Re: I have to make a decision about implants

[Guest guest]

I'm an AB user, Leila. With my Clarion the battery charge life has dropped,

at almost a year, from 16 hours or a tad more to 15 hours, sometimes a tad

more, sometimes a tad less.

It also came with a body (shirt pocket, in my case) worn adapter that

accepts an AA cell, either rechargeable or not. I like to start the day

with a fresh charge so if the battery runs dry with an hour to go yet I

sometimes put on the adapter with a rechargeable AA cell in it rather than

go without sound or putting in a " regular " lithium cell. Actually, the bte

is much lighter that way without the weight of the battery. The NIMH cell

charge lasts about the same as the lithium battery. And those cells are " a

dime a dozen " <g>.

I knew little about any of the implants when I chose. My surgeon and my

audie both shrugged their shoulders when asked about results. 'Toss-up

according to them.

Now, of course, I'm very excited about the emergence of the Harmony with 120

frequency bands. Many of the trial reports have been so enthusiastic.

I don't currently hear music at all as well as so many Cochlear users have

mentioned. I hope that changes with the Harmony.

I'm sure you'll be delighted with either brand.

Virg, 100 miles inland from , in Oregon City where it hasn't been

flooding like it did in Newport <g>.

>I hear so many people talk about the nucleus but not as many about adv >

bionics.

> any AB people out there? If so, I am concerned how much battery life you

> get, cn you slip in

> an alkaline? or another HA battery that is charged. Of course there is

no >way for you to

> compare the music qualities.

Leila

[Guest guest]

Leila,

There are some groups on where the proportion of

Clarion/AB:NUCLEUS people seems reversed from your experience.

If you want a lot more answers to your Clarion/AB battery inquiries

you might shoot them a question. But don't leave . Hopefully

there's helpful info here also.

I've seen AB keychain wallets that carry 1 or 2 extra batteries.

I think most people with the Auria can get through an entire day with

just one battery swap, though I've heard some who've tested the new

Harmony BTE report getting 20 hours from each, which is more than a

waking day for most people. I'm sure mileage will vary depending

upon personal map settings and environment noise.

The upcoming Harmony is supposed to improve music appreciation with a

CI, at least according to the test subjects' comparison to the Auria

BTE, which was supposed to improve music over previous generation

BTEs. There isn't much published research about music with CI's yet

though.

Whatever you choose will be a miracle for your life.

Godspeed in your decision making process.

Steve

>

> I have my appts set up, the surgeon is going to meet with me one

more time to talk about

> the implants. I am an addiction/psyc nurse having my surgery done

at MEEI, most likely in

> jan. have to be accepted first. I am not worried as I am to have

the cat scan etc the 22nd.

> I know either choice is going to be OK. It is all how my body

relates. It is hard to make a

> decision. I hear so many people talk about the nucleus but not as

many about adv bionics.

> any AB people out there? If so, I am concerned how much battery

life you get, cn you slip in

> an alkaline? or another HA battery that is charged. Of course

there is no way for you to

> compare the music

qualities. Leila

>

[Guest guest]

On Nov 15, 2006, at 12:55 AM, Virg wrote:

> Thank you, does AB give replacements when new technology is

> invented, like nucleus????? Leila

[Guest guest]

On Nov 15, 2006, at 2:35 AM, Steve Fuchs wrote:

Thank you Steve.

> Leila

[Guest guest]

Please write your post at the top of the email to make easier reading for

those of us who are blind. Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Yes, all mfg's function pretty similarly in regard to their customers.

Not everything is free. Nucleus just recently released a BTE upgrade

for older users, but it required trade-ins and the cost depended upon

how long the trade-in was used.

AB is about to release a new BTE that will run their new software and

it too has a staggered upgrade price.

Usually folks implanted within the 6 or 12 months prior to a release

like this are offered a free upgrade option, and financing plans are

made available to make expensive technologies obtainable.

This was true for both Nucleus and AB upgrades mentioned above.

I don't recall a MedEl upgrade of external pieces, but small

accessories usually don't get a lot of attention, so no doubt they had

some of those. Just not their BTE - at least in the USA. They have

newer devices in Europe that are not here yet.

Steve

>

> > Thank you, does AB give replacements when new technology is

> > invented, like nucleus????? Leila

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In what universe, Steve?? :-) My son had his second implant

(bilateral) surgery on 3/4/05. One week later, on 3/11/05 to be

exact, Cochlear announced that the Freedom (internal) was FDA

approved, and would be shipping for surgeries on about 4/4/05. Dang!

We got free NADA, NOTHING, NITCHEVO! While we did get a " free "

Freedom BTE for his newer ear, this was because chose to not get two

3G BTEs (as part of the 2 processor standard package at our clinic)

but to get one 3G and a certificate for a future processor instead.

We did not get any kind of special offer. We did not get a specially

good trade-in deal on his existing processors either. (But if we are

due something free, I hope someone reads this message and sends it to us!)

BUT, on the bright side, I was able to get our insurance to pay for a

Freedom processor for his older ear in full, so he'll get to keep the

3G as a back-up and we won't be trading anything in.

(On the other bright side, for his first surgery, was one of

the first kids to get the Nucleus 24 Contour when it was FDA approved

just a week or so before, so we've had it both ways.)

Lydia

Mom of , Nucleus bilateral, 1/01 and 3/05

>

> ...

>

> Usually folks implanted within the 6 or 12 months prior to a release

> like this are offered a free upgrade option, and financing plans are

> made available to make expensive technologies obtainable.

> This was true for both Nucleus and AB upgrades mentioned above.

[Guest guest]

tell me about newer devices that are not here yet. When there is a

cost to upgrade, like how much? the processors are 22K from what I

hear.

is it like buying a car???????

Thanks, leila

On Nov 15, 2006, at 4:04 PM, Steve Fuchs wrote:

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[Guest guest]

Hi Leila,

You can relax now. The whole device, including internal is in the

$20K-$30K range. The insurance pays for that and that includes

usually 2 processors, so you are set for a while. Manufacturer's

warranty is for 3 years on the external processors.

When you upgrade, it can cost on the order of $3000 to $4000 if you

trade in an old processor. If you can get your insurance to pay, it

won't cost you anything.

Lydia

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi Leila

I just wanted to let you know that I had my C.I. surgery done at Mass

Eye and Ear on the 1st of Nov06.If you have any questions concerning the

whole experience please just email me and I will be more than happy to

help you .Who is your doctor ?and how far on in the slection process

have you got ?

I went through the same problem that you are having in trying to make up

my mind as to what CI to get ,in the end I went for AB ,I just taught

that it was tha most advanced and it had some features that I liked

..What ever CI you get they all come from very good companies

I will be activated on the 1 st of Dec .

Please contact me at my personal email address

all the best Dermot

>

> I have my appts set up, the surgeon is going to meet with me one more

time to talk about

> the implants. I am an addiction/psyc nurse having my surgery done at

MEEI, most likely in

> jan. have to be accepted first. I am not worried as I am to have the

cat scan etc the 22nd.

> I know either choice is going to be OK. It is all how my body relates.

It is hard to make a

> decision. I hear so many people talk about the nucleus but not as many

about adv bionics.

> any AB people out there? If so, I am concerned how much battery life

you get, cn you slip in

> an alkaline? or another HA battery that is charged. Of course there is

no way for you to

> compare the music qualities. Leila

>