Re: Would I benefit from a CI?

October 2, 2006

Gerald,

It sounds like you should go to Cochlear Implant Facility and get evaluated.

Most ear, nose and throat doctors know little about implants.

M.

October 2, 2006

A surgeon would be the best person to evaluate your ears to determine which

ear may be a better candidate for an implant. If both ears seem physically

viable then there is a possibility that you could do very well with an implant

on

the " bad " side. However, one can never tell how much benefit could be

derived with an implant with a good ear or bad ear. We all walk the same path,

put

our trust in our surgeons and audiologists, pick the implant we feel will best

suit our needs....and hope for the best possible outcomes!

October 2, 2006

Gerard

I don't think anyone can answer your question for sure

are everyone's experience is different and there is no

concrete way to predict who each of us will do.

In my own case I implanted my " bad " ear and I have had

very good results. I now only wear my CI (no hearing

aid in my " good " ear although I must tell you my

" good " ear is not that good either). When I take off

my CI I basically hear nothing. Before my CI surgery

I tested in the 90-110 db loss range. With my CI only

in my " bad " ear I am now testing in the 20db range. I

recently took the single syllable word test and scored

90% which I am told is considered normal.

I am currently considering going bilateral.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Connie

--- gerard_at_deafinitelyboleh

<gerard.francis@...> wrote:

> Dear All

>

> Could any kind person advise me on this? The

> question I would like

> to ask is, will my hearing performance be better if

> I implant a CI

> in my bad ear?

>

> I am 46, teach in a polytechnic in Singapore, and

> became hoh 8 yrs

> ago because of Meniere's, with 50dB and a 2kHz

> ski-slope on one side

> and profound on the other. Speech Discrimination

> Test Score 67%.

> I use a Phonak Claro BTE. After being stable all

> these 8 yrs, I

> recently lost another 10dB on my good ear and I am

> feeling my

> horizons closing in although I know many people cope

> with less.

>

> Searching this list, I see that the candidacy

> criteria have been

> relaxed in some places to 70dB in the better ear and

> maximum score

> of 60% in speech test. As Meniere's is progressive,

> I honestly

> don't see the point of waiting long years for my

> good ear to decline

> further before finally fitting a CI if I am headed

> down that path

> anyway.

>

> I don't perform very well with my hearing compared

> to some other hoh

> I know, and people I read on the lists. I do

> practice the usual

> coping strategies. But group discussions of more

> than 4 are

> difficult for me to follow. I hear very little at

> big meetings and

> briefings. In my classes, I walk up to a student

> with a question and

> they will have to repeat, sometimes twice. I would

> leave this job if

> any students feedback on the evaluations that I am

> losing

> effectiveness. That has not happened but I do lose

> some of the

> pleasure of teaching. I cannot use a Microlink FM

> system because of

> radio interference. We do not have reserved bands

> for ALDs.

>

> At a minimum, I expect to hear better in noise and

> have localisation

> with a CI.

>

> I have raised this to my regular ENT and they will

> discuss it at

> their doctors meeting and get back to me. They have

> my hearing

> history and scans. The CI evaluation is quite

> informally done here

> compared to what I read on the lists. I will pass on

> to my doctor

> any precedents, and experiences you can give me so

> they can make a

> good decision on my candidacy.

>

> Thanks a million.

>

> Gerard Francis

>

" The Miracle at Ohio State "

aka Nucleus Freedom

Implanted 10/04/2005

Activated 11/1/2005

Surgery: Ohio State University

Surgeon: Dr. Bradley Welling

http://internalmedicine.osu.edu/article.cfm?ID=2021

October 2, 2006

Gerald

Many ENT docs still do not know much about cochlear implants. That is why it is

usually advised to go to a cochlear implant center and speak directly with a

doctor who specializes in cochlear implants along with thir audiologists on

staff.

Although I had no discernable hearing in either ear without a hearing aid, I was

only able to get very little hearing from an aid in one ear.

Being the skeptic I am, I chose to have my worst ear implanted because I was

afraid of losing what little residual hearing I had. After being implanted, I

must say that I was amazed how well I could hear out of that ear. So well, that

I started giving presentations again with Q & A and could hear the questions

very well.

