Re: 9 Month Follow-Up Appt/Good News!

[Guest guest]

OH MY G-D!!!!! This is such fantastic news! I can't wait for you to finally

get what you want and need. You go girl!

In a message dated 9/2/2005 3:51:25 PM Eastern Standard Time,

lisak70@... writes:

At that point he asked me, " Since you are

doing so well with your CI, we need to think about the possibility of giving

you bilaterals. What do you think? " I couldn't believe what I just heard!

<smile> " I would love to! Can we do it now? "

[Guest guest]

!

That would be wonderful!

Implanted December 1988, Activated January 1989

Legally blind most of my life

Totally deaf for part of my life

Nan Rosen

_www.rosetwig.com_ (http://www.rosetwig.com/)

[Guest guest]

LISA -

WHO KNEW!!!! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU I COULD TURN A CARTWHEEL - IF I

COULD CARTWHEEL.

With high hopes for you, Harriet

On Sep 2, 2005, at 3:51 PM, Kozlik wrote:

> Today I met with my surgeon for my 9 month follow-up appointment.

> (It's hard

> to believe 9 months have passed! Where has the time gone?) He asked me

> how

> well I was doing with my CI, whether or not I was using the phone and

> how

> often I was using a tactile interpreter. I told him I haven't used a

> tactile

> interpreter since our last appointment in February -- and I've been

> using

> the phone since 3 months post activation. I also told him I was doing

> great

> with my CI -- the only difficulty I had was being able to understand

> speech

> with my right (nonimplanted) ear. At that point he asked me, " Since

> you are

> doing so well with your CI, we need to think about the possibility of

> giving

> you bilaterals. What do you think? " I couldn't believe what I just

> heard!

> <smile> " I would love to! Can we do it now? " <grin> (Like I had to

> think

> *that* one over. <grin>) When I asked about concerns related to

> obtaining

> Medicaid/Medicare approval, he didn't see any problem with obtaining

> approval given my blindness. He told me any time I wanted to start the

> process to speak to my audi. My next appointment in October, so I plan

> to

> talk with her about this further at that time. I'm so excited! Given

> school

> and my upcoming internship in January, I may postpone surgery until

> June.

> However, if insurance approval can be completed before the end of this

> year,

> I may opt for a December surgery date -- which would be a perfect way

> to

> celebrate my one year CI anniversary! <smile>

>

> I called my sister this afternoon to tell her the good news. Her

> response?

> " Mother has quite a bit of power up there, doesn't she? " <smile>

>

> I agree. I bet she's smiling from ear to ear right now -- just like I

> am.

>

>

> Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

> Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G

> Deafblind/Postlingual

> BTE hearing aid user 20 years

> Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

That is awesome news. Congrats!! Keep us posted.

[Guest guest]

Good grief ! Things are rolling along in such a positive way!

I'm just so happy for you with this good news!

You go gurlllll!

Pam

[Guest guest]

Wonderful, ! Being bilateral is sure nice. Life seems so much easier in

being able to hear out of both ears. There are Still ups and downs, but they

will sort out in time as my auditory nerve continues to adjust. How is it

your surgeon recommends a bilateral CI, and your audie is adamant there

cannot be one?

[Guest guest]

Th8s is the best news I've heard all day! Wonderful, . I'm

excited about reading your new journey to a bilateral ci user.

Here's hoping that this moves quickly for you as I know you deserve

it.

Alice

http://www..com

At that point he asked me, " Since you are

> doing so well with your CI, we need to think about the possibility

of giving

> you bilaterals. What do you think? " I couldn't believe what I just

heard!

> <smile> " I would love to! Can we do it now? " <grin> (Like I had to

think

> *that* one over. <grin>) When I asked about concerns related to

obtaining

> Medicaid/Medicare approval, he didn't see any problem with

obtaining

> approval given my blindness. He told me any time I wanted to start

the

> process to speak to my audi.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I asked myself the same question today. The only thing I can think of is

that my surgeon and audi must have talked to each other recently and came

to the same conclusion -- or he spoke to my audi and recommended bilaterals.

