Re: Advanced Bionics or Nuccleus freedom

[Guest guest]

I do not think I was aggressive; if I came across that way I

appologize. AB users were being accused and then a post from

ANOTHER forum was being used as the reason why AB users are being

pounced on.

This forum is not showing to be fair and balanced.

Your comments are getting too personal . I am not going to

tolerate someone comparing me to people that appear on Jerry

Springer.

GROW UP!

Kim B

Advanced Bionics CI

>

> Kim,

> You said " My post were not showing up last night so I assumed

that I wsa

> one

> moderator status once again. ___I never know when I get placed on

it___;

> and when a post takes over an hour to appear I make that

assumption. "

>

> Doesnt that tell you something? You allow yourself to become

aggressive

> and the list is not the place to let this happen. Make an

appearance on the

> Jerry Springer show instead. As I said before, people make

mistakes, dont

> take it personal. You dont like being criticized...again, it

works both

> ways. Take the high road.

>

> *---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

> Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know

what you are

> talking about.

> & Dreamer Doll (Guide Dawggie)

> Newport, Oregon

> N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

> rclark0276@...

> http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

>

[Guest guest]

Whoa, I must have missed something. I had no idea that anyone would

think anything and start a brand war???

Just to clarify:

When we started the process of our toddler's evaluation, I had received

the different companies packets and read them before meeting with the

audiologist/CI specialist at the CI Center. I went with the desire to

go with Cochlear cuz of the water resistance issue. When that came up

when talking to her, she said that both Cochlear and AB were good and

pretty much the same, just that the battery options were different. She

said that AB also had the water resistance but that they hadn't really

advertised that in their packets.

She wasn't trying to persuade us to go with one or the other. She

wouldn't recommend one or the other because she said it was up to us.

I just wanted to make sure I was fully aware of the music ability of

people with both brands. I didn't think that there were many Cochlear

brand implantees enjoying or really 'getting' music because I'm hearing

it more from the AB implantees. And since I really want to have music

be a bigger part of our son's and my lives, I wanted to make sure I got

the brand that was most likely to help with that. I don't want to just

enjoy it, I want to actually 'get' it and be able to learn how to play

the piano and sing in a choir. But so far it sounds like there are at

least a few Cochlear implantees who have been able to be sucessful with

music such as who is taking voice lessons.

Sheree

> >

> > This whole thread started when someone who was doing her research

> shared on

> > the forum that she was contacted by an AB person involved in the

> 120 trials.

> > Based on what I read, many things that this person told her about

> the

> > Nucleus/Cochlear were not true....that is how the bashing started.

> >

> >

> >

> > In a message dated 7/12/2006 6:07:54 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> pkt52@

> > writes:

> > Yikes..... when I first joined here I was slapped on the wrist for

> showing my

> > satisfaction with AB....... and you stated that this site was not

> biased???

> > This is not true. CIHEAR has become a Nucleus site and this

> concerns me. I

> > do not understand the bashing???? I have been trying to tie my

> fingers up

> > from posting a response regarding this defensiveness but the

> daggers flying

> > on

> > keyboards is getting pretty sad....

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Ok this is the posting I was trying to reply to with regards to the

water resistance issue. She seemed to believe that only Cochlear

had the water resistance stuff but since I've been told by our

audiologist that AB also has the water resistance stuff. I wanted

to make sure that she didn't feel limited to Cochlear based on the

water issue. She seems to want AB but thinks that she's limited to

Cochlear because of the water issue.

Sheree

>

> Kim,

> Now I am confused because I thought this was the original post....

> Were you " this wonderful person? "

> " Hi everyone

> The other day I told you about my scheduled surgery

> and that I chose the nucleus freedom implant. I did

> like the AB better in terms of design and also the

> company's presentation. I chose the freedom because

> for the water repellant issue and Forum - where most

> of you appears to use a nucleus. I received this mail

> from a wonderful person who told me she had talked a

> few persons who had both a nucleus and, took part in

> the trial for the AB 120, and they said that the AB

> was much better in clarity. She also told me that she

> had spoken to many AB implanters who only had good

> things to say about the comany.Moreoever, AB offers

> FREE upgrades whereas Nucleus does not -

> SO now I am in total confusion. Am I choosing the best

> with Nuleus Freedom? Should I go for AB after all?

