I was in the chatroom at hearingexchange.com. Very interesting place! We discussed cochlear implants, hearing loss, blah blah blah blah blah. Anything related to hearing loss. It was pretty cool. I really enjoyed it!
OOO and I got a response from the CNI in Colorado! I was given a phone number so I can call CNI to set up an evaluation appointment, and to ask any questions that I may have. Of course, I printed out the email so I can share it with my mom. I send another email with more questions so yeah. Heh heh heh heh! It'd be WONDERFUL if I could get the implant within the next year. It'd be neat. Especially since we are doing a problem on cochlear implants and deafness next year at SLC for our senior year (I CREATED THAT PROBLEM!).
Friday, May 23, 2003
Thursday, May 15, 2003
when?
When would be a good time for me to get the CI? My senior year (next year basically) or after I graduate from high school?
I'm trying to decide that. I would LOVE to get implanted my senior year... but there's a LOT of work involved, and a lot of traveling to Boys Town too. I'm just not too sure right now. I'm still doing a lot of thinking and need to discuss this with my mom some more.
I guess I'll wait until after I've been evaluated to know for sure if I'm a candidate. Then I'll decide then I suppose.
I'm trying to decide that. I would LOVE to get implanted my senior year... but there's a LOT of work involved, and a lot of traveling to Boys Town too. I'm just not too sure right now. I'm still doing a lot of thinking and need to discuss this with my mom some more.
I guess I'll wait until after I've been evaluated to know for sure if I'm a candidate. Then I'll decide then I suppose.
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Boystown
Hi Meghan,
The evaluations would need to be set up at Boys Town. We should be able to
schedule everything in one day. It is a full day of evaluations that are
scheduled. We can schedule your CT scan to be completed locally, and then
the results can be sent to Dr. Harker for review. We have other patients
from Wyoming, so that is not a problem.
Keep in mind that getting a cochlear implant is more than just the surgery.
It typically involves approximately 8-10 visits to the implant center during
the first year and at least once annually for the rest of your life, as long
as you are using the device. Below is the typical follow-up schedule to give
you a better idea of the follow-up required.
Trip 1: Pre-Implant Evaluation
Trip 2: Surgery (Involves 3-4 day stay in Omaha; overnight stay in
hospital)
Trip 3: Activation (1 month later; 2 day stay in Omaha) Cochlear implant
activation (2-2 hour appointments on consecutive days),
x-rays, follow-up exam by doctor
Trip 4: (1 month post-activation) programming and physician visit
Trip 5: (3 month post-activation) programming
Trip 6: (6 month post-activation) programming
Trip 7: (9 month post-activation) programming
Trip 8: (1 year post-activation) programming
At least annually thereafter
Frequent follow-up during the first year, especially during the first 6
months is very important to make sure that stimulation levels are adjusted to
optimize implant performance.
As far as your questions regarding right ear versus left ear. Audiological
candidacy is severe to profound hearing loss or poorer in both ears. Based
on that, it sounds like you qualify. We will perform speech perception
testing at your visit to make sure that you fall within the candidacy
criteria for implantation. Of patients who have enough residual hearing to
use a hearing aid in one ear, they usually continue to do so after
implantation. Usually ear choice is up to the patient unless there are
anatomical anomalies that would cause a complication with electrode
insertion. In that situation, the physician would let you know why one ear
is preferred over the other. Most of the time, it is the patient's
preference.
After testing and evaluation, we will be able to better answer these
questions as they specifically relate to your situation. There are always
factors that have to be considered based on each individual who is seeking
implantation. Sometimes patients do not always meet all of the candidacy
criteria, but are judged to be good candidates based on other factors. We
assess each person on an individual basis.
DUDE! that's a lot of stuff to do in a year.. Meh I knew it'd take a while for everything to happen in the whole cochlear implant process... that's a lot of traveling to Boys Town if I do all this within the next year!
and I'm a SENIOR in high school in the fall! GAH! I don't wanna miss much school due to this.. and I'm sure my mom can't afford to take much time off from work just to drive me to Boys Town and what not.
Maybe we should wait until AFTER I graduate and we both move to Nebraska... or at least wait until after I graduate to get going with the whole CI process... WOW!
But I still can't wait either!!!!!
The evaluations would need to be set up at Boys Town. We should be able to
schedule everything in one day. It is a full day of evaluations that are
scheduled. We can schedule your CT scan to be completed locally, and then
the results can be sent to Dr. Harker for review. We have other patients
from Wyoming, so that is not a problem.
Keep in mind that getting a cochlear implant is more than just the surgery.
It typically involves approximately 8-10 visits to the implant center during
the first year and at least once annually for the rest of your life, as long
as you are using the device. Below is the typical follow-up schedule to give
you a better idea of the follow-up required.