Given my difficulties localizing sound and the fact that I am functioning at

97% speech understanding in quiet and 90% in noise with my CI only, perhaps

my surgeon realizes that having a second CI will not only increase my

personal safety, but it will also improve my speech discrimination. If I'm

able to achieve similar percentages with the Freedom, I have the potential

to function at 90-100% in any environment. That will be especially important

given my career as a social worker.

When I talked to my audi at 6 months post activation, she wasn't opposed to

my getting a 2nd CI -- she just didn't think it would be possible to obtain

insurance approval through Medicare or Medicaid. When I talked to my surgeon

about this today, he didn't think we would run into any problems if we

centered my case around blindness and the importance of being able to

localize sound for personal safety. I also wonder if my audi may have been

concerned about my progress and how it might deteriorate if I started

thinking about a 2nd CI before allowing myself enough time to adjust to the

first. That makes perfect sense and is the same reason why I didn't ask

my audi about bilaterals until 6 months post activation.

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Deafblind/Postlingual

BTE hearing aid user 20 years

Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Alice! <smile>

I can't wait to experience what Dora, Sharon, and others already do

thanks to their bilateral CIs!! No matter how long it takes or how many

appeals I have to file, I will continue to do whatever it takes to receive a

second CI. Hopefully the wait won't be very long! <smile>

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Deafblind/Postlingual

BTE hearing aid user 20 years

Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

[Guest guest]

Yipeee!!! That is wonderful news.... Coming right from the horse's mouth. That

is would be the ultimate Christmas gift for you. And your sis is right. Your mom

is working over time to making sure that you get it. And sure she is grinning

from CI to CI.

Snoopy BICIs

[Guest guest]

Hey Alice,

Welcome back to ! Tell us more about your move... details! I

get the impression that you moved, and got the award, and travelled on

vacation... and what is next for you?

Chris

On 9/2/05, Alice <alice@...> wrote:

> Th8s is the best news I've heard all day! Wonderful, . I'm

> excited about reading your new journey to a bilateral ci user.

> Here's hoping that this moves quickly for you as I know you deserve

> it.

>

> Alice

> http://www..com

>

> At that point he asked me, " Since you are

> > doing so well with your CI, we need to think about the possibility

> of giving

> > you bilaterals. What do you think? " I couldn't believe what I just

> heard!

> > <smile> " I would love to! Can we do it now? " <grin> (Like I had to

> think

> > *that* one over. <grin>) When I asked about concerns related to

> obtaining

> > Medicaid/Medicare approval, he didn't see any problem with

> obtaining

> > approval given my blindness. He told me any time I wanted to start

> the

> > process to speak to my audi.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Awww , that is so awesome! Especially your sisters comments. I too

felt as though my dad, grandma, and best friend were up there rallying

for my surgery!

Time for surround sound now!

Good Luck!

> Today I met with my surgeon for my 9 month follow-up appointment.

(It's hard

> to believe 9 months have passed! Where has the time gone?) He asked

me how

> well I was doing with my CI, whether or not I was using the phone

and how

> often I was using a tactile interpreter. I told him I haven't used a

tactile

> interpreter since our last appointment in February -- and I've been

using

> the phone since 3 months post activation. I also told him I was

doing great

> with my CI -- the only difficulty I had was being able to understand

speech

> with my right (nonimplanted) ear. At that point he asked me, " Since

you are

> doing so well with your CI, we need to think about the possibility

of giving

> you bilaterals. What do you think? " I couldn't believe what I just

heard!

> <smile> " I would love to! Can we do it now? " <grin> (Like I had to think

> *that* one over. <grin>) When I asked about concerns related to

obtaining

> Medicaid/Medicare approval, he didn't see any problem with obtaining

> approval given my blindness. He told me any time I wanted to start the

> process to speak to my audi. My next appointment in October, so I

plan to

> talk with her about this further at that time. I'm so excited! Given

school

> and my upcoming internship in January, I may postpone surgery until

June.

> However, if insurance approval can be completed before the end of

this year,

> I may opt for a December surgery date -- which would be a perfect way to

> celebrate my one year CI anniversary! <smile>

>

> I called my sister this afternoon to tell her the good news. Her

response?