> HOW do you choose?? Both my doctor and the audie

> seemed to have a slight preference towards nucleus

> freedom, although the audie said that she cannot

> recommend one brand for the other. How did all of you

> people choose??

> Now I am lingering towards changing my order.....

> And, moreover, how important has the

> water-resistant/sweat proof element been to you? Have

> there been days where you have been thinking, thank

> God that I chose the freedom due to the water proof

> issue? I have small kids and we are kind of active -

> like to play with water, go in a boat and so on..

> I thought I had made the perfect choice - now I am not

> so sure!! Any advice? Anyone there with the AB? or

> with both? Grateful for any comments!! Tine

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sheree,

I do not believe that there are fewer Nucleus implantees who are pleased with

how music sounds. Perhaps it is just that they take it for granted because they

expected it and have lived with it longer.

From what I have been reading on the forums this is newer to AB users since they

came out with the HiRes so the people who now have the HiRes, can now see a big

difference and they are very pleased with it.

I was brought up with music. I played the clarinet amongst other instruments

for many years and was first chair in my very large HS orchestra. I even played

in a dance band for a while. When I wore HAs, I hated being in a room where

there was music playing. The HAs distorted the sound so badly that I avoided

music completely. Then after receiving my first implant, I was amazed how

beautiful it sounded once again.

As far as the water resistance is concerned, perhaps only Cochlear has

advertised it may be because so far, only they have received the FDA approval

for water resistance.

Since this has become an issue, I really do believe that the other implant

companies will follow suit and go in for the approvals to be able to make that

claim and advertise it.

As for the battery options, it was just announced that the new Freedom has

received FDA approval to offer both throw aways and rechargeables. Some people

like the rechargeables while others prefer throw aways. I like the fact that my

throw aways give me at least Sixty (60) hours of use for both of my implants so

I can forget about having to change them as often as those who have other

implants. This is a lifestyle choice that I made when I was first trying to

decide which implant to get and since I like that so much, when I decided to

have a 2nd implant, I knew right away which one I wanted.

Aren't we lucky that we have so many choices.

Happy Hearing!

Carol

Boca Raton, FL

N24C 3G left ear -12/11/01

N Freedom- right ear- implanted 3/01/06 activated 4/6/06

Re: Advanced Bionics or Nuccleus freedom

Whoa, I must have missed something. I had no idea that anyone would

think anything and start a brand war???

Just to clarify:

When we started the process of our toddler's evaluation, I had received

the different companies packets and read them before meeting with the

audiologist/CI specialist at the CI Center. I went with the desire to

go with Cochlear cuz of the water resistance issue. When that came up

when talking to her, she said that both Cochlear and AB were good and

pretty much the same, just that the battery options were different. She

said that AB also had the water resistance but that they hadn't really

advertised that in their packets.

She wasn't trying to persuade us to go with one or the other. She

wouldn't recommend one or the other because she said it was up to us.

I just wanted to make sure I was fully aware of the music ability of

people with both brands. I didn't think that there were many Cochlear

brand implantees enjoying or really 'getting' music because I'm hearing

it more from the AB implantees. And since I really want to have music

be a bigger part of our son's and my lives, I wanted to make sure I got

the brand that was most likely to help with that. I don't want to just

enjoy it, I want to actually 'get' it and be able to learn how to play

the piano and sing in a choir. But so far it sounds like there are at

least a few Cochlear implantees who have been able to be sucessful with

music such as who is taking voice lessons.

Sheree

> >

> > This whole thread started when someone who was doing her research

> shared on

> > the forum that she was contacted by an AB person involved in the

> 120 trials.

