Anyone here have a Cochlear Implant ?
 

Might be one in my near future as I lost all hearing in left ear. Want to hear from anyone that has one.

Charlie
I am a member of the Rotary Club of Vancouver, BC. We have been funding a hearing research facility for 40 years and our main effort is a Hearing And Balance Center it St Paul’s Hospital.
I can connect you with the head Autolaringoligist at St. Paul’s for any questions you may have. Dr Brian Westerberg has completed many coequalar implants in his career.
St Paul’s is a Leading facility in North America on hearing loss research.
Paul
604-561-6731

Charley, I am hearing impaired in both ears. My occupation caused some of it but mostly 35 radiation ☢️ treatments on the right side of my upper jaw for cancer in 2011.
I truly feel for you because I know firsthand how being hearing impaired affects ones life. I know people who have the implants and they say that is very beneficial to them.
If you’ve completely lost your hearing I’d say go for it!
You’re going on my daily prayer list right now and I hope things work out for you and your family in this situation.
ICL,
Richard

My mother in law had one done last year successfully and was life changing for all of us to communicate and be involved in conversations

----Local woman animal doc has had a double C implant and can hear as good as new, she says. I would guess the important part is researching for the best specialist you can find.

You might know Jeff Oppenheim (best reachable on FB), he got it done in 2022.

Sorry to hear this Charley. But, as one of my friends says: "I hate being this old, but I am glad it is now and not 50 years ago." Personally, I honestly believe I would have been dead by this age had I experienced my heart issues OR my prostate cancer 50 years ago.

On top of that, I would not be able to participate in this hobby, even at the lame level where I am, if I had not had both shoulder joints replaced in 2020.

I have a brother with zero hearing in one ear and less than 20% in the GOOD ear. Not sure why he hasn't looked into the implant. What I find amazing is that Medicare will not pay for a hearing aid, but they WILL pay for this implant, assuming you qualify; which isn't hard to do.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

I know that the late Rush Limbaugh has those cochlear implants and they seemed to work well for him. Best of luck.
And Lynn, I agree, it's crazy that many health insurance plans don't cover hearing aids. I could use them as I have less than great hearing and they would probably help me a great deal.

Mark: Especially since lack of hearing has a DIRECT connection to dementia. People with hearing impairment tend to just "give up" on conversation and life in general!!!!

I KNOW without a doubt, that was one of the issues with my Mom. She started saying (for the first time in her life) "whatever" on a regular basis about two years before she developed dementia. In retrospect, that was a cry for help; she just didn't fully comprehend the conversation because of her hearing handicap.

Been chatting with him. Thanks everyone. After surgery I am deaf in one ear with a really loud ringing that is driving me nuts.

I was wondering if there was enough of your hearing "parts" left after surgery for a cochlear to work, but if your DR thinks it would help, there must be.

I have lived with that ringing my entire life and was classified 4F, medically unfit, to be drafted into the military because of severe high frequency hearing loss at age 19. It has gotten worse over time and is now the predominant sound I "hear". I know the feeling of it driving you nuts...
I'm surprised to read Medicare will cover the implants, as they wouldn't 10-12 years ago, but did cover about 50% of my hearing aids at that time.
I hope you can get help with this and maybe get some/all of your hearing back and a reduction in the ringing. I was told even with the implant, I would still have it at some level because of the damage done during infancy.

----I've had Tinnitus since my mid 20's in both ears due, probably, to excessive open exhaust noise. Sometimes worse than others. Sucks, but I live with it, and at times even forget the noise. Luckily just the hearing aids keep my hearing issues at bay....Bill S

Sorry to Hear this Charley...no pun.

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Interesting thread and comments.
I'm one-eared from birth w/ zero sound one side, it’s there but only for looks also to hold my glasses.
Well used to the ringing head (mine sounds like fluorescent light ballasts) plus no ability to tell direction sounds come from or hear music in stereo…lots more that’s all part of it.
Worst for me is dizziness which has largely increased in recent years as the body’s ability to counteract fades w/ youth, now replaced by meds that only marginally help.
They do make Relay style Hearing Aids w/ microphone in dead ear that relays sound to a speaker in the other that may help some but I’ve never bothered w/ anything.
A Cochlear w/ risks including worse dizziness not worth it for me personally also they have no guarantee of usefulness or will ever work like a real ear does/did.
They're only partially covered w/ our Med system here in Canada…although they’ll 100% pay to turn your penis inside out?:hmmm:
Anyway, you're doing the right thing, read/learn all you can before agreeing to anything, talk to lots of people w/ them including some who experienced negative results.
If one ear still good, best advise from a lifer as myself, maybe try the Relay Hearing Aids first but get used to it/live w/ it for a good long while before making any surgical decisions.
:beers:
~ Pete

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Darn !!!!!!!!

I have some tinnitus from playing in bands and being around a lot of drag cars.

prayers

After having a long conversation with Jim Park's brother Rick I have decided to get the implant. Rick has the exact implant my Doc said he liked. There are I think 3 different makers of implants. Rick told me to "Get it done yesterday!" Life changing for him. I asked if he could feel this thing installed in your head and he said you don't even know it's there. After reading up on it the creepy part is they grind a pocket in your skull to put it in.It will bluetooth to your phone, tv etc. In fact he said he was listening to the tv when I called. Not sure on the Doc's scheduling but if you see me at MCACN don't slap me on the side of the head.

If it all goes to crap I'm going to blame Jim and Rick.....

My wife and I wish you all the best Charley.

Hey Charley, take it easy. Let us know if you need anything.


Where is the surgery going to get done?

Dunno yet.

Good luck with this Charley. Technology sure is amazing!

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Just catching up on this, hope all goes well Charlie also turns out great!
:beers:
~ Pete

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I go in next Friday for a MRI on my brain with contrast. For contrast they give you a IV with dye in it apparently. Yuck. I hate needles.

If you have any kidney problems, let them know. The contrast can cause issues :beers:


Good luck

I hate them too, especially when they try to insert the IV on the top of my hand. I tell them find another location.

The contrast makes me feel a little cold and get a little metallic taste in my mouth, but no other real issues or side effects. The MRI machine is really loud, but if you can avoid getting claustrophobic, it passes before long. I get them every couple of years to monitor a benign growth that's slowly taking the hearing in my ear and backfilling it with some moderate ringing. I'm sorry your experience has been so abrupt and difficult. Good luck with everything.

There have been so many advances in medical devices & I’m thinking that the needles have improved a LOT. They are finer, Thinner walls, sharper, etc. I used to hate it when they would draw blood from me. No big deal now.

Praying for you Charley.

I had a MRI last year that confirmed the growth they ended up cutting out. I can take flu shots etc. It is when the try to find a vein for a IV or to draw blood that gets me. Passed out in a movie theater watching the French Connection 2 when they made Popeye Doyle a Junkie and kept injecting him with Heroin.

Good Luck with everything........

Hope all goes well Charlie. There are MRI machines that you can sit/stand in. I did that last time. They even had a TV going for me! Made the time pass.

I just watched that last month lol.

----Watching closely, Charley!!!....Bill S

I had a stand up test to watch my esophagus while swallowing some nasty tasting, radio active liquid.... Not sure if it was a CT or MRI...