Cochlear implant advice?

[Capt Steve]

For 25 years i have been wearing hearing aids as my hearing continues to deteriorate. I have just about maxed out hearing aid tech and currently wear the Monster trucks of aids {large behind/over the ear style} from Phonak. Even with the available Bluetooth tech I still struggle.

The VA has been awesome keeping me supplied with the latest tech not to mention unlimited batteries but as noted my hearing continues to decline. At my last appointment my Audiologist, who is an expert in Cochlear implant tech, strongly suggested I consider going to a Cochlear Implant {CI}. She did extensive testing and considers me to be a prime candidate for this procedure.

I am going forward with the evaluation protocols which involve about 6 appointments at the Phoenix VA {a 4 hour 200 mile roundtrip from home}. If things continue to go well and I ultimately decide to go through with the CI it will probably take place in August. After the surgery I will need to go back several times the first week and then it will be a month of recovery before I can start learning to utilize the CI. Even with extensive training it is probably likely that if successful full benefit from the CI won't be achievable for several months following the procedure.

I am 72 and in excellent health otherwise and each test/eval continues to support their hypothesis that I am a good CI candidate but the ultimate decision remains mine to make. At this point the plan is to just do one CI and continue to wear a hearing aid in the other ear {they are equally dysfunctional}.

So do any of you have a CI? How successful has it been? Any advice for me?
TIA.

 

[IAM Rand]

Don't have one but, I recall Rush talking about getting his. He described it a it sounding like an echo in a room or the sound coming from somewhere above him. Good luck, only problem is you will have no more excuses when the Mrs. asked you to do something and you don't do it.

 

[dave1918a2]

Only one person can make that decision. If Your Wife supports You in this and You want to hear, YOU have a decision to make. Might consider renting an apartment for a while.

 

[lihpster]

I've only known 2 people that had one. Both were pre-adolescent children, but their parents said it was a total game changer for their kid. Maybe different for a 72 year old man, however. It's your decision, but the tech works. Good luck to you, whatever you choose.

Having grown up with my father being hard of hearing, I know how difficult and frustrating it is. Not just for the "deaf" person, but their families and friends. I hope you find the solution that gives you the best possible outcome.

 

[Kinman]

I have a friend in his 80's, he has always been deaf as a stump. You need to be right up next to him and use your outdoor voice in order for him and everyone else within the block to hear you. He had the implant done and is somewhat better, not a bunch mind you but better. If he is turned away from you, might as well throw something at him to get his attention. He's a great old guy with a ton of gun building experience. We are supposed to spend some time together shooting 50-70's but he keeps forgetting and I know that by the end of the day I will be hoarse.

 

[Capt Steve]

Thanks...

I appreciate everyone getting back to me, your support helps a lot. I admit to being more than a little intimidated by the whole thing. My bride {of 54 years} is totally on board.

One of the many evaluation/screenings I have yet to complete is a meet with a shrink to determine that I have the proper mindset/commitment to address the rather steep learning curve involved ro reach the maximum benefit from this technology. It will be months before I can get there but it seems a worthwhile goal... but once the surgery is done there is no going back.

Just to make things more interesting my new hearing aids are outperforming the old ones dramatically raising the additional option of completing my screening but possibly delaying the surgery for now.

This Forum is awesome, you guys always have my back and I am grateful.

thanks again.

Steve

 

[lkabug]

I have a Cochlear Nucleus 8. Like you, hearing in both ears pretty much gone. Left ear being the worse. The surgery way pretty much a breeze. However, I'm my case a facial nerve is a bit to near the the internal wiring, which causes facial twitters when the volume is turned up to a beneficial level. I DO get some benefit, just not what it should be. I too am getting a new aid, a Resound Nexia 8. The hope is the Nexia will help somewhat as the CI and Nexia can communicate together.
If that doesn't work, I may have the CI removed and reinstalled via a different pathway.
I have talked to many CI users. They work. They can be a game changer.)
PM me if you would like to ask me any questions.

 

[Onomea]

...One of the many evaluation/screenings I have yet to complete is a meet with a shrink to determine that I have the proper mindset/commitment to address the rather steep learning curve involved ro reach the maximum benefit from this technology. It will be months before I can get there but it seems a worthwhile goal... but once the surgery is done there is no going back....

Steve, I recall your knee saga. Impressed the hell out of me. I think if anyone has the right psychological mind set — the determination, discipline, persistence and focus — to put in the effort to achieve optimum results, it's you.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

 

[husker51]

I remember 12 years ago my wife had this decision to make. She only has hearing in one ear so it was a scary choice. If it failed, she would have no hearing. It ended up being a wonderful blessing. She could hear things she never heard before, as she had this certain degree of hearing disability since she was a toddler. She could not remember ever hearing birds before, but she can now. One thing I will always remember is after she had returned home, I was in the bathroom, with the door shut, making some derogatory remark under my breath mind you, when she said, I heard that! That’s when I learned that this was going to be a life changer for me as well! She is currently using the Nucleus Kanso 2. My wife says it may take up to a year to get it fully adjusted to peak performance. It goes quicker if you live with someone. It took about 4 visits to make adjustments to hers that first year, before it was optimized. I wish you the best in the choice that you make.

 

[smoothshooter]

Don't have one but, I recall Rush talking about getting his. He described it a it sounding like an echo in a room or the sound coming from somewhere above him. Good luck, only problem is you will have no more excuses when the Mrs. asked you to do something and you don't do it.

IIRRC, Rush said that after he got the CI, he could not make any sense of music and could not tell one song from another.

 

[husker51]

It is a different kind of hearing. My wife said I sounded like Mickey Mouse.

 

[2tall79]

You might inquire as to your ability to have MRI's in the future.

 

[Capt Steve]

Cochlear implant update...

It is hard to believe I started this journey 8 months ago. I had the surgery a week ago and am still in the recovery mode. The surgeon told me I would be down for a couple of weeks and I laughed telling him I heal quicker than most...

I was wrong and he was correct. Still feel like a I got hit by a truck, coughed up blood {from the intubation during the surgery} for 5 days. Felt so bad I twice tested for Covid but both came up negative. Dropped 10 pounds in 6 days {not a diet I can recommend}.

I go back next week for the post op followup with the surgeon. Spoke with him yesterday and he assured me that the procedure went well. Only needed 3 Oxycontin's for the pain the first couple of days but the hit by a truck feeling lingers on.

Back to the Audiologist on 12/6 to have the exterior hardware and connections put in place.Then commence a 2 to 3 month learning curve to get full function. I tested at 6% of normal hearing {speech recognition/comprehension} before the surgery. The team is projecting {hoping} to get me up near 60% and my Doc is predicting I will be back in a few months to get the the other ear done... I suspect he is once again correct.

My best friends drove 1,000 plus miles to be here for the surgery. My bride no longer drives so my buddy took me the 4 hour 200 miles down to Phoenix while his wife stayed with mine. He offered to return should I end up having the other ear done... and yes that's what friends do... WOW!

Like they say on the local news... Film at eleven.

 

[Oldengineer]

Both my wife and I are hearing impaired. My wife gave up her law practice because of the impairment. She investigated CI and decided against it because she would lose ALL of her remaining hearing. She was unwilling to take that risk. I think that you are wise doing only one ear.

Tom H.