Has anyone gotten the MED-EL cochlear implant?

@rick47 I got an Advanced Bionics CI last Sept. I went with AB because they are owned by same company that owns Phonak, and I've had Phonak aids for 20 years and have been very happy with their technology especially the mics. When I did my research prior to getting the CI I found that all 3 manufacturers now had MMI compatible CI's, but you're correct Rick that you should ask. My left ear was down to 25% comprehension (less than 50% on right) and trying to live an active life with that low level was becoming impossible as well as depressing. Couldn't socialize at all except for 1-on-1 with my Roger mic. I talked to over 30 people with CI's before getting one and everyone's experience is different. I know one woman who was ay 90% comprehension with CI in 3 months. She is 30 and had sudden loss so she was hearing 100% right up to her loss. Because her brain hadn't been deprived of sound for long, i was told that was why she was able to get to 90% so quickly. I've had my Severe/Profound loss for over 20 years. So it is taking me longer. I plug away at training my CI for 2 hours a day so I'm hopeful that I am close to that 90% number by year end. But even at my current % it is an improvement from where I was. Of the people I've talked to with CI's, no one has regretted getting it. Just remember that everyone is different and it won't work unless you train it. Good luck

I am fortunate in the fact that I did not get hearing aids until my 60’s. I should have probably gotten them several years earlier.
I agree that hearing aids are continuing to get better and I am encouraged that the research to regrow our hair cells is ongoing.
Hearing loss is an invisible disability in this country.
I can only hope that changes but change can only come if we demand it through the ADA. Auracast can be a great step forward if it is embraced by the business community. It can only be embraced if we push them to embrace it.
The country is only getting noisier. I notice it in restaurants and on the streets. Why restaurants feel they have to have background noise is a mystery to me. It just makes people eating there have to talk louder.
Our recent obsession with bigger and bigger SUV’s and pick up trucks is insane and after going to Europe totally unnecessary. They function very well with much smaller cars and SUV’s. What am I missing when every new model is wider and longer and many times noisier. What am I missing when I see people adding accessories to actually make their cars louder. You don’t see that in other countries.
Those of us with hearing loss have got to demand better from our country. Am I alone in feeling this way.
I welcome your comments.

I know hundreds of cochlear implant recipients who have had success with the implant brand they chose. All three manufacturers have had excellent success. Each keeps getting better.

Each manufacturer has led in different areas at different time. The comment about MRI compatibility was a reality at one time. However, all three brands now have achieved that success. Even in the early years of development, when MRIs were an issue due to the magnets being implanted with the cochlear implant, it was a matter of temporarily removing those magnets to do MRIs. Obviously, a separate minor type of surgery.

I chose Cochlear Americas because of their inclusion and focus on hearing assistive technology that worked with their implants. I have never regretted my choice, and have had excellent service when needed. However, now the other brands are inclusive in those areas as well.

I honestly don't think one can go wrong with any of the three brands. If you poll people who have had CI surgery with success, most will tell you what they have is 'the best'.

There are a few CI surgical centers that only implant one brand, but most will do whichever a patient chooses.

On that note, it's definitely a difficult decision. Most people trust their providers/surgeons and many would like it if those professionals had a preferred brand. Few do. They provide information and ask their patients to decide for themselves.

Good luck with the choice you make.

@daveshaw I agree 100% with what you said. It is invisible. But I have hope that the next generations who are wearing the buds in their ears will be more open and less stigmatized with wearing listening devices. As to a louder environment everywhere, I want to scream when I walk into most restaurants because they are so loud. Even my hearing friends say the same thing. It won't change until more of us speak up to turn down the volume or stop exposing the kitchens! I don't need to hear the workers in the kitchen banging pots on metal tables!

It is great that someone else feels exactly like you do. I am sure there are more of us out there but they remain silent.
They are more worried that someone might actually see their hearing aids. Hearing aid companies are well aware of this as they actually advertise that their aids are virtually invisible. What they don’t say is if you have severe or profound hearing loss they don’t work as well as those behind the ear. I don’t know about you but I am more concerned with how they work.
I have the newest Signia hearing aids and they are the best I have had yet. I can’t wait for the newest innovation to come out. With AI the advances are accelerating. I went to an audiologist at a large local hospital and was tested for over an hour. She told me CI’s would not be an improvement over my existing hearing aids. I really don’t want to go the CI route if I don’t have to. That day might come but at 74 I am still hoping they will finally be able to regenerate our hair cells. They have started human trials overseas. I am not expecting much to happen in this country for the next three and a half years.
The next time I walk in the restaurant and the background noise is way too loud I am going to ask to talk to the manager. I will politely explain that I am hard of hearing and the background music makes it hard for me and others to carry on a conversation. I will also say for those that are not hard of hearing it forces them to talk louder making the problem worse.
I hope people reading this post will do the same. One out of six individuals suffers from hearing loss. Only if we all speak up is it going to change. If the manager ignores you just tell him that is the last time you will be eating at his restaurant.
The ADA is supposed to be working for us but not if we don’t let them know there is a problem.
Let us get our voices back and maybe we can make a difference. What do we have to lose.
Speak up and be heard.

People who have gotten a Coco impact once you get one is your balance much different because hydrogen valence test because I was afraid of what I read and right now I am just really I don’t know what to do cause I really can’t hear and it’s frustrating. My sister cannot stand it either. Can you communicate please let me know.

Now me take a minute to discuss custom made hearing aid molds for your hearing aids. All hearing aid manufacturers give you generic non customized hearing aid domes. They are essentially one size fits all with maybe two options as far as size. Still they don’t come close to a custom fit mold.
At least it is worth a try. That is almost as important as the tuning of your hearing aids.
Remember also you get what you pay for and cheaper is not always better.
Just my thoughts. Technology is moving quickly and I am sure the making of molds is sharing in that progress.
Also maybe it is time that if you walk in a restaurant and the background music is blaring that you ask to speak to the manager. If he treats you like you are invisible just look him or her in the eye and say you are hard of hearing and the loud music makes even those that are not hard of hearing have to take louder. That combined with the background noise makes it unbearable.
Let’s let our voices be heard. If enough do maybe with one out of six having some hearing loss we can make ourselves heard.
Try it and let me know what happens. Hearing loss is a disability.
Look forward to hearing from you.

Thhe shot in the ear is in Boston. Also my doctor is part of the studies. I don’t think it’s out yet for the public but they’re working with it so that’s hopeful if anyone has any ideas I should have a big problem. I cannot get a culture implant cause because I had a brain tumor and actually my doctor said that the shot that year is not good for me so many ideas let me know please