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Cochlear implant update
I had my cochlear implant surgery several months ago and received my listening device two weeks ago. Totally amazing and has changed my life. I have attended several events, dinners, church services that are so much different for me now. I can actually have a conversation with someone in a loud room where before it was a non event. I highly recommend it if you qualify!! Can’t thank my Dr enough for recommending it!
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@charlane The rebab varies, but is mostly about getting used to listening to speech with your new technology. There are special programs available to tune in to. Everyone is different, so the time and focus needed will be unique to you. I found that listening to audio books on my laptop was helpful.
Sounds like you're on the right track Charlaine. When you have time you may want to go to the website of The American Cochlear Implant Alliance. http://www.aicalliance.org They have a lot of unbiased information related to the three different brands of cochlear implants.
Keep us informed about your CI journey.
I had my surgery done at Mayo in Rochester Mn last July. My audiologist there said I could do the exercises provided by Coclear but that he felt they were not important. His comment was that the way to rehab to gain hearing clarity was simply to use it! The more you got out, listened to people or speakers, took walks to listen to sounds in nature - simply keep your processor on always unless sleeping and showering. That’s worked super well for me. The first week was sometimes a bit overwhelming with all the strange robotic sounds but within 2 weeks, things were sounding much more normal. So glad I got the surgery!
As far as the physical rehab after surgery, I found that the effects of surgery were very minimal....some headaches for a few days but then life as normal (following the guidelines of no heavy lifting, no bending over, etc.). The surgery site healed quite rapidly although the "sealant" the surgeon used took a while to peel off. Weird sounds in the CI ear for a while (car alarm, whooshing, ticking, etc.) but then that lessened. Altogether a rather easy process.
Charlaine, if you look at my response to you 2 days ago, I mention that I have been attending online forums put on by Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Americas where people who have already gone through the CI surgery and aural rehab process will answer any questions that you have relating to that part of the CI. I a, in the same boat as you trying to understand what my life will be like after activation and how much time I will need to dedicate to it. My understanding is that a lot of the rehab is done with online resources as well as several people have recommended listening to audiobooks during that time to help your implanted ear to recognize sounds. If you are interested in joining one of those forums send me a private message or email me at mikemiles_19087@yahoo.com and I will send you the AB and Cochlear contacts thAt run these forums. I'm also told that both companies will provide you online resources as well to help you through the process. They are there to help from pre-surgery to whenever you feel you have achieved your post activation goals.
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1 ReactionI am continuing to research CI. I may not qualify for Medicare to pay. Has anyone paid out of pocket and what was cost?
This is an old post that I can no longer edit. The email address posted for the American Cochlear Implant Alliance is incorrect. It should be http://www.acialliance.org There is a wealth of information at that site.