Budnick

[Guest guest]

Dear :

Please DO NOT be tormented! I am an adult who has the N24 with the 3G BTE.

I have had my original implant almost 10 years, and the second (bilateral)

implant for nearly 3 years. Within 3 months of activation: I understood

with great accuracy (96%) on the telephone; in fact, promoted 3 levels in my

career about one year post activation. I enjoy music and attend concerts,

theater and any social event that I desire where I understand most

everything. Music is very enjoyable, pleasant to listen to and much of the

time I am able to discern the lyrics. Yesterday in church I just sat and

thought about all the posts about how wonderful the 120 channels are with

music. Well, my N24 produces wonderful music appreciation for me!

Remember, music appreciation is something that is individual. So much

depends on things that cannot be predicted, such as surviving nerve, and the

hearing history of the individual. I cannot imagine music sounding any

better than it already does for me! Your son will be getting the next

generation newer implant than I have. He will have access to more features

and options in processing than I have. I have never for one minute

regretted the decision to receive an implant. The second surgery posed an

opportunity for me to receive an A/B device. Quite frankly, when I thought

hard about it, it came down to what I would be giving up! Built in

telecoil, options such as Whisper and auto-sensitivity for difficult

listening situations, and long battery life. In the end it was an easy

decision for me. Please do not be so hard on yourself!

I just participated on a panel with parents who have children who are

implanted. I so much appreciate the difficulty you face making your

decision. What I can tell you is that children with ALL the implant brands

are doing wonderfully well. Now relax and look forward to the future for

your son!

Warmly, Carol in WI

NOW, just this weekend, after reading the rest

of the current posts, i almost feel like everyone is saying the

cochlear is a very old technology and in no way compares to the

advances in the A/B implant. Here i am, preparing the cars for all

the necessary gear to go to the hospital early tomorrow and i just

have no idea if i made the right decision, this is my child and i

just wanted him to have the best, and now i read all these postings

that greatly outnumber anything good from cochlear......

i remain tormented..

sincerely, robert budnick