Yesterday was spent at Mayo with my daughter helping. First appointment was to select which CI I wanted to go with. Robin and I had done a lot of homework and decided on the Cochlear because of it's Kanso 2 (I have problems with dermatitis caused by the ITE). And Cochlear gave a lot of free 'toys'. Mayo uses Cochlear, MedEl (another consideration due to their Rondo) and AB. We both discounted AB as it didn't have an off the ear device). Dr Le then went over each one, plus, minus and the same in comparing them.
Turns out I'm going with the AB! The device is BTE, however it has a microphone that is directly in front of the ear canal (doesn't go in the ear) and for me would give better hearing. Another major point for me was that it included the HA (no cost) that 'talks' directly to the CI. Will stream directly to my Iphone (which was one of the selling points on Cochlear - MedEl you need to wear the mini-mic).
AB's HA is made to directly interface with the CI, which seemed to be a major plus. At one time AB had a recall (which had concerned me). Dr Le (who is fabulous) knew all the details and that it had been fixed. For my hearing loss - flat and severe - the AB turned out for me to make the most sense.
Next I was in and out for the CT - a piece of cake.
Last for the day was the balance tests, which were very easy and interesting.
Thursday I see the surgeon to hear (pun intended) what the team decided and if a 'go' to set a date for the surgery. The whole team has been wonderful. For the CT I was scheduled for 4:45pm, which meant hanging about for almost 3 hours. They managed to squeeze me in between the other two appointments! Yeah for Eric!. And by the time we headed out a major rain storm had left the area and we didn't have to mess with rush hour traffic and another storm (Arizona people do not drive well in rain - we aren't used to it).
What a wonderful day, and so great for you to have a solution coming. You need this boost after all the stress in your daily life!
And I am so happy your daughter is helping, it would be daunting to go through this alonbe.
Sue
What a wonderful day, and so great for you to have a solution coming. You need this boost after all the stress in your daily life!
And I am so happy your daughter is helping, it would be daunting to go through this alonbe.
Sue
Robin is really great. Always amazes me how many people remember us! So many people at Mayo and yet yesterday we ran into a couple of people who work there that we had met briefly during previous visits and they stopped us to ask how everything was going! The other thing that was totally amazing is that (so far) every appointment has been on time. I'm so used to arriving for my appointment and then sitting for another hour to actually get in. After being told to be there 15 minutes early.
They took the HAs I was trying and returned them and gave me a 'loaner' pair, which will be replaced when I get activated.
What I keep forgetting to ask is what hearing is available between the surgery and activation?
Regarding the Oticon More I found them less effective than the advertisement. My audiologist ordered them for me and subsequently moved away. The next audiologist thought I'd do better with the Phonak Paradise so she ordered them. I tried both the More and Paradise and found that neither lived up the the advertisements for me. Of course we are all different and yours experience may well be different.
After trying the More and Paradise I finally decided to keep the More and return the Paradise. It was a very difficult choice.
Thanks for your input, @arrowshooter. I suspect my experience will be similar to yours. I know that people are finding the More to be an improvement over the Opn 1 HAs but with my loss it will probably not be enough of a difference.
Thank you for relaying your experience, @billchitwood. If I was much closer to Mayo I would go there. I believe that Mayo and Johns Hopkins are the two best in the country, but Mass Eye and Ear is not too far behind.
It sounds as if I should find out which devices are prescribed at whichever of the two I choose to go and then do my research.
When you say you were "in and out for the CT", what exactly are you referring to. At first I thought you meant for them to attach the device to the magnet but then I see you have just scheduled the surgery. What were the two appointments in the same day set to accomplish?
Your question about your hearing between the surgery and the activation is one that I have been wondering about too. It's looking as if during that time you must be deaf in that ear.
JK
When I said 'in and out' I meant the amount of time it took to do the scan. Daughter didn't even have time to do any of her sewing and they didn't give me enough time to take a nap when Eric said to close my eyes. It was an extremely easy, fast test. Not uncomfortable at all. I didn't wear an underwire bra or any metal as I had read where you weren't supposed to. But since Eric (tech) didn't ask if I had any on - he could see no metal on head and I did remove my hearing aids - I'm guessing it wouldn't have applied to the ears being checked. Just a guess. I had forgotten to ask ahead of time so just played it safe.
