Just my personal opinion, and no more than that...

[Guest guest]

You know? I have received invaluable information on CI Hear about

cochlear implants! I have been a member here long before I ever had

my surgery itself. I've been gettin' information and support here

when my implant was only a twinkle in my surgeon's eye! Grin!

I think it is great that people who have chosen different brands can

brag on their CI, or even share some aggravations. (That's southern

for the occasional problem). Brand loyalty is natural. I drive a

Camry and I'll never own anything else if I have my say about it.

(Unfortunately, I do have a hubby who'd love to have better gas

mileage, and 2 teens who'd love to have a vehicle where they weren't

eating their kneecaps all the way into DC!) I have loved my Camry.

If someone asks me what I think the best mid-size car is, I can go by

my experience with the Camry and give my opinion. Now there are most

certainly other mid-size cars that are excellent. But I don't tell

someone driving a Honda Accord they made the wrong choice, nor do I

go around telling them that the features their car have, don't

compare to the features of my Camry.

We all are reminded occasionally to not criticize implant choices and

companies different from the one we ourselves chose. We are all

asked occasionally to " play nice " . Even though it's a shame we have

to be told that, I suppose it's only natural.

I feel like a broken record here sayin' this, but I know folks that

represent consumers implanted with CI's from all the companies. It

is a rare thing for me to hear that someone does NOT like their CI.

The few times I have heard about negative CI experiences, those

testimonies come from people that represent all 3 brands.

I have met incredible people who work for, or are volunteers for the

CI companies. I've had the opportunity to do some traveling and

speaking on behalf of those of us who are late-deafened. So I've

been able to shake the hands of folks like the S., Tom W.,

Sandy M., W., Dora, Alice, Pam, W., and many others.

If I've met them more than once, I go beyond hand shakin', and hug

their necks. They are helping people hear again, and spreading the

word about the miracle of the cochlear implant. Heck, I may just up

and kiss their face eventually!

Brand competition is a good thing. It keeps the companies looking

for " new and improved " . Ultimately, WE benefit. We want the CI

companies to be competitive.

However, I believe that as consumers we should rejoice in the miracle

of " hearing again " , and celebrate the activation of each and every

cochlear implant. I realize that at times some feel forced to

defend. But it is my opinion that CI recipients and volunteers

should not have to be forced into a defensive position. This is a

group for consumers. If someone specifically asks a question

about a CI brand they are looking into, there is no better opinion

than that of someone who actually HAS that implant.

I agree with what many of have said on here, in that I don't really

understand all the intricacies of my implant. Nor do I understand

how it differs from the other implant brands when it comes to the

technicalities. I lack the professional words on how to say this, so

forgive me for my opinion in that I DON'T GIVE A RIP. What I DO care

about is that people who had hearing loss can hear again. I can hear

again.

If someone gives information on here about their implant and you

believe it to be incorrect, then you should email that person. Or,

perhaps you can simply point CI Hear members to another site that has

proof to back up what you are saying. People who are still searching

can go and look for that information and read about it themselves.

In this way, CI Hear remains a " home " and " hang out " for those of us

who already have a cochlear implant, or for those who are searching

for more information. CI Hear was not started in order to provide a

battle zone. The board's claim to fame is that it provides a place

of hope and support for those with hearing loss.

Trials for new implants and processors are an exciting thing. But

this board is suppose to be a place that folks involved in those

trials can brag on and be excited about what they are taking part

in! When I read about what someone is experiencing as a result of

their being involved in an implant trial, I want to jump through the

computer screen… take both of their hands in mine… and dance a

ridiculous joyous boogie woogie! (Another southern word, pardon me

please!) Please know that I'm not jumpin' on any one particular

person here. I don't know about what goes through the mind of others

when they read a post where a member says directly or indirectly

something negative about another company. Mind reading ability is

not something any of the implants companies have been able to provide

us with yet. I know what goes through my mind, however. My first

thought is that they aren't happy with their own implant, and are

lookin' for a bone to pick.

Someone who is looking for information about cochlear implants can go

to the websites of Advanced Bionics, Cochlear Corporation, and Med-

El. They should be able to come here to CI Hear, and ask for first-

hand testimonials of CI recipients. People who post those 1st hand

testimonials should be allowed to share what they know, and even to

beam with pride and joy through the words they type out.

There are other groups, and list serves that are brand specific.

There are other groups, and list serves who indirectly encourage

confrontation and challenges. It's the way they choose to

disseminate information. Unless I've missed something, it is NOT the

way CI Hear was set up. I've learned things at " those other places "

too! Nothing like getting the rug jerked out from under ya, and

knockin' you are your butt to make you get up slowly and carefully.

While dustin' myself off, I have to time to learn something. One of

my favorite hearing loss angels is a man who often aggravates me but

in doing so helps me think through what I really believe. That's why

he's one of my angels. I like growing and maturing!

Here at CI Hear there are hurting people; people looking for hope and

information. Let's all do our part to keep CI Hear the place they

can go to in order to find it.

Respectfully submitted,

P

Frederick, MD