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Posted on: Fri, Sep 7 2007 2:02 PM

Posted by: Mason Posts: 23

I'd be interested in hearing about other people's experiences with cochlear implants.

Posted on: Fri, Sep 7 2007 5:11 PM

Posted by: Lori Frisher Posts: 11

hello i have a cochlear implant and had the surgery a year ago

would love to hear more about you and share how it has worked for me.

i hear clocks ticking, keys in doors, rain on windows, computer sounds, birds tweeting, paper coming out of printers...

pretty amazing..

Posted on: Sun, Sep 9 2007 5:13 PM

Posted by: nroundy Posts: 4

Has anyone heard about cochlear implants for high frequency??? I had Chemo therapy as a kid and I hear great in the low frequencys but I don't have any sensory hairs in the highest pitches so hearing aids are ineffective.

Groups are impossible and the cold hard truth; I'm good at laughing even when i don't have a clue whats going on. I only say "what" a few times before just nodding an smiling.  Ya know, its interesting because my physical disability is not that big a deal compared to the challenges of bad hearing. The most frustrating part is, I can get a new knee or foot, but I can't do anything for hearing loss. Its this thing called acceptance that is one cold hard lesson of life.

Posted on: Sun, Sep 9 2007 5:54 PM

Posted by: Lori Frisher Posts: 11

Did not know about the high frequesncy stuff....well have to say i understand your frustrations on other fronts.. why doesnt insurance cover hearing aids or hearing aid batteries.. should i get started? we are different now matter what people may say ... we may not be an amputtee but we do indeed face challenges.. but i have learned to challenge myself and teach others about acceptance through my accomplishments.

L

Posted on: Mon, Sep 10 2007 4:50 PM

Posted by: Mason Posts: 23

nroundy, implanting the electrode array in the cochlea will destroy all residual hearing that you have.  You would have to go through candidacy to see if you qualify for a CI.  This involves hearing tests that prove your hearing loss is profound enough.  Your insurance may be the determining factor in this.  Some require more hearing loss than others.

Lori, if insurance companies paid for hearing aids and batteries they would go broke or insurance premiums would be to high for ANYBODY to afford.  With a whole generation of young people abusing their ears, we are raising a future society of deaf people.  There is no way insurance companies would pay for all the hearing aids people would need.  Actually more insurance companies pay for CIs than for hearing aids.

Posted on: Mon, Sep 10 2007 4:54 PM

Posted by: Lori Frisher Posts: 11

Mason... 

how long have you been wearing an implant and where did you have it done?

Posted on: Thu, Jan 24 2008 3:05 AM

Posted by: YakimaBelle Posts: 73

How do cochlear implants work for Meniere's? My doctors have only recommended an endolymphatic shunt; they say the deafness is neural and does that mean the cochlear implants won't work?

Posted on: Thu, Jan 24 2008 7:34 AM

Posted by: Mason Posts: 23

Cochlear implants use an array of electrodes inserted into the cochlea that send an electrictal stimulus to the auditory nerve.  The cilia (hearing hair cells) in the inner ear have been destroyed by Meniere's Disease, so as long as you have an auditory nerve and a cochlea, the CI can help you.  I have 100% hearing loss in both ears from Menieres.  The CI will not cure your MM.  You will continue to have the same symptoms as before, except possibly your tinnitus may improve because you are hearing more sounds.  The shunt surgery is to relieve the excess endolymphatic fluid in the inner ear which is believed to be the cause of at least some MM attacks, altho there are many people who attest that their MMs is related to allergies, TMJ, an upper cervical misalignment in the spine, heredity, weather changes, metabolic and dietary issues.

To qualify for a CI, as someone mentioned, you must go through a series of testing.  Most insurance companies require that you have less than 49% hearing WITH a hearing aid before they will pay for the CI.  Some insurance companies are starting to pay for bilateral CIs (both ears) but not all.  Check with your insurance and find out.

I did not have insurance.  I went through Vocational Rehabilitation in my State and they paid for a large portion of the surgeon, hospital, the device itself and the testing beforehand.  You must meet their economical requirement to qualify for help from Voc Rehab. I have had my CI since March 2006. 

Yakima, the shunt procedure may help you, or it may not, but to be honest it is generally a temporary fix (3-4 years).  But if your vertigo is really disabling and chronic then the 3 years would be worth it.  That is something you have to evaluate on your own and understand the risks and possibility it may not help.

There is a Meniere's talk forum where there are quite a few folks who have had the shunt (and also a few with CIs) if you want to go and ask questions there - people will answer you in a short while.  It is a VERY helpful resource and they keep a database of information that is definitely worth reading - all about MM.  It is www.menieres.org  and you just have to register and choose a password.  Also there is a site with some good information, including a brochure on surgeries for MM.  www.menieresresources.org and you can read some personal profiles about people who have MM.

Good luck to you.  Hang in there!