Guest guest Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Hello, I've been hesitant to post any messages here, because the last thing I want to do is create any negativity relating to CIs. Obviously, from everyone's posts, the CI process is highly successful and has greatly improved the lives of most people. However, I am one of the few people that, after over a year of having my implant, am still hearing chipmunk voices and constant high-pitched tones, even after repeated mapping sessions. My comprehension is still poor too. The device has been tested, and CT scans have been conducted, yet everything looks normal. So audiologists are stumped. The last visit I had, my audiologist confided that even if my comprehension improves, if the sound quality is still poor after all this time, it's not likely to get much better. So I may be stuck hearing this high-pitched squawking forever, unless I decide to just stop wearing the implant. I do not want to discourage anyone from getting an implant, because I know from the stats, from all the posts here, and from everyone I personally know that has one, that the results are usually miraculous and wonderful. I fully believe in the process. But part of me also wishes that I had heard more of the less successful stories when I was doing all my initial research. I may be part of the 1% or less who have had less than thrilling results, but I still think people should be aware of the possibilities. - ________________________________ From: Deborah Herczog <dherczog@...> Sent: Wed, May 11, 2011 4:08:38 AM Subject: hearing with CI (to Joe) I highly recommend NOT listening to opinions about CI hearing results from those who do not have experience working with CIs (or using one). The brain has incredible plasticity, and for those of us who were post lingually deafened, it works to make sense of input and we convert mentally to what was once familiar because this is what the brain wants to do. Indeed initially many of us " hear " chipmunk voices (or in the case of my 2nd CI, a less common low pitched accent), but this typically declines/vanishes over time with practice/rehab. Best analogy I can think of is that the brain routes the " new " sounds from CI into old comprehension pathways and learns to reinterpret that input along those old channels or circuitry so that sounds begin to register a lot like the old ones. This means that the voices of family and friends now sound just like they used to. Having said that, when my CI was turned on, I was so ecstatic to comprehend anything, that I said I would happily take that and only that for the rest of my life if that was all I got. Another huge benefit is that hearing with a CI is so relatively automatic compared to hearing with hearing aids (in quiet) that I started to wonder if the qualification standards should be lowered, meaning those with moderately severe loss might hear better and more easily with CI than with hearing aids. I only wish I had had the surgery years earlier as that would have saved me a lot of stress, exhaustion, emotional wreckage. It takes post-op work (practice) and some CI patients do not have miraculous outcomes, but as my Mayo Clinic audiologist says, these days, essentially 100% of patients hear better with CI than before. PS: an ENT from a large practice in Texas told me that CI sound was fake, I couldn't use CI with hearing aid, that I didn't qualify for CI anyway, and that I should just take disability. I am a health care provider myself, and in my opinion that was malpractice (or at least definite negligence) and resulted in my feeling increasing despondency which could have had a very negative outcome because I was at rock bottom. BUT thanks to HLAA information I figured I should get a second opinion and I am now leading a wonderful hearing life thanks to the CI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 , you might consider getting a second opinion on your mapping if you haven't. A doctor in Oregon, who does CI implants said there really are only 2 reasons an implant is a failure anymore, 1 being improper placement of electrodes and 2nd being incorrect mapping. Or both. Mapping, from what I was told is a slow process, sometimes and very individualized. some people may have to go every week for awhile until they get your mapping right. I don't know your situation. But I do feel there is a reason. My opinion. Wanda Sent from my iPad On May 11, 2011, at 3:34 PM, Yuan <lisayuan3@...