Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Jerome, I have a similar problem. My personal ENT said very few words in a consultation which was " Mr. Gollinger, I think you would do very well with a cochlear implant. " However the audiogram and the real world are two different things for me. My audiogram indicates high frequency sound missing but I hear about 80 Db in both years at low frequency, People who modulate their voice and do not speak in whispers I hear good. CI Implant runs the risks of tinnitus, vertigo and other disorders that came from the treatment. I realize those people on this list who are totally or near totally deaf the pros of a CI Implant outweigh the cons. That is just my perspective, and I do not speak for anyone else.I function good with hearing aids and for the time being and just for the time being I prefer for myself the status quo. Gerald Jerome Tan <tan.jerome@...> wrote: Hi, I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. I'm in this kind of situation: 1. I can deal with people I know. 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as I cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of dynamic range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm severe to profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years as I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm thinking of having my left ear only implanted. Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. Regards, Jerome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Jerome, you said were tested two years ago and told that you were not a candidate for CI? Maybe you could try again now. I know people don't have to be totally deaf to qualify now. I was profoundly deaf in both ears, but not completely deaf. It depends on your decibel losses and your speech discrimination, and whether hearing aids will help that, I think. If you are unable to understand speech with hearing aids, and really want to have a CI, then I think you should give it another try. Where do you live? It might not be a bad idea to try a different center, if there is another one near you. Jane should i insist? Hi, I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. I'm in this kind of situation: 1. I can deal with people I know. 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as I cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of dynamic range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm severe to profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years as I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm thinking of having my left ear only implanted. Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. Regards, Jerome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Jerome, Where are you located? You need to go to a good CI center and get evaluated. I think the criteria varies from place to place, but in Alabama with BCBS (one of the stricter places), your speech discrimination must be below 50% on the sentence test in best aided conditions. I " failed " on my final evaluation in July. I think the score ended up being 38%. Remember, you are only going to have one ear implanted, so you will still have your existing hearing in the other ear. If possible based on the tests they will do, you want to have your worst ear implanted. Have you ever been to a CI retreat or group of CI users? If not, you should try to find one in your area. I think you will feel much better going forward if you can meet and interact with a number of people who have them. I went to a CI retreat in Georgia in June, and if I had any doubts about going forward before, they were gone after that retreat. They were all hearing so much better than me. If you've got the best hearing aids and aren't doing any better than what you say, you should definitely insist on going forward with the CI. Good luck to you. Lynn Fairhope, AL Nucleus Freedom Surgery date: 9/6/06 Activation date: 9/27/06 _____ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Jerome Tan Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 5:34 AM Subject: should i insist? Hi, I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. I'm in this kind of situation: 1. I can deal with people I know. 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as I cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of dynamic range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm severe to profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years as I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm thinking of having my left ear only implanted. Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. Regards, Jerome .. <http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=7962067/grpspId=1705013490/msgId =50340/stime=1164888648/nc1=3848445/nc2=2/nc3=3> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I'm from Philippines. 1. If the speaker is female, I understand 0%. If the speaker has deep low tone voice, I think I could go as far as 60%. 2. With lip reading and with person I know, I can go as far as 80% especially with my family members. But with stranger whose verbal cues are unpredictable to me, I think I can't pass more than 50%. 3. I'm able to understand speech with hearing aids coupled with lipreading. 4. I understand 0% when I watch English TV shows but understand more than 50% when I watch local language show. Filipino language is heavy on vowels while English is more on consonants. Regards, Jerome On 11/30/06, dogsville <dogsville@...