@judysmayo I went to my audiologist last week and had a hearing test, etc. When we discussed HAs she definitely leaned toward the Oticon. She deals with both so she could have recommended either. I'm not sure why she seems to prefer Oticon, perhaps just because that's what I currently have, the Oticon Opn1 HAs.
JK
I've been wearing HA for 30 years. First make sure you love your audiologist - someone who never rolls their eyes when you say you want to try one more. Then I have learned that each brand has their own kind of sound.
Example is that one may sound more metallic to you, another may sound more comforting or soft. So, a preference for what works for you - not an audiologist is best. I have Widex and discovered it again after leaving for another brand.
I am however, very close to getting a CI. Maybe a hybrid?... I need to up my courage and decide that it's time. I have all the bluetooth I can manage and still need closed-captioning, a quiet room to talk face to face and pray daily that masks go away very very soon. I've been locked out of society with those disgusting hearing impairments everyone is wearing. But the real issue is my hearing and finding an aid that sounds good to me, that allows me to hear somewhat is crucial to stopping early dementia - none of us need that to add on to not hearing. Good luck with your process.
I've been wearing HA for 30 years. First make sure you love your audiologist - someone who never rolls their eyes when you say you want to try one more. Then I have learned that each brand has their own kind of sound.
Example is that one may sound more metallic to you, another may sound more comforting or soft. So, a preference for what works for you - not an audiologist is best. I have Widex and discovered it again after leaving for another brand.
I am however, very close to getting a CI. Maybe a hybrid?... I need to up my courage and decide that it's time. I have all the bluetooth I can manage and still need closed-captioning, a quiet room to talk face to face and pray daily that masks go away very very soon. I've been locked out of society with those disgusting hearing impairments everyone is wearing. But the real issue is my hearing and finding an aid that sounds good to me, that allows me to hear somewhat is crucial to stopping early dementia - none of us need that to add on to not hearing. Good luck with your process.
Met with the surgeon this morning and, as with me, nothing is clear cut. His comments were that my face on face with him in a quiet area showed with HAs I have no problem hearing. That a CI could make that worse and not help with the other issues I have (hearing with background noise, etc.) and not only not help but make it worse. He said with most people he has no problems one way or another in making a decision. But in my case I'm right in the middle (on the edge). I asked him what he would advise if I were his mother and he said that he would suggest trying to give the HAs a longer trial.
Seems counter production to buy a new set of HAs and 3 months later go for the CI! Yet if it turns out it wouldn't help!
I've been wearing HA for 30 years. First make sure you love your audiologist - someone who never rolls their eyes when you say you want to try one more. Then I have learned that each brand has their own kind of sound.
Example is that one may sound more metallic to you, another may sound more comforting or soft. So, a preference for what works for you - not an audiologist is best. I have Widex and discovered it again after leaving for another brand.
I am however, very close to getting a CI. Maybe a hybrid?... I need to up my courage and decide that it's time. I have all the bluetooth I can manage and still need closed-captioning, a quiet room to talk face to face and pray daily that masks go away very very soon. I've been locked out of society with those disgusting hearing impairments everyone is wearing. But the real issue is my hearing and finding an aid that sounds good to me, that allows me to hear somewhat is crucial to stopping early dementia - none of us need that to add on to not hearing. Good luck with your process.
Thank you, @happy2bhear
My audiologist is great. She's not only a good audiologist but I think she really cares about her patients and I could tell when we discussed the possibility of me getting a cochlear implant that she felt terrible telling me that. When I see her I really feel like she's a friend.
Masks do make it more difficult but I would much rather have people wearing them to protect my health than to not be wearing them. Masks provide the most protection to the people who are speaking or with the mask wearer. I stopped going to a fruit and vegetable stand that I liked a lot because the owner will not wear a mask. To me, and to others I know, that is basically saying he does not care about his customers. Not acceptable. I will deal with the problems they pose, they help to protect my health.
JK
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What a wonderful day, and so great for you to have a solution coming. You need this boost after all the stress in your daily life!
And I am so happy your daughter is helping, it would be daunting to go through this alonbe.
