Hello everyone. New user here! I discovered this forum a few days ago. I just want to say I think it is so cool. I will try to update my profile as I learn how to navigate the forum.
I am a bilateral cochlear implant recipient since middle (right ear) and high school (left ear) days. Prior to that, I utilized hearing aids from early childhood until they no longer suffice my hearing needs. So far, I am happy with my decision and feel it has added to my quality of life.
Not sure if this post is appropriate. So, please forgive anything I didn’t do right. Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Now that I think about it, it is half and half between everyone I know. Some with one, and some bilateral. One friend is currently considering a second one, but she has hesitation which is understandable. My other friend got one, and said it was a no go for the second one. He states, he’s hoping for something better, which I guess is possible. Its kind of bittersweet to watch because while I respect his choice; I do believe he would greatly benefit from it only because just one implant does not seem to meet his communication/hearing abilities to the fullest potential. I decided to get the second implant because the first one was life changing. Plus, after activation, my brain sync them both within 3 months, and I fell in love with sound, and realized how much I had been missing. That’s been my experience.
What often underpins the hesitantion for the second side versus the first? Some can keep some residual hearing but the possibility of none bilaterally does seem a risk? Anything else?
I think you nailed it- being totally dead without on is unsettling for many people, and it can outweigh the knowledge they would hear better. Younger CI recipients sometimes hold off in case a new technology is developed in their lifetime and they can still take advantage of it.
I am learning a new perspective. I never knew preserving residual hearing is something people considered. I was young when implanted, but old enough to understand what was happening. Perhaps, my residual hearing did not matter since the remaining hearing I had was practically nonexistence. As a result, I struggled in grade school. After implantation, I excelled in school.
For those who have sufficient residual hearing left, I’d most certainly understand the hesitation.
Interesting. Never heard it that way before. I can see how some would find it unsettling.
As a recipient, what I find a little unsettling in the back of my mind - In the off chance, I went totally dead without CIs (technology blackout, cruise/plane wreckage, or stuck on an island); I have no ways of communicating besides speaking and writing minus the hearing. It would without a doubt interfere/change my way of life. In hindsight, knowing what I know now, I would have learned sign language to counteract that possibility.
Plus, when I run into sign language users, they instantly start signing. And I always have to say I’m sorry I don’t know how to sign, which is a bummer for me.
The school I attended has an absolute mission to mold hard of hearing/deaf individuals to function as an English-speaking individual only. While another school’s mission in the area is to mold their students to function with sign language being their primary form of communication.
Although they are both on the complete opposite side of the spectrum, I do not think either option is bad. However, I cannot help but wonder what it would be like for hard of hearing/deaf students to have access to curriculum/schooling that incorporated both possibilities.
But I guess the choice of immediate advancement far outweighed the hope of potential developments. Should that occur, those that waited would certainly benefit. The possibility of that happening if my lifetime, knowing I would not benefit does create mixed feelings. But I guess we’ll live to see. So far, I do not regret my decision because the quality of my life skyrocketed afterwards, and I’m not sure I would have accomplished as much as I have today.
Do you think it would be worth getting a second opinion?
I could definitely get a second opinion. My L ear is my congenital ear, it hasn’t heard high frequencies in over 7 decades. My surgeon wouldn’t give me even a 50% chance of getting a reasonable result.
. I never knew preserving residual hearing is something people considered.
@Mack1 it’s only in the last decade that surgeons have been using robotic assisted insertions for minimally invasive atraumatic insertion of the electrode array into the cochlear. Prior to that it was manual insertion using instruments.
My surgeon was still in the testing stage of the robotic insertions when I got my . I had to sign all sorts of documents to give approval with no guarantee of success. The thing about residual preservation surgeons won’t guarantee its longevity. I had residual hearing for 15 months after surgery. Then I lost half of it overnight virtually. No one can explain why it happens , which is very frustrating.. My guess is it might be age related but I don’t have any proof.
I’ve been reading this forum for years but seldom post. So grateful to those who post often! I lost most of my hearing in my 40s in 1992, got one implant (R) about 10 years later and a second implant (L) 10 years after that. None of my audiologists ever mentioned rehab, I kind of stumbled into it by reading. I have great WR in my R ear, not so much in the L. I guess the R is much better because I was still working then and had lots of speech interaction. Even tho my 2nd implant has never come close to the success of the first, having both is a huge plus. Syncing between ears was off at the beginning ( often very funny listening to 2 different sound streams, so tolerable) but apparently my brain figured out how to sync over time. I now have Cochlear N7s in both ears. Plan to upgrade when my insurance allows - so silly to have them deny upgrade even after Cochlear decides to stop supporting the N7.
I have great WR in my R ear, not so much in the L. I guess the R is much better because I was still working then and had lots of speech interaction.
I could be also because our brains are lazy. If you had been already rehabilitated with R side and hear good, brain rely most on that side. This is also problem in /assymetrical patients with decent hearing in the better side.
The solution is to isolate the L side as much as possible. The sound should be streamed exclusively to the L. side. This was a real lifesaver for me after nearly seven years of not using the sound processor, which had been sitting in a drawer all that time. .
Welcome Mack! I’m a Cochlear (brand) user— for the time being. I’m new to the experience, having been activated 3 1/2 weeks ago. So far, so good. I’m working on it every day and I’ve seen progress, enough so that I’m sure I’m on the right track. I welcome any advice experienced users offer.
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