Re: More on CIs, Donna and Amy

[Guest guest]

At 04:58 PM 2/26/2002 -0800, you wrote:

>Amy wrote:

>

> I would still like her to consider being reimpanted (she is now 11

> > years old).

>Amy,

>Is she old enough to make her own decision at this age?? My son is 6 and he

>doesn't want the implant. We are honoring his wish.

>

>

> We would obviously have to do a lot of testing before any doctor

> > would consider this surgery again - but she is at this point adamantly

>against

> > the implant - says she hears just fine!

> >

>I am curious why you would get an implant if she says she is fine at with

>who she is??

>Donna

>Mother to ny 6, profound

> 3, hearing

>

>Hayley is going to be 10 and when I proposed it to her, she was not very

>pleased with me. However, somebody (I think it was Tish, and thank you Tish

>for the nice post yesterday) mentioned that at 10, it is up to the parent to

>make those important decisions for the child. It just depends on your

>perspective.

My perspective is different. At 10, they have a stake in it. There's no use

going through the surgery if the child isn't willing to put 100% into the

therapy. We have gone around with my 10yo for about a year now on this

topic. He goes back and forth. He recently decided that he wants to hear

better. At that point, we decided together to move forward. However, we are

going to go through the psych evaluations. If anything turns up in those,

like he really doesn't want this, or is doing it to please Mom and Dad,

then we'll cancel. The only negative thing I've heard so far is he doesn't

like the surgery. Who would??? If that's the only issue, then there's

really not a problem. He is an oral kid who works very hard to use his

residual hearing. Hopefully the implant will make things easier for him. He

also has his sister to compare himself to, and what she does with her

implant he knows he can't do himself.

Chris

[Guest guest]

.. I just don't think she has anything

> to lose by having the implant.

,

She might have a lot to lose. What happens if her face becomes paralyzed

from this?? I don't know the exact percent that becomes paralyzed but, it

does happen. I guess you have to weigh the odds. I am not trying to talk

you out of this. I just expect the worst and hope for the best. I'm trying

to be realistic about it. It can happen along with a lot of other things.

Donna

[Guest guest]

> I don't know the exact percent that becomes paralyzed but, it

> does happen.

Even with the best of surgeons, this does happen. about a year ago there was

a case at my son's implant center. But, usually the paralysis is only

temporary (taking a few weeks or a year to return) as the nerve heals. I

think in the case at my son's center, the nerve wasn't where it was supposed

to be (but then neither were a couple of other structures either). There are

also the normal risks associated with anesthesia. The fact is, there is some

risk to the procedure being done, but complications usually comprise a small

percentage. So, you ask the surgeon if he's ever run into complications

before how he's handled them, and what he's done to minimize the chances of

this happening again.

Hugs,

Kay

[Guest guest]

Donna:

Please post any studies you have regarding facial paralysis after CI

surgery. I have never heard of this. I have heard of extrusions and

infections, but not paralysis.

By the way, I always keep my expectations of things realistic...and I always

hope for the best. I also usually get it.

Thank you,

>

>She might have a lot to lose. What happens if her face becomes paralyzed

>from this?? I don't know the exact percent that becomes paralyzed but, it

>does happen

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[Guest guest]

wrote:

>

>My perspective is different. At 10, they have a stake in it. There's no use

>going through the surgery if the child isn't willing to put 100% into the

>therapy.

Chris

Exactly. That's why I don't feel we need to rush. Hayley is a signing

child right now...actually I anticipate she will be all her life. All the

factors right now...her progress (or lack thereof) in school, her triannual

assessment which will let me see where she is, the introduction of this

Dormac reading method her teacher wants to try, and the CI eval (whether she

is a candidate or not) - anyway all those things weigh into the CI decision.

Of course our expectations on the implant would be different than your

family's I think.

She does love her digital aid though. She was very excited telling us today

in sign language, how the dog sounds when she barks (then she barked for us

orally).

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[Guest guest]

> I have never heard of this. I have heard of extrusions and

> infections, but not paralysis.

Potential side effects of cochlear implantation is covered pretty well here:

http://www.pixsoft.com/ci/sideeffects.html

Hugs,

Kay

[Guest guest]

I know one little girl that had facial nerve paralysis after surgery but her

structures were not anatomically correct and they didn't use the monitors

then. It improved a lot but didn't ever go away completely.

Elaine

Cueing Mom to Jake/Auditory Neuropathy/Clarion S-Series 2-99

[Guest guest]

and thank you Tish

> for the nice post yesterday

Same here. That was so touching. I hope your daughter will continue to

bring you lots of happiness.

Cristina