Should I get the implant?

JHuschke · 05-21-08, 07:03 PM

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 · 05-21-08, 07:23 PM

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 · 05-21-08, 09:28 PM

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 · 05-21-08, 09:46 PM

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 · 05-22-08, 01:29 AM

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 · 05-22-08, 09:11 AM

you have the mind of a dirty, dirty, man PD

.

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

bradclark1 · 05-22-08, 09:52 AM

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 · 05-22-08, 10:05 AM

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

AVGWarhawk · 05-22-08, 10:52 AM

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

If not

then do not concider the left ear that you do have some hearing ability.

Oberon · 05-22-08, 11:08 AM

You should PM Genomariner, she has one.

JHuschke · 05-22-08, 11:49 AM

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.

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 · 05-22-08, 12:13 PM

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 · 05-23-08, 12:13 AM

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.

View Poll Results: Should I get the Cochlear Implant to help my hearing?
Yes, get the Cochlear Implant for the left ear.	2	22.22%
Yes, get the Cochlear Implant for BOTH ears.	6	66.67%
No, just stick with the hearing aid until complete deafness.	1	11.11%
No, there could be another way..	0	0%
Voters: 9. You may not vote on this poll

05-21-08, 07:03 PM	#1
JHuschke XO Join Date: May 2008 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 432 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Should I get the implant? 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?

05-21-08, 07:23 PM	#2
Monica Lewinsky Grey Wolf Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 845 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ Sink them all!

05-21-08, 09:28 PM	#3
Bort Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Studying in Atlanta Posts: 919 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ GT Aerospace

05-21-08, 09:46 PM	#4
Yahoshua The Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,493 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ Science is the organized unpredictability that strives not to set limits to mans' capabilities, but is the engine by which the limits of mans' understanding is defined-Yahoshua

05-22-08, 01:29 AM	#5
PeriscopeDepth Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,894 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	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

05-22-08, 09:11 AM	#6
Yahoshua The Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,493 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	you have the mind of a dirty, dirty, man PD . (I confess, it was my first thought too). __________________ Science is the organized unpredictability that strives not to set limits to mans' capabilities, but is the engine by which the limits of mans' understanding is defined-Yahoshua

05-22-08, 09:52 AM	#7
bradclark1 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA. Posts: 2,794 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	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. __________________

05-22-08, 10:05 AM	#8
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,480 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	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 __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-22-08, 10:52 AM	#9
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	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 If not then do not concider the left ear that you do have some hearing ability. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

05-22-08, 11:08 AM	#10
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	You should PM Genomariner, she has one.

05-22-08, 11:49 AM	#11
JHuschke XO Join Date: May 2008 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 432 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	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. 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.

05-22-08, 12:13 PM	#12
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

05-23-08, 12:13 AM	#13
Geno_Mariner Weps Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 369 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________