Evaluation Process for CIs - Your experience?

@Raudrive have you tried “Bring back the beat” by Cochlear? I worked my way through that Cochlear app, I’m not sure it helped me all that much. But might be worth it for you to give it a go.

Yes, I have tried it but have not completed it. It bored me at the time, need to get back at it.
The Speech Banana app was much better for me.
Thanks

Yesterday my wife was having a phone conversation with a lady friend of hers using the speaker phone. She brought the phone to me wanting me to say hello and visit some. Her friend and I talked for a minute or two and then went on about my business. Afterwords my wife came to me and said I understood everything on the phone call. I smiled and said yes I did. She was pretty amazed.

I realize I am responding to an old post, but it gave me another question to ask at my assessment next week - specific to MRIs and the distinct likelihood that I will one day get a second implant as told to me by the surgeon during a phone “appt”. If I already have an implant, that is problem already for another MRI. This must be a problem for many. I am already leaning to Cochlear vs AB because I like that their latest CI is rated for 3T without magnet removal and headwrap. ( I know Med-El also has MRI safe CIs, but I have ruled them out b/c they don’t seem to be keeping up with current expectations of connectivity) I wonder how much consideration surgeons give to future MRIs. I know they aren’t the only diagnostic tool in the box, but it now seems to be the tool of choice in ERs, and one never knows when they might need one. I am just thinking out loud …

Correct, I did not get a MRI for cochlear implant surgery.

It’s common to get a CAT scan for possible CI surgery in the UK as well. CAT scan is part of the assessment.

Raudrive and @Zebras that’s interesting. My ENT doctor sent me for both CT and MRI, the results of which she forwarded to the Cochlear clinic along with her referral. I have been told by the clinic that I will be getting yet another CT scan in a few weeks. I should probably question the need for another, given I just had one in January. The less radiation exposure the better. But glad to know that you two didn’t even require an MRI, so I know that might not be a requirement for a second implant. Thanks.

I had to have both CT & MRI pre CI implant surgery. An awful lot of surgeons like to check on the bony structures that the CAT shows them. And the MRI shows the ENT that the nerves are all where they are meant to be. So that during surgery they have no unexpected surprises.

@Raudrive yesterday I had a complete day without aid or processor. It was a beautiful Autumn day here, our back door is less than 15meters to the parkland. The trees are home to every bit of wild bird life, from the raucous cockatoo to the tiny sparrow. When you get several cockatoos squawking it’s loud, then add in the rest of the bird life it’s exceptionally loud. The peace and quiet was just heaven.

Just got home from audiologist appointment.

My right ear was implanted in October of 2020 and my left ear in January of 2021.

Test results:
Left in quiet 87% sentence understanding.
Right in quiet 84% sentence understanding.
Both ears in noise 66% sentence understanding. (this was my first ever hearing test in noise)

My test numbers don’t do justice to how much better I am hearing.
Getting a little better all the time. Maybe my next appointment in 6 months will get me into the 90’s.

Can even hold a telephone call conversation without Bluetooth, impressive for me. Still have a tuff time with TV without Bluetooth streaming, working on this.

A few adjustments were made to lessen soft sounds because I can hear clocks, locusts etc at a hundred yards. Hopefully this will help the wind noise I deal with outside too.

It was a good office visit.

@Raudrive said:

It was a good office visit.

That’s an understatement. It was an awesome visit. I’m so happy for you!

Thank you Sheryl.
I hoped my sentence understanding in quiet would have been in the 90’s, maybe my next visit. One thing about it, I see room for improvement but am very happy with the CI’s. The sentence test in noise was challenging. I just don’t get into noisy places anymore or rarely do. Not getting any practice!

Just now I have unpaired the N7 processors from my Google Pixel 3 phone and paired the K2 processors. Had to remove the Nucleus Smart app and re-install it to make the swap. Sure wish both sets of processors would pair to the app. Enjoying the K2 processors but have learned to like the N7’s too.

@Deaf_piper said:

wonderful scores considering you are still doing rehab, well I hope you are I should say

I shouldn’t say this but…..I have never really done any rehab. Never did any of the practice stuff my audiologist recommended. Did do a little of the “Bring on the beat” app.
Just paid attention to my wife!

This is wonderful to hear! I am just in awe at the lifechanging technology of cochlear implants. Hearing in noise is challenging for even those who are not hearing challenged. It’s a strange time to be adjusting to implants when we are all avoiding those situations where we have to cope in loud social situations. When I listen to ted talks or audio books on my laptop as part of rehab, I take my cell phone and put some competing “relaxation” music on speaker to simulate a noisier environment than I am currently living in. It’s a bit irritating, but I am hoping it helps!

I just got home from visiting my son and his family. My grandson is 19 months old and trying to put words together. I could understand him pretty good, not perfect but good.

We went to a friend of my son’s birthday party. About 25 people and music going all the time. I did pretty good considering. Had difficulty some times. Had a great time, played some corn hole too. Lots of fun.

Overall it’s like you said. We are hearing better and better.
CI is pretty amazing.
I hope you continue to hear better as well.