> > Based on what I read, many things that this person told her about

> the

> > Nucleus/Cochlear were not true....that is how the bashing started.

> >

> >

> >

> > In a message dated 7/12/2006 6:07:54 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> pkt52@

> > writes:

> > Yikes..... when I first joined here I was slapped on the wrist for

> showing my

> > satisfaction with AB....... and you stated that this site was not

> biased???

> > This is not true. CIHEAR has become a Nucleus site and this

> concerns me. I

> > do not understand the bashing???? I have been trying to tie my

> fingers up

> > from posting a response regarding this defensiveness but the

> daggers flying

> > on

> > keyboards is getting pretty sad....

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Carol,

You said " Perhaps it is just that they take it for granted because they

expected it and have lived with it longer. "

Think you are right. I remember back in 2001, I tried toi listen to a

Denver cd. Ewwwww! But after the next mapping, I tried him again and

found him to sound normal once again. And no, I did not have music in my

thinking when I got mapped, it just happened. Its interesting because at

that time, Cochlear was not focused on music appreciation yet many of us

apprecaited music jsut the same. Matter of fact, this was about the time of

the CIAI convention in Minneapolis. I was walking my guide dog that Friday

evening and came across a street band on the corner. I was literally blown

away by that music. I was maybe 15 feet away and the percussion, well I

could not only hear it but felt it and it was awesome. If I was still

wearing HAs, I would have turned them off.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back

in your pocket.

& Dreamer Doll (Guide Dawggie)

Newport, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rclark0276@...

http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

[Guest guest]

May I suggest changing cars is not a good comparison to a cochlear

implant. If you find a car more to your liking than the car you are driving

just go to your car dealership and drive a new model out of the lot. Once

you choose a brand and get a cochlear implant operation it is impossible to

change brands without a new operation. This is not cost effective.

For this reason, there is a great deal of hostility on this list when

people talk about different brands. (Hey look what I missed!)

I hear and appreciate music with my 3G, and hopefully with my Freedom

when I'm activated on the 24th. Let's put things in perspective. What is

really important? 1 Being able to understand speech 2 being able to conduct

conversations with your family and friends 3 Being able to conduct

conversation in a noisy setting such as a restaurant 4 Being able to

understand the radio or television 5 being able to conduct telephone calls

with strangers successfully. If you can accomplish these challenges,

listening to music will be a happy bonus with any of the three implants.

Larry

Re: Advanced Bionics or Nuccleus freedom

> - wow, I like your idea about working together. All of us

> want to have cochlear implants. Right? If yes, why complain or

> whine about it. We all are on the same boat because we want

> cochlear implants and be able to hear better. My friend gave me an

> example that it is like pick the different brand of cars - ford,

> chev, honda, etc. and it is same idea with cochlear implant. We do

> not complain or whine about cars and separate other people who drove

> certain of cars. We are all on the same boat and we should HELP

> each others no matter what. Smile

>

>

>

>

>>

>> Pam,

>> Its humanly impossible to be unbiased. That said, we can

> accept the

>> differences among us. Neither AB user nor Cochlear user is exempt

> from

>> being overly proud of its choice. That does not excuse the

> defensiveness,

>> yet, neither brand can deny its there. But if one is truly

> certain of the

>> choice made, why become defensive at all? Its not necessary.

>>

>> And, why is it necessary to jump on this every time there is

> some

>> dissent? I see this phenomena on almost every list I am or have

> been on. I

>> call it editorializing. Its a waste of bandwidth. Each list has

> an owner

>> and at least one moderator. Let them do their jobs. Take it for

> granted,

>> this list is no different, and will continue to enjoy the bumps

> along the

>> way. It also will see smooth sailing as well.

>>

>> " Why can't we be more supportive of both companies and work

> together? "

>>

>> We can, we do, and we will.

>>

>> *---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

>> I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it...

>> mainly because it was just a sew-sew job.

>> & Dreamer Doll (Guide Dawggie)

>> Newport, Oregon

>> N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

>> rclark0276@...

