Re: Is it my mother or the implant thats being difficult? HELP!!!!!

November 28, 2006

It sounds to me as if your mother needs to return to her audiologist

to see what the problem is with her equipment and you may need to

make sure that someone drives her there and stays with her thru the

appointment. Cords should not be frayed and she should not be

experiencing the problems you describe. I'm not sure which implant

she has but it sounds as if it is one with a rechargeable battery

that needs replacing and I'm thinking it's an Advanced Bionics

processor since the time frame of 2000 makes that more probable.

It's possible to get insurance to cover these batteries but there

again - I feel the audiologist should help her here. Rechargeable

batteries can only take so many charges before they just won't hold

the juice and if she's had these since 2000, they certainly need to

be replaced.

Naturally, if her equipment needs upgrading and she's hearing less

and less, she will withdraw into isolation and become depressed.

It's normal for someone who is deaf to do this. She's young and can

overcome these problems with your help and the help of her CI Team.

Thank you for caring. It's obvious that you are concerned and it

appears that she needs someone to step in and be her advocate.

Alice

http://www..com

November 28, 2006

I don't think this is a sign of a poor implant. However, it sounds like your

mother is in serious need of a new map. It is not uncommon for sounds to

become distorted, blurred and/or weak after a certain period of time

thus requiring extra tweaking of an existing map -- or a completely new map.

The frayed cords you describe could also be negatively interfering with her

ability to receive clear sound through her CI. You might want to ask your

mother what exactly she is hearing. Are sounds distorted? Weak? If the

answer is yes, it means she is in definite need of a new map. I wish I could

offer some suggestions as to how to get your mother to the audiologist short

of taking her there yourself (which would be terribly inconvenient given how

far away you live from her). It might be helpful to emphasize to your mother

that the reason she is having difficulty hearing is because she needs a new

map (and replacement cords). If this were explained to her, perhaps she

would be more willing to keep her appointments with the audiologist. Good

luck!

Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06

November 28, 2006

Does your mom have any kind of support network locally, or an online group like

this that she can interact with. I know in times of hearing loss type

depression, this can be a big help. It sounds to me also like it is a

maintenance problem rather than an implant failure problem. When people are

depressed, it is a lot harder to get them to help themselves, so she may need

someone to go with her to the audiologist, if there is anyone close that could

help you out there.

Jane

November 28, 2006

Hi

The first thing that stuck out to me is that her batteries are only lasting 2

hours. I think that is unheard of and wonder if she is using batteries that are

made for cochlear implants. If she is not then that may be causing some of her

problems--I know others use non cochlear implant batteries but personally I can

tell a sutle difference when I had to use non implant batteries in an emergency.

Next there is an elment here that no one can do anything about except your

mother. An implantee has to want to work at makeing the implant work and if she

is not willing to do that then her success will be limited.

One suggestion I would make is to see if you can find someone in her area that

has an implant and get them together to chat. It helps so much to talk with

someone who understands what you are going through.

Where does your mother live?

Connie

Shy <quantum_007@...> wrote:

Hello all. I am the daughter of a woman with a Cochlear impant. Let me

tell you, she is extremely stubborn when it comes to maintaining her

hearing equipment. She received her implant in 2000 and after about a

year, things became so strange. where most people would be more

outgoing and relaxed, she seems to be more withdrawn. she no longer

attempts to engage in conversation during family gatherings. Growing

up with her having a hearing aid for so long, i understood that she'd

avoid most conversations because she couldnt hear well. now its

getting worse. Ive tried to get her to visit the audiologist at the

hospital where she received the implant, but she refuses to go because

the doctor relocated out of state. I live 300 miles from her, and when

i visit (about every 3-4 mos.) her cords are frayed and she seems like

she hardly hears anything. she'll do okay in conversation if she

expects what your saying . everyting must be in context. but anything

unexpected takes a lot of repeating. Ive made countless appointments

for her. she tell sme she went, but the audiology staff says she was a

no-show. she's only 55, but its really hard to get her to take care of

herself and her expensive implant.

i went so far as to get her a specialized phone to use. I can remember

as a child her talking on the phone with friends for hours. but since

the implant, she doesnt talk to people as much as she used to. and

again, anything out of context is almost like a failed conversation

and she just gives up.

The last time she went to the audiologist, she received some sort of

new program which seemed to work wonders, but after a couple of

months, it was like she closed up again. her batteries expire after 2

hours. she's almost become a recluse and seems very depressed. I'm not

sure what to do for her.

has anyone experienced anything like this? is this a sign of a poor

implant?

" The Miracle at Ohio State "

aka Nucleus Freedom

Implanted 10/04/2005

Activated 11/1/2005

Surgery: Ohio State University

Surgeon: Dr. Bradley Welling

http://internalmedicine.osu.edu/article.cfm?ID=2021

November 29, 2006

Hi!

First of all, the signs you are describing might not be due to a failing

implant. A failing implant would mean intermitting sounds or cessation of

hearing (I think according to what I've heard and read on this forum). A failing

implant can only be established by an audiologist and if you are suspecting

this, your mother should visit an audiologist as soon as possible.

However, I believe the situation you are describing is of other reasons.

Perhaps your mother isn't satisfied with the implant? Perhaps she's finding it

hard to deal with it? Maybe you should try and talk to her, and if the

conversation is difficult, you can use the computer as a writing form or even

blocks of paper. Perhaps it will help your mother feel she has a way to

communicate her thoughts, feelings and fears/concerns better and will lead to

less frustration.

I hope I have given you an advice and I wish you best luck helping your

mother.

Sincerely yours, Gilad