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 .

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

[Geno_Mariner]

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

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 Nearly most of 'em uses sign language (primarily to annoy and confuse hearing people 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 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 I took part when I once did swimming).

Anywho, enough chatter from me 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.