Trip 1: Pre-Implant Evaluation
Trip 2: Surgery (Involves 3-4 day stay in Omaha; overnight stay in
hospital)
Trip 3: Activation (1 month later; 2 day stay in Omaha) Cochlear implant
activation (2-2 hour appointments on consecutive days),
x-rays, follow-up exam by doctor
Trip 4: (1 month post-activation) programming and physician visit
Trip 5: (3 month post-activation) programming
Trip 6: (6 month post-activation) programming
Trip 7: (9 month post-activation) programming
Trip 8: (1 year post-activation) programming
At least annually thereafter
Frequent follow-up during the first year, especially during the first 6
months is very important to make sure that stimulation levels are adjusted to
optimize implant performance.
As far as your questions regarding right ear versus left ear. Audiological
candidacy is severe to profound hearing loss or poorer in both ears. Based
on that, it sounds like you qualify. We will perform speech perception
testing at your visit to make sure that you fall within the candidacy
criteria for implantation. Of patients who have enough residual hearing to
use a hearing aid in one ear, they usually continue to do so after
implantation. Usually ear choice is up to the patient unless there are
anatomical anomalies that would cause a complication with electrode
insertion. In that situation, the physician would let you know why one ear
is preferred over the other. Most of the time, it is the patient's
preference.
After testing and evaluation, we will be able to better answer these
questions as they specifically relate to your situation. There are always
factors that have to be considered based on each individual who is seeking
implantation. Sometimes patients do not always meet all of the candidacy
criteria, but are judged to be good candidates based on other factors. We
assess each person on an individual basis.
DUDE! that's a lot of stuff to do in a year.. Meh I knew it'd take a while for everything to happen in the whole cochlear implant process... that's a lot of traveling to Boys Town if I do all this within the next year!
and I'm a SENIOR in high school in the fall! GAH! I don't wanna miss much school due to this.. and I'm sure my mom can't afford to take much time off from work just to drive me to Boys Town and what not.
Maybe we should wait until AFTER I graduate and we both move to Nebraska... or at least wait until after I graduate to get going with the whole CI process... WOW!
But I still can't wait either!!!!!
Thursday, May 8, 2003
I GOT THE INFO PACKET FROM BIONIC EAR! lots of info on the Clarion and Auria cochlear implant from that company! the Auria one is sooo frickin' cool! Course I'm not gonna choose an implant based on its looks. I want a cochlear implant that works and ...... yeah! Help me hear, and understand what's going on (after I get used to the implant and learning all the sounds again of course). Hmmmmmmm! I'm excited about this yes...
And my dad's supporting whichever decision I make about the CI. He says that if I want one, he's all for it and will help to find a way to pay for it all. I did forward him the email that I got from BoysTown with some information on CI's being not a hearing device but a prosthesis (or whatever it is) and that most insurances should cover this. err yeah.. okay.....
And my dad's supporting whichever decision I make about the CI. He says that if I want one, he's all for it and will help to find a way to pay for it all. I did forward him the email that I got from BoysTown with some information on CI's being not a hearing device but a prosthesis (or whatever it is) and that most insurances should cover this. err yeah.. okay.....
Wednesday, May 7, 2003
WHOA! DUDE! http://www.captain3d.com/temp/auria.htm That webpage is of the newer cochlear implant Auria by Bionic Ears! They're such cool looking CI's! I WANT ONE! Of course, I need to get some more info on it! I'm trying to decide if I want to go with Nucleus, or Clarion/Auria... tough decisions! Am still awaiting information from the Clarion company, as well as Boys Town.
And... My hearing aid is louder now.. Shane fixed the volume on it yesterday.... Only problem is that when I plug my FM transmitter into my CD player, and try listening to the music with that, I don't hear anything! The FM works alone, but when plugged in, it just won't work... and who knows why! Shane told me to come back next Wednesday during my lunch hour as someone from the Phonak company will be at the clinic. So he/she should be of some help figuring out why my hearing aid is not picking up stuff from the CD player. *sighs* it's a whole new hearing aid AND fm system too! You'd think everything would be working and all.. but noooo lmao AI YI! I'm going crazy.
And... My hearing aid is louder now.. Shane fixed the volume on it yesterday.... Only problem is that when I plug my FM transmitter into my CD player, and try listening to the music with that, I don't hear anything! The FM works alone, but when plugged in, it just won't work... and who knows why! Shane told me to come back next Wednesday during my lunch hour as someone from the Phonak company will be at the clinic. So he/she should be of some help figuring out why my hearing aid is not picking up stuff from the CD player. *sighs* it's a whole new hearing aid AND fm system too! You'd think everything would be working and all.. but noooo lmao AI YI! I'm going crazy.
Saturday, May 3, 2003
I WANT A COCHLEAR IMPLANT! I've been doing some more research online yesterday, and even tried to do some research on insurance companies... someone in the Deaf community on LJ mentioned SSI... hmm.... Will keep researching... I think I know which brand of CI I want... Clarion.... But I'm still doing some research on Clarion, Nucleus, and Med-El. Yep! I've requested some information on the Clarion implant from the website so we should be getting some info in the mail hopefully soon!
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