> wrote: > > Jerome, you said were tested two years ago and told that you were not a > candidate for CI? Maybe you could try again now. I know people don't have to > be totally deaf to qualify now. I was profoundly deaf in both ears, but not > completely deaf. It depends on your decibel losses and your speech > discrimination, and whether hearing aids will help that, I think. If you are > unable to understand speech with hearing aids, and really want to have a CI, > then I think you should give it another try. Where do you live? It might not > be a bad idea to try a different center, if there is another one near you. > Jane > should i insist? > > Hi, > > I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. > > I'm in this kind of situation: > > 1. I can deal with people I know. > 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. > 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. > 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as I > cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of dynamic > range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. > 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm severe > to > profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. > 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years > as > I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. > > Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm > thinking > of having my left ear only implanted. > > Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. > > Regards, > Jerome > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I'll try to check if I can meet any CI people locally. Regards, Jerome On 11/30/06, Lynn <HibiscusBelle@...> wrote: > > Jerome, > Where are you located? You need to go to a good CI center and get > evaluated. > I think the criteria varies from place to place, but in Alabama with BCBS > (one of the stricter places), your speech discrimination must be below 50% > on the sentence test in best aided conditions. I " failed " on my final > evaluation in July. I think the score ended up being 38%. > > Remember, you are only going to have one ear implanted, so you will still > have your existing hearing in the other ear. If possible based on the > tests > they will do, you want to have your worst ear implanted. Have you ever > been > to a CI retreat or group of CI users? If not, you should try to find one > in > your area. I think you will feel much better going forward if you can meet > and interact with a number of people who have them. I went to a CI retreat > in Georgia in June, and if I had any doubts about going forward before, > they > were gone after that retreat. They were all hearing so much better than > me. > > If you've got the best hearing aids and aren't doing any better than what > you say, you should definitely insist on going forward with the CI. > > Good luck to you. > Lynn > Fairhope, AL > > Nucleus Freedom > Surgery date: 9/6/06 > Activation date: 9/27/06 > > _____ > > From: <%40> [mailto: > <%40>] On Behalf Of > Jerome Tan > Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 5:34 AM > <%40> > Subject: should i insist? > > > Hi, > > I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. > > I'm in this kind of situation: > > 1. I can deal with people I know. > 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. > 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. > 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as I > cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of dynamic > range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. > 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm severe > to > profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. > 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years > as > I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. > > Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm > thinking > of having my left ear only implanted. > > Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. > > Regards, > Jerome > > . > > < > http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=7962067/grpspId=1705013490/msgId > =50340/stime=1164888648/nc1=3848445/nc2=2/nc3=3> > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Jerome, No one can tell you what to do, they can only give an opinion that they themselves would do. If your situation were mine, yes I would insist, especially knowing what I have gained wince being able to hear again! If YOU are not happy with your life the way it is, then you should insist. If you are happy with things the way they are now, then you should not insist! In a message dated 11/30/2006 7:14:33 AM Eastern Standard Time, tan.jerome@... writes: Hi, I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. I'm in this kind of situation: 1. I can deal with people I know. 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as I cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of dynamic range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm severe to profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years as I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm thinking of having my left ear only implanted. Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. Regards, Jerome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Jerome, You don't have to be totally deaf in order to qualify for a CI. Many people with severe-profound losses (myself included) have been implanted. CI candidacy was relaxed several years ago allowing people with severe-profound loss to be implanted as long as they met the criteria for speech discrimination. I would talk to your surgeon again and if he is still unwilling to implant you (because you're not totally deaf), perhaps you might want to be evaluated at a different CI center. Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05 Right ear - Nucleus Freedom Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Gerald, Yes, I can hear people who modulate their voice with hearing aid. And do not understand people if they don't modulate their voice, even if it's louder. I've loud tinnitus already in both ears, much worse on my left ear. Regards, Jerome On 11/30/06, Gerald Gollinger <gerald3nyc@...