Re: Radical Mastoidectomy & Hearing Aid

[Guest guest]

I have a radical mastoidectomy - and although I am now seeing an ENT for cholesteatoma regrowth - that's pretty much due to me being a big dummy and not going to the dr. every six months like I was told to. I have " pretty good " hearing in my ear and I function with no hearing aid thanks to great hearing in my right ear. I will have more answers on Monday after I grill my new doctor.

I'm not sure (because I have had so many surgeries) exactly what a radical mastoidectomy entails - but I did Google this for you: http://www.pediatric-ent.com/learning/surgeries/mastoidectomy.htm - it seems to do a good job of explaining the procedure. I just know that I have had a RM due to my dr. saying it 50 billion times growing up. I would not feel comfortable telling you that your hubby is going to hear great based on my experience alone - but again, I do not use a hearing aid - and I function in my job as a regional administrator for a large branch of a national insurance company and as the mom of three and wife of one (lol) - all day every day!!

Praying for you guys lots - I know that losing your hearing and not getting good info from your doc before he/she hacks into your ear is a very scary thing!!

- Melinda

On Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 2:48 PM, Tom Hansen <pingmn123@...> wrote:

I was not deaf after mine, I don't think your left without the ear drum but are missing the hearing bones. A modified radical is the best way to get rid of c-toma, nearly 30 years after mine and it has not come back. Reconstruction is possible in most cases which I did have, about 7 years ago I started to see a drop off in my hearing so I got a hearing aid. My Ins did not cover it andit was about $2000.00...

Tom Hansen

From: rebecca_tatreau <rebecca_tatreau@...>Subject: Radical Mastoidectomy & Hearing Aids

cholesteatoma Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 2:05 PM

Can anyone tell me exactally which parts of the ear are removed during this procedure and what hearing aid options are out there and their approximate cost. I thought our doc said he'd remove the ear drum (which is severely

retracted) and the bones of hearing, leaving Hubby either deaf in the left ear or would have to obtain a hearing aid.(Our insurance will not cover any type of hearing aid, should my husband have to have this procedure in the future).

We are praying very hard that we won't have to resort to the RM procedure anytime soon, we'll know more after his 2nd surgury on Dec 19th, but want to start gathering any info I can.Appreciate all your time and thoughts!

-- })i({ Melinda Kaye Spille })i({

Very Proud Wife of Captain " Big Al " Super Blessed Mommy of Trinity, Emelia & TreyRomans 8:28, Ephesians 3:20(\__/) (='.'=) ( " )_( " )