>> http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

>>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharee, Even though I grew up with progressive hearing loss from birth,

I became fairly accomplished on the violin, which I could hear better than

speech. I have played in honor orchestras, studied at Interlocken National

Music camp, held the position of concertmistress in my high school

orchestra, earned a degree in Music Performance on the Violin in college,

occupying the second chair 1st violin position the most of the way through

(chair under concertmistress), and played in an honors chamber group while

touring the country giving concerts. Unfortunately my hearing continued to

progress to the point that I was no longer able to play. I received a

Nucleus 22, 19 years ago, with which I reentered my music world, played in

orchestra and did some solo performances. I unfortunately have a rare form

of Muscular Dystrophy, which has progressed to the point that my muscles no

longer allow me to play. However, I enjoy music immensely and hear it

better now than when I was actively performing with hearing aids before my

hearing deteriorated to profound. Back then, my hearing loss was causing

gaps in music due to the frequency slope of my loss. An example of what I

am able to do with CI hearing: My husband and I made a trip to Arizona

during the Christmas season. We went to the Botanical Gardens for their

Christmas Celebration which included musicians in various groups playing a

wide variety of instruments and compositions along the garden pathways.

Being in a wheel chair, I was often listening without being able to see the

musicians as crowds stood in front of me. All of the musicians were

wonderful. We came upon a Violinist playing with a guitar. I not only

immediately recognized the instruments as violin and guitar, but heard the

melody, as well as the harmony, recognizing it as one I played. I was able

to visualize exactly what the violinist was doing with his bow, from the

sounds he was producing. Each musician plays their music differently

according to their interpretation and I was able to hear his

interpretation. I felt that I had taken a step into heaven for a moment,

that Christmas season evening. Music took a while for me to hear and enjoy

with my CI, but so did speech. With time, I learned to hear speech well

enough to converse fluently on the telephone with parents of my students

about problem issues, and learned to hear music well enough for my soul to

sing again.

Cheers, Ruth

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

TnS

Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 1:32 PM

Subject: Re: Advanced Bionics or Nuccleus freedom

Whoa, I must have missed something. I had no idea that anyone would

think anything and start a brand war???

Just to clarify:

When we started the process of our toddler's evaluation, I had received

the different companies packets and read them before meeting with the

audiologist/CI specialist at the CI Center. I went with the desire to

go with Cochlear cuz of the water resistance issue. When that came up

when talking to her, she said that both Cochlear and AB were good and

pretty much the same, just that the battery options were different. She

said that AB also had the water resistance but that they hadn't really

advertised that in their packets.

She wasn't trying to persuade us to go with one or the other. She

wouldn't recommend one or the other because she said it was up to us.

I just wanted to make sure I was fully aware of the music ability of

people with both brands. I didn't think that there were many Cochlear

brand implantees enjoying or really 'getting' music because I'm hearing

it more from the AB implantees. And since I really want to have music

be a bigger part of our son's and my lives, I wanted to make sure I got

the brand that was most likely to help with that. I don't want to just

enjoy it, I want to actually 'get' it and be able to learn how to play

the piano and sing in a choir. But so far it sounds like there are at

least a few Cochlear implantees who have been able to be sucessful with

music such as who is taking voice lessons.

Sheree

> >

> > This whole thread started when someone who was doing her research

> shared on

> > the forum that she was contacted by an AB person involved in the

> 120 trials.

> > Based on what I read, many things that this person told her about

> the

> > Nucleus/Cochlear were not true....that is how the bashing started.

> >

> >

> >

> > In a message dated 7/12/2006 6:07:54 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> pkt52@

> > writes:

> > Yikes..... when I first joined here I was slapped on the wrist for

> showing my

> > satisfaction with AB....... and you stated that this site was not

> biased???

> > This is not true. CIHEAR has become a Nucleus site and this

> concerns me. I

> > do not understand the bashing???? I have been trying to tie my

> fingers up

> > from posting a response regarding this defensiveness but the

> daggers flying

> > on

> > keyboards is getting pretty sad....

