her implanted side a rest . I don't think that is possible

with the Clarion HiRes & Auria ??

Thanks for your input.

Sheila & Mentor

[Guest guest]

Sheila,

This is a hard question for us as it's really a personal choice. Given your

other issues, you probably need to weigh what is going to work the easiest for

you. I don't think you'll go wrong making your decision this way.

Alice

[Guest guest]

Both my ears were had the same level of hearing loss. I chose my right ear

because I like to drive and would prefer to hear the passenger, and I am right

handed. The reasons don't necessarily have to make sense! LOL I heard that

there were studies that suggest that the left side of the brain has more to do

with speech comprehension but I have no idea of any other details.

In a message dated 3/11/2006 6:58:47 PM Eastern Standard Time,

suzimq@... writes:

If the doctor feels one ear would

be better to implant medically I'd go with that one, but if not how do

you decide?