> " Mother has quite a bit of power up there, doesn't she? " <smile>

>

> I agree. I bet she's smiling from ear to ear right now -- just like

I am.

>

>

> Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

> Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G

> Deafblind/Postlingual

> BTE hearing aid user 20 years

> Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for all of your e-mails regarding my post yesterday! I'm

really excited about what it will mean for my own personal safety and

ability to travel safely. My audi is on vacation for the next two weeks, but

when she returns to town I plan to discuss this with her further so we can

start the paperwork. Jackie -- you're right. This would be a *wonderful*

Christmas present! <smile> Thanks again everyone!! I'll keep all of you

updated on my next CI journey.

Hugs!

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Deafblind/Postlingual

BTE hearing aid user 20 years

Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

[Guest guest]

:

It is interesting that you can hear thunder with your CI and not your

hearing aid. When I had and could use hearing aids, thunder was a deep roll or

crack if lightening hit close.

I wonder if you have a completely different range of hearing in your ear

without the Ci than the hearing the CI gives you. It could also be your

hearing

aid not working right. It will be interesting to see how the sound in both

your ears matches up when you are bilateral.

Another way to know a thunder storm is coming is to feel the static

electricity...it makes the hairs on my arms stand on end. I wonder if dogs

sense it

that way. It is a very wierd feeling. (No wonder BJ wanted to hide.)

(http://www.rosetwig.com/)

Implanted December 1988, Activated January 1989

Legally blind most of my life

Totally deaf for part of my life

Nan Rosen

_www.rosetwig.com_ (http://www.rosetwig.com/)

[Guest guest]

,

" Time for surround sound " is right! <smile>

I'm glad you're surgery went well and that you were able to take comfort in

knowing that your father, grandmother and best friend were all sharing in

the moment watching over you!

When is your activation? Here's wishing you all the best on your CI

journey!! <smile>

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Deafblind/Postlingual

BTE hearing aid user 20 years

Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

[Guest guest]

When I used CI with HA, I had a hard time hearing thunderstorms. Neighbors

would drop by or friends call to warn me to shut off computer. I received a

warning from a friend, and then was thrilled to hear the storm, thanks to

bilateral CI hearing.

[Guest guest]

,

My activation date is set for 9/21. Hope you are having a good evening!

> ,

>

> " Time for surround sound " is right! <smile>

>

> I'm glad you're surgery went well and that you were able to take

comfort in

> knowing that your father, grandmother and best friend were all

sharing in

> the moment watching over you!

>

> When is your activation? Here's wishing you all the best on your CI

> journey!! <smile>

>

>

> Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

> Deafblind/Postlingual

> BTE hearing aid user 20 years

> Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

[Guest guest]

,

I have no problem hearing thunder with my CI, but I could never hear it with

my HA. When I use my CI and HA together, I only hear thunder from the CI

side. It has been about 20 years since I heard thunder last. I had forgotten

how thunder has many different variations of sound and intensity. I also

forgot how loud it is. LOL!

By the way, if you're outdoors, you can tell a thunderstorm is approaching

by the smell of rain and a feeling of dampness in the air as well as a pick

up in wind speed. I always have the radio on, so if I know a storm is to be

expected, I keep my windows open. If I have the A/C on, I know a storm is

coming when Tigger persistently signals that she needs to do her business

and it is outside of her regularly scheduled times. Some dogs seem to have a

6th sense when it comes to sensing barometric pressure changes. I don't know

if all dogs are capable of doing this, but I thought I read somewhere that

this instinct is built into the way they used to survive in the wild.

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Deafblind/Postlingual

BTE hearing aid user 20 years

Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

[Guest guest]

:

Your limited dynamic range will change when you get that second CI!

Implanted December 1988, Activated January 1989

Legally blind most of my life

Totally deaf for part of my life

Nan Rosen

_www.rosetwig.com_ (http://www.rosetwig.com/)

[Guest guest]

One other factor that allows a person to " ear " is the ability to lipread. I

could see to do this a bit and it actually hid my hearing loss from me since

I was substituting visual clues for sound.