> wrote: > > Jerome, > > I have a similar problem. My personal ENT said very few words in a > consultation which was " Mr. Gollinger, I think you would do very well with a > cochlear implant. " However the audiogram and the real world are two > different things for me. My audiogram indicates high frequency sound missing > but I hear about 80 Db in both years at low frequency, People who modulate > their voice and do not speak in whispers I hear good. > > CI Implant runs the risks of tinnitus, vertigo and other disorders that > came from the treatment. I realize those people on this list who are totally > or near totally deaf the pros of a CI Implant outweigh the cons. That is > just my perspective, and I do not speak for anyone else.I function good > with hearing aids and for the time being and just for the time being I > prefer for myself the status quo. > > Gerald > > > > > Jerome Tan <tan.jerome@... <tan.jerome%40gmail.com>> wrote: > Hi, > > I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. > > I'm in this kind of situation: > > 1. I can deal with people I know. > 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. > 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. > 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as I > cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of dynamic > range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. > 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm severe > to > profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. > 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years > as > I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. > > Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm > thinking > of having my left ear only implanted. > > Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. > > Regards, > Jerome > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 By the way, I want to add that with kid voice or female voice younger than 30, I can't understand them at all... Regards, Jerome On 12/1/06, Jerome Tan <tan.jerome@...> wrote: > > Gerald, > > Yes, I can hear people who modulate their voice with hearing aid. And do > not understand people if they don't modulate their voice, even if it's > louder. I've loud tinnitus already in both ears, much worse on my left ear. > > Regards, > Jerome > > On 11/30/06, Gerald Gollinger <gerald3nyc@...> wrote: > > > > Jerome, > > > > I have a similar problem. My personal ENT said very few words in a > > consultation which was " Mr. Gollinger, I think you would do very well with a > > cochlear implant. " However the audiogram and the real world are two > > different things for me. My audiogram indicates high frequency sound missing > > but I hear about 80 Db in both years at low frequency, People who modulate > > their voice and do not speak in whispers I hear good. > > > > CI Implant runs the risks of tinnitus, vertigo and other disorders that > > came from the treatment. I realize those people on this list who are totally > > or near totally deaf the pros of a CI Implant outweigh the cons. That is > > just my perspective, and I do not speak for anyone else.I function good > > with hearing aids and for the time being and just for the time being I > > prefer for myself the status quo. > > > > Gerald > > > > > > > > > > Jerome Tan <tan.jerome@... <tan.jerome%40gmail.com>> wrote: > > Hi, > > > > I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. > > > > I'm in this kind of situation: > > > > 1. I can deal with people I know. > > 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. > > 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. > > 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as > > I > > cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of > > dynamic > > range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. > > 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm > > severe to > > profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. > > 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years > > as > > I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. > > > > Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm > > thinking > > of having my left ear only implanted. > > > > Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. > > > > Regards, > > Jerome > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Jerome I think that you will have to meet the criteria for a implant and if the doctor says you don't meet the criteria then I would go to another doctor to get a second opinion. It is my understanding that unless you meet the criteria doctors will not implant you and you will not be able to get insurance approval. I do believe in the last two years the criteria have changed so if you see an ENT you might find that you don't need to insist as you may now qualify. I had a little chuckle at your mention of a good ear and a bad ear as I was the same way. Well now, one year after my CI, I realize that what I hear with my " good " ear is minimal compared to what I hear with my CI in my bad ear. Connie Jerome Tan <tan.jerome@...> wrote: Hi, I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. I'm in this kind of situation: 1. I can deal with people I know. 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as I cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of dynamic range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm severe to profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years as I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm thinking of having my left ear only implanted. Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. Regards, Jerome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Jerome me again. The reason you don't understand female voices as well as male voices is because you have probably lost your hearing in the high pitched areas--most female voices are high pitch. This is not uncommon. Before my CI I too could understand my family especially my husband better than anyone else. His voice is very low and he always made a point of talking slowly and enunciating slowly. One thing I would suggest to you is to try to listen to the person you think you hear best but close your eyes when you listen and that will be a good indicator as to what you are really hearing and what you are lipreading. I know in my case I was shocked how little I was really hearing and even my doctor told me I was an excellent lip reader. Connie Jerome Tan <tan.jerome@...> wrote: I'm from Philippines. 1. If the speaker is female, I understand 0%. If the speaker has deep low tone voice, I think I could go as far as 60%. 2. With lip reading and with person I know, I can go as far as 80% especially with my family members. But with stranger whose verbal cues are unpredictable to me, I think I can't pass more than 50%. 3. I'm able to understand speech with hearing aids coupled with lipreading. 