Sue
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1 ReactionRobin is really great. Always amazes me how many people remember us! So many people at Mayo and yet yesterday we ran into a couple of people who work there that we had met briefly during previous visits and they stopped us to ask how everything was going! The other thing that was totally amazing is that (so far) every appointment has been on time. I'm so used to arriving for my appointment and then sitting for another hour to actually get in. After being told to be there 15 minutes early.
They took the HAs I was trying and returned them and gave me a 'loaner' pair, which will be replaced when I get activated.
What I keep forgetting to ask is what hearing is available between the surgery and activation?
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThanks for your input, @arrowshooter. I suspect my experience will be similar to yours. I know that people are finding the More to be an improvement over the Opn 1 HAs but with my loss it will probably not be enough of a difference.
Thank you for relaying your experience, @billchitwood. If I was much closer to Mayo I would go there. I believe that Mayo and Johns Hopkins are the two best in the country, but Mass Eye and Ear is not too far behind.
It sounds as if I should find out which devices are prescribed at whichever of the two I choose to go and then do my research.
When you say you were "in and out for the CT", what exactly are you referring to. At first I thought you meant for them to attach the device to the magnet but then I see you have just scheduled the surgery. What were the two appointments in the same day set to accomplish?
Your question about your hearing between the surgery and the activation is one that I have been wondering about too. It's looking as if during that time you must be deaf in that ear.
JK
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionWhen I said 'in and out' I meant the amount of time it took to do the scan. Daughter didn't even have time to do any of her sewing and they didn't give me enough time to take a nap when Eric said to close my eyes. It was an extremely easy, fast test. Not uncomfortable at all. I didn't wear an underwire bra or any metal as I had read where you weren't supposed to. But since Eric (tech) didn't ask if I had any on - he could see no metal on head and I did remove my hearing aids - I'm guessing it wouldn't have applied to the ears being checked. Just a guess. I had forgotten to ask ahead of time so just played it safe.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI've been wearing HA for 30 years. First make sure you love your audiologist - someone who never rolls their eyes when you say you want to try one more. Then I have learned that each brand has their own kind of sound.
Example is that one may sound more metallic to you, another may sound more comforting or soft. So, a preference for what works for you - not an audiologist is best. I have Widex and discovered it again after leaving for another brand.
I am however, very close to getting a CI. Maybe a hybrid?... I need to up my courage and decide that it's time. I have all the bluetooth I can manage and still need closed-captioning, a quiet room to talk face to face and pray daily that masks go away very very soon. I've been locked out of society with those disgusting hearing impairments everyone is wearing. But the real issue is my hearing and finding an aid that sounds good to me, that allows me to hear somewhat is crucial to stopping early dementia - none of us need that to add on to not hearing. Good luck with your process.
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3 ReactionsI just got the results back from the CT scan and apparently everything normal - Yeah! Off to see the surgeon this morning.
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1 ReactionWonderful news! Good luck.
Sue
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1 ReactionMet with the surgeon this morning and, as with me, nothing is clear cut. His comments were that my face on face with him in a quiet area showed with HAs I have no problem hearing. That a CI could make that worse and not help with the other issues I have (hearing with background noise, etc.) and not only not help but make it worse. He said with most people he has no problems one way or another in making a decision. But in my case I'm right in the middle (on the edge). I asked him what he would advise if I were his mother and he said that he would suggest trying to give the HAs a longer trial.
Seems counter production to buy a new set of HAs and 3 months later go for the CI! Yet if it turns out it wouldn't help!
Decisions, decisions!
Thank you, @happy2bhear
My audiologist is great. She's not only a good audiologist but I think she really cares about her patients and I could tell when we discussed the possibility of me getting a cochlear implant that she felt terrible telling me that. When I see her I really feel like she's a friend.
Masks do make it more difficult but I would much rather have people wearing them to protect my health than to not be wearing them. Masks provide the most protection to the people who are speaking or with the mask wearer. I stopped going to a fruit and vegetable stand that I liked a lot because the owner will not wear a mask. To me, and to others I know, that is basically saying he does not care about his customers. Not acceptable. I will deal with the problems they pose, they help to protect my health.
JK
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1 ReactionPlease keep us informed about the journey - which one you choose etc.. It's very exciting.
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