As far as localization is concerned, one implant does not help with that but

that was about the only thing it didn't do. So this year I decided to have a

2nd implant in what was originally my " better " ear. My worst ear has become my

dominant one although I do believe that with time, both will equal out.

I chose Cochlear Corporation's Nucleus for my first CI and then chose Cochlear

Corporation's Freedom for my 2nd CI. The experience and reliablilty of the

company and the type of battery and longer battery life (I get 3-4 days before I

have to change batteries) were all major factors in my choosing. I am thrilled

with my implants and would highly advise them to anyone who wishes to hear well

again.

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

Would I benefit from a CI?

Dear All

Could any kind person advise me on this? The question I would like

to ask is, will my hearing performance be better if I implant a CI

in my bad ear?

I am 46, teach in a polytechnic in Singapore, and became hoh 8 yrs

ago because of Meniere's, with 50dB and a 2kHz ski-slope on one side

and profound on the other. Speech Discrimination Test Score 67%.

I use a Phonak Claro BTE. After being stable all these 8 yrs, I

recently lost another 10dB on my good ear and I am feeling my

horizons closing in although I know many people cope with less.

Searching this list, I see that the candidacy criteria have been

relaxed in some places to 70dB in the better ear and maximum score

of 60% in speech test. As Meniere's is progressive, I honestly

don't see the point of waiting long years for my good ear to decline

further before finally fitting a CI if I am headed down that path

anyway.

I don't perform very well with my hearing compared to some other hoh

I know, and people I read on the lists. I do practice the usual

coping strategies. But group discussions of more than 4 are

difficult for me to follow. I hear very little at big meetings and

briefings. In my classes, I walk up to a student with a question and

they will have to repeat, sometimes twice. I would leave this job if

any students feedback on the evaluations that I am losing

effectiveness. That has not happened but I do lose some of the

pleasure of teaching. I cannot use a Microlink FM system because of

radio interference. We do not have reserved bands for ALDs.

At a minimum, I expect to hear better in noise and have localisation

with a CI.

I have raised this to my regular ENT and they will discuss it at

their doctors meeting and get back to me. They have my hearing

history and scans. The CI evaluation is quite informally done here

compared to what I read on the lists. I will pass on to my doctor

any precedents, and experiences you can give me so they can make a

good decision on my candidacy.

Thanks a million.

Gerard Francis

October 2, 2006

Dear Carol and All

I really appreciate you sharing your experiences. That better

quality of life with a CI is what attracted me to consider this.

I know I am asking quite a difficult question. What I need to know

is whether my hearing performance with a CI on my bad ear (100 to

120dB)and a HA on my good ear (60dB with ski slope after 2kHz) would

be significantly better than what I have now with just a HA on my

good ear.

If you could describe your audiogram, and the results of speech

discrimination test before and after the CI implant, that could help

me extend your experience to my situation.

To reply to another point raised, we unfortunately do not have a

dedicated CI implant centre in Singapore though we are a medical

centre for the south east asian region! I go to the ENT dept in a

public hospital. This is the department I go to:

http://www.ttsh.com.sg/asp/med/cli/cli174.asp

and this is another one I could consider:

http://www.nuh.com.sg/ent.html

Thanks again for the generous advice and really looking forward to

your replies.

Regards

Gerard Francis

>

> Gerald

> Many ENT docs still do not know much about cochlear implants. That

is why it is usually advised to go to a cochlear implant center and

speak directly with a doctor who specializes in cochlear implants

along with thir audiologists on staff.

> Although I had no discernable hearing in either ear without a

hearing aid, I was only able to get very little hearing from an aid

in one ear.

> Being the skeptic I am, I chose to have my worst ear implanted

because I was afraid of losing what little residual hearing I had.

After being implanted, I must say that I was amazed how well I could

hear out of that ear. So well, that I started giving presentations

again with Q & A and could hear the questions very well.

> As far as localization is concerned, one implant does not help with

that but that was about the only thing it didn't do. So this year I

decided to have a 2nd implant in what was originally my " better "

ear. My worst ear has become my dominant one although I do believe

that with time, both will equal out.