4. I understand 0% when I watch English TV shows but understand more than 50% when I watch local language show. Filipino language is heavy on vowels while English is more on consonants. Regards, Jerome On 11/30/06, dogsville <dogsville@...> wrote: > > Jerome, you said were tested two years ago and told that you were not a > candidate for CI? Maybe you could try again now. I know people don't have to > be totally deaf to qualify now. I was profoundly deaf in both ears, but not > completely deaf. It depends on your decibel losses and your speech > discrimination, and whether hearing aids will help that, I think. If you are > unable to understand speech with hearing aids, and really want to have a CI, > then I think you should give it another try. Where do you live? It might not > be a bad idea to try a different center, if there is another one near you. > Jane > should i insist? > > Hi, > > I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. > > I'm in this kind of situation: > > 1. I can deal with people I know. > 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. > 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. > 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as I > cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of dynamic > range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. > 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm severe > to > profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. > 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years > as > I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. > > Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm > thinking > of having my left ear only implanted. > > Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. > > Regards, > Jerome > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Hi Jerome, I hope you take 's post to heart. She is right on about how you need to decide if you are happy with your life the way it is or not and then you'll have your own answer as to wheather to insist on being implanted or not. I wasn't quite in the same boat as you are now; but I grew up with profound hearing loss in both ears and only wore a hearing aid in my left ear. My right ear was never aidable. The best way I could describe hearing with a hearing aid was muffled and distorted. But, that's what I knew. I didn't know any better hearing so I never complained. I was only good at lipreading as the speaker was speaking so the word " what " was one of my most used words. In the late 80's my audiologist wanted to have me tested for a CI; but I was not ready for it. I was not ready to go into the unknown. Plus, it did not help that there was a guy in the waiting room who had been implanted 3 weeks before and he was not hearing well at all and was screaming and said he was confused by what he was hearing. At that time, that was not for me and I told them so. I knew what I had with my hearing aid and as long as I was getting by in college with notetakers and lipreading, I was content. Then in 2002, I lost the final wee bit of my aidable hearing and then and only then was I ready for the CI testing. I was implanted a month after being declared a CI Candidate. It's been one heck of a journey since surgery day! Do I regret waiting all those years to get implanted? Nope! I knew I was not ready. Back then I was content and happy with the way my life was going. I didn't know any other way of life to know how much better my hearing could have been and what my life could be like today. I am in awe with what my CI has given me in almost 4 years of being hooked up! I am very glad I got implanted. Good luck to you on your decision. It's one only you can make. Patti Surgery Day 11/25/02 (What A Day!) Hook Up Day BWP 1/2/03 (A Happy Day!) 3G 1/31/03 (An Even Happier Day!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Jerome, How does the funding of CIs work in the Philippines? Are you seeking coverage under private health insurance or are you going through some kind of public health system? I think the criteria is more fixed for the latter because they like to prioritise people in terms of need. But with private health insurance you should definitely put up a good fight. I wonder if you should do some kind of research that shows that overseas you would meet the criteria and there are good benefits for yourself and then present it to your doctors? From what you have described about the way you function you simply aren't getting much benefit from conventional aids. > > > > Jerome, you said were tested two years ago and told that you were not a > > candidate for CI? Maybe you could try again now. I know people don't have to > > be totally deaf to qualify now. I was profoundly deaf in both ears, but not > > completely deaf. It depends on your decibel losses and your speech > > discrimination, and whether hearing aids will help that, I think. If you are > > unable to understand speech with hearing aids, and really want to have a CI, > > then I think you should give it another try. Where do you live? It might not > > be a bad idea to try a different center, if there is another one near you. > > Jane > > should i insist? > > > > Hi, > > > > I'm still stuck whether I should insist on getting CI. > > > > I'm in this kind of situation: > > > > 1. I can deal with people I know. > > 2. I lipread very well, not all people can detect my hearing problem. > > 3. With stranger, I'm helpless unless I started the conversation. > > 4. My two ears are both severe to profound, with left ear much worse as I > > cannot discriminate well. Yes, I can appreciate the importance of dynamic > > range by comparing the hearing of my left and right ear. > > 5. Two (2) years ago doctors do not want to implant me because I'm severe > > to > > profound, they want total deaf before they can implant. > > 6. I doubt I can be total deaf any time soon, even for the next 10 years > > as > > I can hear low frequency sounds way below the speech range. > > > > Now, back to original, should I insist? Should I be insisting, I'm > > thinking > > of having my left ear only implanted. > > > > Would be glad to receive different opinions. Thanks. > > > > Regards, > > Jerome > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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