Re: FW: Possible CI Candidate?

[Guest guest]

Jeff,

It's indeed very possible this person could be a candidate for a CI. CI

guidelines state that a person must have bilateral severe or severe-profound

hearing loss with 60% or less speech discrimination aided in the better

ear and 50% or less discrimination aided in the worse ear.

If this person is interested in receiving a CI, it's important that he/she

be evaluated at a CI center since many ENTs and hearing aid audiologists are

unfamiliar with the qualifications for CI candidacy.

Some people have reported improvement in tinnitus following CI surgery, but

others have not. In my case, I have bilateral tinnitus that was caused by my

bilateral CI surgery. Sometimes the tinnitus isn't noticeable. On other

days, it's so loud that I can hear it when my CI processors are on. Having

said that, I consider it a small price to pay for the wonderful gift of

hearing I've received.

As for the value of a tinnitus specialist, some people have reported success

by using a special technique to help people ignore tinnitus. (There is a

name to this technique, but I can't remember it at the moment.)

Some people have also reported success by using biofeedback, cognitive

behavioral therapy or drug therapy (Xanax, nortriptyline, antihistamines,

anticonvulsants like gabapentin and anesthetics like lidocaine) to help

relieve tinnitus.

If you have any other questions or would like to learn more about my

experiences, you may write me privately.

If the person you mentioned has computer access, they are welcome to e-mail

me anytime.

Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with Freedom BTE

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

Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06

Deafblind/Postlingual

[Guest guest]

I would like to add to 's remarks on tinnitus remedies. I belong

to a Meniere's support group (I'm a tinnitus sufferer too) and some

folks report that taking lemon bioflavanoids helps to decrease their

tinnitus. Unfortunately, I have not found that to help me. Also,

there are a LOT of " snake oil " remedies on the market, so beware!

People who have Meniere's disease notice tinnitus is often times

triggered by certain factors: fatigue, stress, exposure to loud

noises, certain medicines, and having too much sodium in the body. For

me, a new map always brings on loud tinnitus, but it usually fades

away within a week or so. As well, stress and too much sodium are

triggers for me. Most people who have Meniere's report having tinnitus

24/7. I consulted with my CI surgeon at the Head and Neck Institute of

the Cleveland Clinic in regards to tinnitus relief. There is none

however, there is " tinnitus training " that can help the sufferer learn

to " ignore " the sounds.

Hope this helps.

Freedom 9/21/05 HOOKED!!

Sensorineural hearing loss discovered at age 4

>

> Jeff,

>

> It's indeed very possible this person could be a candidate for a CI. CI

> guidelines state that a person must have bilateral severe or

severe-profound

> hearing loss with 60% or less speech discrimination aided in the better

> ear and 50% or less discrimination aided in the worse ear.

>

> If this person is interested in receiving a CI, it's important that

he/she

> be evaluated at a CI center since many ENTs and hearing aid

audiologists are

> unfamiliar with the qualifications for CI candidacy.

>

> Some people have reported improvement in tinnitus following CI

surgery, but

> others have not. In my case, I have bilateral tinnitus that was

caused by my

> bilateral CI surgery. Sometimes the tinnitus isn't noticeable. On other

> days, it's so loud that I can hear it when my CI processors are on.

Having

> said that, I consider it a small price to pay for the wonderful gift of

> hearing I've received.

>

> As for the value of a tinnitus specialist, some people have reported

success

> by using a special technique to help people ignore tinnitus. (There is a

> name to this technique, but I can't remember it at the moment.)

>

> Some people have also reported success by using biofeedback, cognitive

> behavioral therapy or drug therapy (Xanax, nortriptyline,

antihistamines,

> anticonvulsants like gabapentin and anesthetics like lidocaine) to help

> relieve tinnitus.

>

> If you have any other questions or would like to learn more about my

> experiences, you may write me privately.

>

> If the person you mentioned has computer access, they are welcome to

e-mail

> me anytime.

>

>

>

> Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with Freedom BTE

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

>

> Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

> Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06

>

> Deafblind/Postlingual

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeff,

I also was a hearing individual with out hearing aids and woke up

with sudden hearing loss in both ears & had tinnitus as well. the

person would need to see their audiologist for a CI evaluation

etc... Most likely if the person has a profound hearing loss and is

unable to hear they would most likely qualify for a CI. If you look

in search and put in dwntwngrl you can read more about my history .

I just went bilateral and waiting for activation on my second ci. I

had my first CI in June 2006 & activated July 2006 and my hearing in

the CI ear is at the level of a person without a hearing loss. Best

of luck to your friend.

>

> Hello:

>

>

>

> I am curious on behalf of someone I know who has suddenly lost his

hearing

> in his right ear and has been suffering with tinnitus since then.

He had

> been wearing hearing aids on both ears and I believe he has severe

hearing

> loss. His right ear was the better ear and he's now profoundly

deaf there.

> He can use phone with his left ear but this was his poor ear and

doesn't

> always understand everything.

>

>

>

> The question here is.since he's suffering from severe tinnitus

(very loud

> booming sounds), is he a possible CI candidate? Or because he can

use some

> hearing in his left ear, he doesn't qualify?

>

>

>

> And, a little off the topic here, can a tinnitus specialist help

one get rid

> of tinnitus or at least reduce the ringing sounds?

>

>

>

> Many thanks!

>

>

>

> Jeff

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jeff

Welcome to the forum. First let me tell you that I have some first hand

knowledge of tinnitus, however, mine was not severe. I have noticed that since

I received my CI that while it is on I do not notice the tinnitus, however,

everyone is different and there is no way to predict how an individual will

react.

As for having hearing left in an ear, that does not disqualify someone from

getting a CI. One must have profound hearing loss to qualify and the only way

to find out if someone qualifies is to visit a CI center. You can find a list

of centers on each manufacturers website.

I for one can tell you that I was worried about qualifying for my implant and

after the examination I kind of laughed at myself as there was no doubt that I

was a candidate.

Please feel free to ask any questions as the people on the forum are very

knowledgeable.

Connie

" S. Bohrman " <jsbohrman@...> wrote:

Hello:

I am curious on behalf of someone I know who has suddenly lost his hearing

in his right ear and has been suffering with tinnitus since then. He had

been wearing hearing aids on both ears and I believe he has severe hearing

loss. His right ear was the better ear and he's now profoundly deaf there.

He can use phone with his left ear but this was his poor ear and doesn't

always understand everything.

The question here is.since he's suffering from severe tinnitus (very loud

booming sounds), is he a possible CI candidate? Or because he can use some

hearing in his left ear, he doesn't qualify?

And, a little off the topic here, can a tinnitus specialist help one get rid

of tinnitus or at least reduce the ringing sounds?

Many thanks!

Jeff