> I chose Cochlear Corporation's Nucleus for my first CI and then

chose Cochlear Corporation's Freedom for my 2nd CI. The experience

and reliablilty of the company and the type of battery and longer

battery life (I get 3-4 days before I have to change batteries) were

all major factors in my choosing. I am thrilled with my implants and

would highly advise them to anyone who wishes to hear well again.

> 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

>

> Would I benefit from a CI?

>

> Dear All

>

> Could any kind person advise me on this? The question I would like

> to ask is, will my hearing performance be better if I implant a CI

> in my bad ear?

>

> I am 46, teach in a polytechnic in Singapore, and became hoh 8 yrs

> ago because of Meniere's, with 50dB and a 2kHz ski-slope on one

side

> and profound on the other. Speech Discrimination Test Score 67%.

> I use a Phonak Claro BTE. After being stable all these 8 yrs, I

> recently lost another 10dB on my good ear and I am feeling my

> horizons closing in although I know many people cope with less.

>

> Searching this list, I see that the candidacy criteria have been

> relaxed in some places to 70dB in the better ear and maximum score

> of 60% in speech test. As Meniere's is progressive, I honestly

> don't see the point of waiting long years for my good ear to

decline

> further before finally fitting a CI if I am headed down that path

> anyway.

>

> I don't perform very well with my hearing compared to some other

hoh

> I know, and people I read on the lists. I do practice the usual

> coping strategies. But group discussions of more than 4 are

> difficult for me to follow. I hear very little at big meetings and

> briefings. In my classes, I walk up to a student with a question

and

> they will have to repeat, sometimes twice. I would leave this job

if

> any students feedback on the evaluations that I am losing

> effectiveness. That has not happened but I do lose some of the

> pleasure of teaching. I cannot use a Microlink FM system because of

> radio interference. We do not have reserved bands for ALDs.

>

> At a minimum, I expect to hear better in noise and have

localisation

> with a CI.

>

> I have raised this to my regular ENT and they will discuss it at

> their doctors meeting and get back to me. They have my hearing

> history and scans. The CI evaluation is quite informally done here

> compared to what I read on the lists. I will pass on to my doctor

> any precedents, and experiences you can give me so they can make a

> good decision on my candidacy.

>

> Thanks a million.

>

> Gerard Francis

>

October 3, 2006

Gerard,

I can't speak for anyone except my self but my CI has greatly improved my

hearing performance. Just today I was tested by my audie. When tested in my

" good ear " with a hearing aid I did the tone test in the 80 db range and my

sentence speech descrimination was zero. When tested with my CI only in my " bad

ear " I tested in the 25 db range and my sentence speech descrimination was 100%.

Please remember that there is no way of guaranteeing anyone's results as each

of us have our own unique hearing fingerprint. What works for me may not work

for you the only thing we each can do is put our trust in our doctors and audies

and work hard to try to achieve the best results we can get.

Hope that helps.

Connie

gerard_at_deafinitelyboleh <gerard.francis@...> wrote:

Dear Carol and All

I really appreciate you sharing your experiences. That better

quality of life with a CI is what attracted me to consider this.

I know I am asking quite a difficult question. What I need to know

is whether my hearing performance with a CI on my bad ear (100 to

120dB)and a HA on my good ear (60dB with ski slope after 2kHz) would

be significantly better than what I have now with just a HA on my

good ear.

If you could describe your audiogram, and the results of speech

discrimination test before and after the CI implant, that could help

me extend your experience to my situation.

To reply to another point raised, we unfortunately do not have a

dedicated CI implant centre in Singapore though we are a medical

centre for the south east asian region! I go to the ENT dept in a

public hospital. This is the department I go to:

http://www.ttsh.com.sg/asp/med/cli/cli174.asp

and this is another one I could consider:

http://www.nuh.com.sg/ent.html

Thanks again for the generous advice and really looking forward to

your replies.

Regards

Gerard Francis

>

> Gerald

> Many ENT docs still do not know much about cochlear implants. That

is why it is usually advised to go to a cochlear implant center and

speak directly with a doctor who specializes in cochlear implants

along with thir audiologists on staff.

> Although I had no discernable hearing in either ear without a

hearing aid, I was only able to get very little hearing from an aid

in one ear.

> Being the skeptic I am, I chose to have my worst ear implanted

because I was afraid of losing what little residual hearing I had.

