Hi all, Has anyone here have cochlear implants? I'm deaf in one ear and wasn't going to do it, but now wondering if it is a good idea. Some say it reduces tinnitus too. Thanks for any input. Sally
Hi Prozeal, No cochlear implants (CIs) do not get rid of imbalance or vertigo although some have reported some improvement. I was already in remission from Meniere's when I got my CIs. There are reports of improved tinnitus with CIs (me included). When my CIs are on my tinnitus is almost completely masked. Even when I'm not wearing my CIs my tinnitus is quite improved over what is was before the CIs. The main benefit of CIs are improved hearing. My hearing went from over 120 dB down in both ears to 20 dB down with CIs (low normal range). My CIs got rid of the distortion, recruitment and hyperacusis. Best regards, Jim
Hi AKJim, Thanks for your reply, glad it's working for you. I have cochlear hydrops as they say but I have no hearing problems, just tinnitus and imbalance. Some ENT's tell me I don't have hydrops if I don't have hearing loss and a neuro and audiologist say it doesn't have to have loss of hearing and I can still get the imbalance with cochlear hydrops. Not sure what to make of it, sigh.
Initially, the FDA required profound hearing loss in both ears to qualify for a cochlear implant. There have been some recent medical studies showing the benefits of cochlear implants in single sided deafness (SSD). House Clinic is conducting a study on SSD and cochlear implants. https://www.houseclinic.com/about/research/cochlearimplants. Other than medical studies, it appears the FDA's policy is still requiring bilateral severe to profound hearing loss to qualify for a CI. See Appendix 1 in the following article: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevices/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/EarNoseandThroatDevicesPanel/UCM443996.pdf
I have severe/profound sensorineural hearing loss in my left ear and severe loss in the right. Last week I had a hearing test and only got 54% word recognition in the right ear. Left ear is useless. I wear a hearing aid in the right ear, but I still have to be close enough to the person speaking to see their face. Between lip reading and the aid, I get by. I'm told my hearing still isn't where it needs to be to qualify me for a cochlear implant.
Hi Lisa, I have a Widex Mind 440 behind the ear. This is a 2009 model, though. I should upgrade, but the cost of one aid was $3000 and insurance didn't cover any of it. I'm so close to needing a cochlear implant that I don't want to lay out that kind of money again for something I may not be able to use very long. Some hearing aids have more features than others. Widex has a new model specifically for people with severe/profound hearing loss.
Hi Cheryl, How did you learn to lip read? Did it come naturally or did you take a course? Thanks so much
Hi Cheryl, It sounds like you are getting close to qualifying for a cochlear implant. Here are the current adult guide lines from the FDA (they vary slightly depending on the brand of CI: 18 years of age or older • Severe-to-profound, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (>70 dB) • Postlingual onset of severe or profound hearing loss • Limited benefit from appropriately fitted hearing aids, defined as scoring 50% or less on a test of open set sentence recognition (HINT Sentences) I always had the best results with ReSound hearing aids, but that was a couple of decades ago. I never had any luck with Phonak. You are right about the hearing aid being pretty worthless after you get a CI. Your brain tunes in on the best signal (CI) and pretty much ignores the aided side. As far as lip reading goes I learned it through experience. Jim
No, Muff, no course. It just came from experience and the constant struggle of trying to be part of a conversation. In the beginning, I didn't even realize I was doing it. One day at work someone said, "Are you reading our lips?" Had to think about it for a few seconds, then realized I was!
Thanks, Jim. The doctor said we're close, but not there yet. He did give me the card of the otology/neurotology guy that would be doing it. He said it's time I touched base with him. The thought of getting a CI, to me, is both exciting and frightening.
Hi Cheryl, I have bilateral CIs. Two separate surgeries. I completely understand your excitement and being frightened. I experienced both just prior to my surgeries. For some reason, more so with the second one. I did have some mild vertigo after both surgeries for a day or so. The CIs have markedly improved my quality of life. If necessary, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Best regards, Jim
Thanks for the encouragement, Jim. When I have some time I'm going to go into the archives and read your old posts. That will save you from having to answer so many questions. ;D I've had a VNS in my worst ear, so I would assume that would save me from having vertigo after CI surgery in that ear. I don't know, though. That's what's so frightening, fear of the unknown.
Acjim was it difficult adjusting to the CI And was the hearing very different? I read its work to try and understand Since its ditital hearing. I don't know if that They are more advanced now. Thank you
Cheryl and Lisa, Cheryl, I was in complete burn out when I had the CI surgeries, but still had some mild vertigo after both CI surgeries. It was only the first day or so. Certainly no where near the severity of vertigo I had with Meniere's. The vertigo with my right ear was extremely severe due to the presence of 3 peri-lymphatic fistulas. Lisa, I would not say that adjusting to the CIs was difficult. It takes time and practice, but for me it was a fun experience. When my audiologist first turned on my initial CI, she had my wife talk to me. I could immediately tell she was talking, but couldn't understand what she was saying. It was like a disturbance in the force field (Star Wars), but after about 30 minutes I started picking up words here and there and after an hour I was able to hear what was being said without lip reading. I told my wife, "I had forgotten you have a Southern accent." When we got home from the activation I started hearing all of these strange new sounds. It was wonderful! Claudia, what is that sound. Oh that is the end of cycle buzzer on the washer. Claudia what is that sound, Oh that is Suzie (one of our dogs) barking. Claudia, what is that sound, oh that is the dishwasher running. Initially, everyone sounded like Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse, but with time and mapping (tweaking the programs) sounds became very natural. My wife and friends sound just like they did before Meniere's. I can hear and understand what my wife is saying in her office next to my office. When one of the dogs bark downstairs I can tell which dog is barking. Music sounds just like it did back in the 60s before I got Meniere's. Is a CI worthwhile. You bet! Best regards, Jim
Wow that's so great to know !!! I thought That it was completely different from What I heard. Nice to know its more natural Sounding. I get way ahead of myself lol So glad to hear it works well for you .