Implanted December 1988, Activated January 1989

Legally blind most of my life

Totally deaf for part of my life

Nan Rosen

_www.rosetwig.com_ (http://www.rosetwig.com/)

[Guest guest]

Hi Nan,

I could hear a loud clap of thunder with my hearing aids, but nothing

any quieter than that. Even if thunder was directly overhead, I still

couldn't hear that with my hearing aids.

The hearing provided by my HA is quite different from my CI. My aided

hearing (HA side) starts at 70-80 dB and drops to no aidable hearing from

1000 Hz and above. With my CI I'm able to hear 20 dB across all frequencies.

When you look at the disparity between 20 dB and 70-120 dB, you can see why

there is a significant difference in what I'm able to hear with my CI

compared to my HA.

If I remember correctly, a quiet rumble of thunder equates to 50 dB. When

you consider that I am hearing low frequencies at 70-80 dB with my HA, I'm

missing the extra 20 dB needed to be able to hear thunder at a quieter

volume level than a 120 dB thunderclap.

In regards to my HA...My HA audi and I have tried all kinds of adjustments

with my analog and digital aids. The way my audi explained it, there isn't

much we can do because of my limited dynamic range and the fact that I don't

have any residual hearing above 1000 Hz. My Oticon 380Ps are over 10 years

old. During my CI evaluation my audi checked the function and settings of my

analog and digital aids. She found both of them to be set appropriately and

in perfect working order. Unfortunately, no other adjustments could be made

to provide further benefit -- even with my CI.

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Deafblind/Postlingual

BTE hearing aid user 20 years

Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

[Guest guest]

Nan,

I wanted to make an additional comment I forgot to mention in my last post.

Remember that no two people with the same degree of hearing loss (aided or

unaided) or audiogram results hear exactly the same. There are some people

with severe-profound hearing loss who can understand speech while others

cannot. I know one person who was born with severe-profound loss who can

understand 80% of speech with hearing aids. I know another person with

moderate hearing loss who struggles to hear and understand speech -- even in

quiet. She is late-deafened and has not learned how to develop good

listening skills. On the other hand, the first person I mentioned has

learned how to use his hearing because it is a loss he has dealt with his

entire life. What a person can/cannot hear also depends on how well a person

has learned how to use their hearing, whether they were born HoH or were

late-deafened and whether they were encouraged to use their hearing (30

years ago some people with severe-profound hearing loss/deafness who had

residual hearing were not encouraged to use it just as many legally blind

people were not encouraged to use their vision). All of these factors

make hearing loss/deafness so complicated to understand -- especially since

deafness/hearing loss are invisible disabilities that people can't see.

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Deafblind/Postlingual

BTE hearing aid user 20 years

Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

[Guest guest]

,

I can't wait to read all about your activation! I will be counting down the

days with you! <smile> I hope you and your family have a safe and happy

Labor Day!

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Deafblind/Postlingual

BTE hearing aid user 20 years

Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years

[Guest guest]

, great news about going bilateral. I hope it is very successful and

congrats on your follow up.

> Re: 9 Month Follow-Up Appt/Good News!

>:

>It is interesting that you can hear thunder with your CI and not your

>hearing aid. When I had and could use hearing aids, thunder was a deep roll

or

>crack if lightening hit close.

>I wonder if you have a completely different range of hearing in your ear

>without the Ci than the hearing the CI gives you. It could also be your

hearing

>aid not working right. It will be interesting to see how the sound in both

>your ears matches up when you are bilateral.

>Another way to know a thunder storm is coming is to feel the static

>electricity...it makes the hairs on my arms stand on end. I wonder if dogs

sense it

>that way. It is a very wierd feeling. (No wonder BJ wanted to hide.)

> (http://www.rosetwig.com/)

>

>Implanted December 1988, Activated January 1989

>Legally blind most of my life

>Totally deaf for part of my life

>Nan Rosen

>_www.rosetwig.com_ (http://www.rosetwig.com/)

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Tina! <smile>

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Deafblind/Postlingual

BTE hearing aid user 20 years

Severe-profound hearing loss 10 years