After being implanted, I must say that I was amazed how well I could

hear out of that ear. So well, that I started giving presentations

again with Q & A and could hear the questions very well.

> As far as localization is concerned, one implant does not help with

that but that was about the only thing it didn't do. So this year I

decided to have a 2nd implant in what was originally my " better "

ear. My worst ear has become my dominant one although I do believe

that with time, both will equal out.

> I chose Cochlear Corporation's Nucleus for my first CI and then

chose Cochlear Corporation's Freedom for my 2nd CI. The experience

and reliablilty of the company and the type of battery and longer

battery life (I get 3-4 days before I have to change batteries) were

all major factors in my choosing. I am thrilled with my implants and

would highly advise them to anyone who wishes to hear well again.

> 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

>

> Would I benefit from a CI?

>

> Dear All

>

> Could any kind person advise me on this? The question I would like

> to ask is, will my hearing performance be better if I implant a CI

> in my bad ear?

>

> I am 46, teach in a polytechnic in Singapore, and became hoh 8 yrs

> ago because of Meniere's, with 50dB and a 2kHz ski-slope on one

side

> and profound on the other. Speech Discrimination Test Score 67%.

> I use a Phonak Claro BTE. After being stable all these 8 yrs, I

> recently lost another 10dB on my good ear and I am feeling my

> horizons closing in although I know many people cope with less.

>

> Searching this list, I see that the candidacy criteria have been

> relaxed in some places to 70dB in the better ear and maximum score

> of 60% in speech test. As Meniere's is progressive, I honestly

> don't see the point of waiting long years for my good ear to

decline

> further before finally fitting a CI if I am headed down that path

> anyway.

>

> I don't perform very well with my hearing compared to some other

hoh

> I know, and people I read on the lists. I do practice the usual

> coping strategies. But group discussions of more than 4 are

> difficult for me to follow. I hear very little at big meetings and

> briefings. In my classes, I walk up to a student with a question

and

> they will have to repeat, sometimes twice. I would leave this job

if

> any students feedback on the evaluations that I am losing

> effectiveness. That has not happened but I do lose some of the

> pleasure of teaching. I cannot use a Microlink FM system because of

> radio interference. We do not have reserved bands for ALDs.

>

> At a minimum, I expect to hear better in noise and have

localisation

> with a CI.

>

> I have raised this to my regular ENT and they will discuss it at

> their doctors meeting and get back to me. They have my hearing

> history and scans. The CI evaluation is quite informally done here

> compared to what I read on the lists. I will pass on to my doctor

> any precedents, and experiences you can give me so they can make a

> good decision on my candidacy.

>

> Thanks a million.

>

> Gerard Francis

>

October 3, 2006

Hi Gerard,

If you still have quite a bit of hearing, then stick with your HAs.

Because a CI is not a " better hearing aid " . Are you using the most up to

date hearing aids out there? Sometimes that is all you need. Your

scores seem too high to me to qualify for an implant, and the implant

itself will more than likely destroy any residual hearing that you have

in the ear that is implanted. 67% discrimination is very high, and a

lot to lose when you get implanted.

The cochlear implant is a godsend for people with NO hearing, because

in most cases it restores it. But as I mentioned, it is not a better

hearing aid. It replaces the hair cells in the ear with 22 electrodes.

Nowhere near as many as you have with your ear and a hearing aid.

Meniere's is progressive, but not often rapidly progressive. Hang on

to the hearing you have, and see if it gets worse. Don't rush into an

implant.

There may be other FM systems you can use besides Microlink.

Investigate those possibilities before jumping at an implant. People

often do NOT hear better in noise, or have good localization with a CI.

Remember you are replacing thousands of hair cells with 22 electrodes.

HUGE difference.

My suggestion is you ask your audiologist to see what sort of ALDs you

could use in the situation you are in. Make sure you have a modern, up

to date hearing aid, and work with that.

I, too, have Meniere's disease, but was implanted when I had NO

hearing in either ears. That was the criteria 9 years ago.

You mentioned that there isn't a clinic dedicated to implants in your

area. You are aware that you need to have the implant mapped at fairly

close intervals the first few months of wear, aren't you? So it would

involve travelling to wherever the audiologists are who do this.

Good luck,

The Original