Should I get the implant?

[JHuschke]

Hello guys, this is a very tough decision for me to make. I am 15 years old and I'm totally deaf in my right ear, and hard of hearing in the left and have to use a hearing aid to hear at all in my left ear. Ever since I had alot of ear infections when I was born, I lost hearing day by day and it has come to this. I wanted to know everyone's opinion if I should get a Cochlear Implant so I can hear again. Or could there be another way?

[Monica Lewinsky]

Sir,
I have a customer who has a son in the SAME boat as you. Be VERY careful on what you decide. You are messing with tissues that do not re-generate. They made the WRONG decision for their 5 year old.

Your decision is REAL important. Get 3-5 opinions, then make up your mind.

Advice, go S-L-O-W in making up your mind.

[Bort]

I voted "yes" on the basis that a family friend of mine recently got them and they have been very successful for him. Although he is still adjusting to them, he has had no complications and would most likely recommend them.

[Yahoshua]

Learn sign language.

While I can't exactly speak pro or con of the cochlear implants, you also have to consider the fact that this is a "temporary" solution (the implants may only last X years before needing surgery again).

As you get older your hearing will become worse and worse and there's nothing you can do about it. The sooner you become capable of coping and adapting to your disability the better.

[PeriscopeDepth]

Well...I thought this was going to be a different kind of thread. But get as many opinions as you can from trained medical pros, IMO. And read a lot about it.

PD

[Yahoshua]

you have the mind of a dirty, dirty, man PD :D .

(I confess, it was my first thought too).

[bradclark1]

You should talk to kids with implants your age and see how they feel. It's a tough choice. You have hearing in your left with an aid. Check how the technology is going. Would it be better if you waited for technology to improve? Have your doctors said how much your hearing would improve with the implant? From what I've read about it the improvement could be little to a lot depending on what you get.
If I had to give a split second decision I'd say wait and see how technology improves. You still have hearing in the one ear.

I've lost more than half my hearing and have hearing aids but don't like wearing them. Irritates my wife and kids.:)

[Jimbuna]

A friend of mine has a son who had this operation and sadly it was a failure.

As already stated, get the most expert advice from as many qualified sources as possible before making a final decision.

Good Luck http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[AVGWarhawk]

Tough decision for sure. However, modern medicine is something else today. I recommend you do a google search on the device and find the pros and cons. Personally, if it was my decision, I would wait until my hearing was a complete loss. Then attempt this device. If that is a avenue you can take that is. However, you stated you right ear has completely lost it ability to hear noise, therefore, I would go for the right ear and see what happens. If it works:up: If not:down: then do not concider the left ear that you do have some hearing ability.

[Oberon]

You should PM Genomariner, she has one.

[JHuschke]

Thanks for the tips! What I really don't understand is the people who are big in "Deaf Culture" and they believe that if whoever gets the implant to hear is going against the will of God. :nope: I don't know why they wouldn't want to hear, it makes things more difficult, but I guess not for them. I've never learned sign language and I hope I don't have to. I've heard of these Stem Cell Research programs that are trying to make things possible without any type of device being implanted.

[AVGWarhawk]

I was not aware of any Deaf Culture. It is against the will of God? Geez, some people need to have their head examined.

My Dad got catarack (SP?) ...cloudy cornea in the eyes. He had both cornea replaced in both eyes. So, he should have lived the rest of his life looking through cloudy cornea because it is God's will? That is just crazy.

Like I said, if your right ear is completely without hearing, go for it. In reality, what do you have to loose that you have not already? What do you have to gain if it works? Hearing in that ear.

[Geno_Mariner]

Hello! I'm a Cochlear Implantee myself ;) Like Oberon said ^^ (You're welcome to PM me anytime :up:)

Seeing you're totally deaf in the right ear, get the implant in that ear. I know of people who have implant in deaf ear and hearing aid in the ear that have some hearing left. Ahhh lemme see... *checks the location* Aw bum, you're in America. I was gonna recommend seeing Prof. Gibson. But I'm in the process of seeking an upgrade since mine's an old implant. Since I hate travelling to Sydney, I'm going to an local surgeon who someone I met at the Disabled Riders stables said is fantastic.

Like everybody else says. Always good to seek some opinions but I think (since you've mentioned you're slowly losing hearing in the left ear) get the implant before total loss happens. One good thing is: you have hearing before hearing loss therefore adjustment to the implant is not really a major problem. For me, it did take a while because I was deaf from birth.

Up to date, I've got 3-5 cochlear implantee friends and counting :up: Nearly most of 'em uses sign language (primarily to annoy and confuse hearing people :lol: and great for sneaking convos during class).

Oh yes, about the "Deaf Culture" part, mum had problems with 'em when she was considering getting me to get the implant. But I can say... it was totally worth it! But "Deaf Culture" also prevents deaf people from participtating in Paralympics :stare: Which annoys me. They say they're not disabled (I do kinda agree with this) but still, because they separate themselves from hearing people. Deafalympics was the result of this (it was so boring :down: I took part when I once did swimming).

Anywho, enough chatter from me :sunny: Take your time and go to as many good specialists as you can for opinions. I tend to get excited when I see more people having cochlear implants or are considering to get them, lol.