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

WOW.

My apologies - I did not intend to offend anyone or to

create any dispute between the CI users. I have read

through all the mails on and I notice that

there are discussions on where did the original

" biased " mail come from, and who is the " wonderful

person " I refer to etc etc. I think a mail from

says it best. This mail was from me. It

was posted on Nucleus first. I received a reply ( more

than one, but the " wonderful person " I refer to was

responding to my nucleus mail) When receiving this

mail saying so much good about AB and more worrysome

things about Nucleus, I became worried too. I am only

a person going for this implant, and as everyone else,

I want the best one. And consumers are normally the

best advisers. In my obviously naive mind, I simply

wanted to hear other CI user's experience. I wanted

confirmation that I took the right choice. Or the

opposite, that I should change my mind and change

brands... I wanted information from all of you - on

your experiences. It was not my intention to create a

dispute - but listen to this - if many of you would

have come back to me to tell me that what I write is

exactly their experience too - then, wouldn't you at

least continue with your research? Your communication

has done one great thing for a CI- user- to -be - you

have confirmed to me that, no brands can be named

" better " than the other, the choice you make is what

you should stick with and work with. Both brands are

excellent.

I learned a lot from all of your mails. Thank you.

And apologize again for creating such a uproar - it

was not my intention. I am only a CI soon-to-be

implanted who is worried that perhaps I do not make

the right choice. The person who wrote me her advice,

has her own experience with the implants. I understand

that this forum may not be the place for this kind of

posts - it was my first one - and I did say that in my

post as well. Anyhow - I am grateful for all the mails

about this - it simply confirms to me that both brands

are good- and I am sticking with my choice.

THANK you to all of you.

Tine

--- deafangel1965 <deafangel65@...> wrote:

> - wow, I like your idea about working

> together. All of us

> want to have cochlear implants. Right? If yes, why

> complain or

> whine about it. We all are on the same boat because

> we want

> cochlear implants and be able to hear better. My

> friend gave me an

> example that it is like pick the different brand of

> cars - ford,

> chev, honda, etc. and it is same idea with cochlear

> implant. We do

> not complain or whine about cars and separate other

> people who drove

> certain of cars. We are all on the same boat and we

> should HELP

> each others no matter what. Smile

>

>

>

>

> >

> > Pam,

> > Its humanly impossible to be unbiased. That

> said, we can

> accept the

> > differences among us. Neither AB user nor

> Cochlear user is exempt

> from

> > being overly proud of its choice. That does not

> excuse the

> defensiveness,

> > yet, neither brand can deny its there. But if one

> is truly

> certain of the

> > choice made, why become defensive at all? Its not

> necessary.

> >

> > And, why is it necessary to jump on this every

> time there is

> some

> > dissent? I see this phenomena on almost every

> list I am or have

> been on. I

> > call it editorializing. Its a waste of bandwidth.

> Each list has

> an owner

> > and at least one moderator. Let them do their

> jobs. Take it for

> granted,

> > this list is no different, and will continue to

> enjoy the bumps

> along the

> > way. It also will see smooth sailing as well.

> >

> > " Why can't we be more supportive of both

> companies and work

> together? "

> >

> > We can, we do, and we will.

> >

> > *---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

> > I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited

> for it...

> > mainly because it was just a sew-sew job.

> > & Dreamer Doll (Guide Dawggie)

> > Newport, Oregon

> > N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

> > rclark0276@...

> > http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Tine,

Thanks for your post. No you didnt create any uproars. Sometimes it

just happens and some poeple have a tendency to " help " it along. But as

always, things settle down and we go back to sharing experiences and

information. Its not easy to be in the position you are, making a choice.

But once made, its just that much closer to hearing again.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

Law of the Bath: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone

rings.

& Dreamer Doll (Guide Dawggie)

Newport, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rclark0276@...

http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/