Re: Digest Number 1877

[Guest guest]

> if a person is implanted and the implant doesn't take that the lose all

hearing that they had in that ear. I haven't heard anything about this

een, i also understand that this is a real possibility. When the

electrode is inserted the nerve can be damaged further. It's not

'destroyed' on purpose, just a side effect of the surgery. For this

reason the worse ear is usually implanted so the better ear can still be

used, either with a hearing aid or left as it is and can be used for

another implant in the future. I have read, however, that some children

can have the same ear re-implanted in the rare and unfortunate

circumstance of the implant device failing, but it's not a guarantee

(that the same ear can be re-implanted). I know this won't allay your

fears but it's better to know. We are just re-considering a CI for our

son too. Our hesitation is that he's been doing well with hearing aids

so far and whether our expectations from a CI would be too high. He has

good language but i'm afraid a lot of it has been acquired via

lipreading, not by hearing or, especially, by overhearing from other

children or from teachers in the classroom.

Good luck with your decision.

Cristina

mum to Dominic (3y 10m, prof. deaf, HAs)