> wrote: > Hello, > > I've been hesitant to post any messages here, because the last thing I want to > do is create any negativity relating to CIs. Obviously, from everyone's posts, > the CI process is highly successful and has greatly improved the lives of most > people. However, I am one of the few people that, after over a year of having my > implant, am still hearing chipmunk voices and constant high-pitched tones, even > after repeated mapping sessions. My comprehension is still poor too. The device > has been tested, and CT scans have been conducted, yet everything looks normal. > So audiologists are stumped. The last visit I had, my audiologist confided that > even if my comprehension improves, if the sound quality is still poor after all > this time, it's not likely to get much better. So I may be stuck hearing this > high-pitched squawking forever, unless I decide to just stop wearing the > implant. > > I do not want to discourage anyone from getting an implant, because I know from > the stats, from all the posts here, and from everyone I personally know that has > one, that the results are usually miraculous and wonderful. I fully believe in > the process. But part of me also wishes that I had heard more of the less > successful stories when I was doing all my initial research. I may be part of > the 1% or less who have had less than thrilling results, but I still think > people should be aware of the possibilities. > > - > > ________________________________ > From: Deborah Herczog <dherczog@...> > > Sent: Wed, May 11, 2011 4:08:38 AM > Subject: hearing with CI (to Joe) > > I highly recommend NOT listening to opinions about CI hearing results from those > > who do not have experience working with CIs (or using one). The brain has > incredible plasticity, and for those of us who were post lingually deafened, it > works to make sense of input and we convert mentally to what was once familiar > because this is what the brain wants to do. > > Indeed initially many of us " hear " chipmunk voices (or in the case of my 2nd CI, > > a less common low pitched accent), but this typically declines/vanishes over > time with practice/rehab. Best analogy I can think of is that the brain routes > the " new " sounds from CI into old comprehension pathways and learns to > reinterpret that input along those old channels or circuitry so that sounds > begin to register a lot like the old ones. This means that the voices of family > > and friends now sound just like they used to. > > Having said that, when my CI was turned on, I was so ecstatic to comprehend > anything, that I said I would happily take that and only that for the rest of my > > life if that was all I got. Another huge benefit is that hearing with a CI is > so relatively automatic compared to hearing with hearing aids (in quiet) that I > started to wonder if the qualification standards should be lowered, meaning > those with moderately severe loss might hear better and more easily with CI than > > with hearing aids. I only wish I had had the surgery years earlier as that would > > have saved me a lot of stress, exhaustion, emotional wreckage. It takes post-op > > work (practice) and some CI patients do not have miraculous outcomes, but as my > Mayo Clinic audiologist says, these days, essentially 100% of patients hear > better with CI than before. > > PS: an ENT from a large practice in Texas told me that CI sound was fake, I > couldn't use CI with hearing aid, that I didn't qualify for CI anyway, and that > I should just take disability. I am a health care provider myself, and in my > opinion that was malpractice (or at least definite negligence) and resulted in > my feeling increasing despondency which could have had a very negative outcome > because I was at rock bottom. BUT thanks to HLAA information I figured I should > > get a second opinion and I am now leading a wonderful hearing life thanks to the > > CI. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 I agree with Wanda and that doc in Oregon. I do know of people who had problems much like has and when they went to another doc and another CI audiologist, they were helped. , if you haven’t gone for a 2nd and even a 3rd opinion, please do yourself a favor and do so. I hope you get some good answers soon. Happy Hearing! Carol Boca Raton, FL Cochlear America Nucleus 24C - left ear - Sprint 12/11/01 then 3G then upgraded to Freedom on 2/19/08 Cochlear America Freedom right ear -implanted 3/01/06 - activated 4/06/06 From: Wanda Cassel Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 8:44 PM Subject: Re: hearing with CI , you might consider getting a second opinion on your mapping if you haven't. A doctor in Oregon, who does CI implants said there really are only 2 reasons an implant is a failure anymore, 1 being improper placement of electrodes and 2nd being incorrect mapping. Or both. Mapping, from what I was told is a slow process, sometimes and very individualized. some people may have to go every week for awhile until they get your mapping right. I don't know your situation. But I do feel there is a reason. My opinion. Wanda Sent from my iPad On May 11, 2011, at 3:34 PM, Yuan <mailto:lisayuan3%40> wrote: > Hello, > > I've been hesitant to post any messages here, because the last thing I want to > do is create any negativity relating to CIs. Obviously, from everyone's posts, > the CI process is highly successful and has greatly improved the lives of most > people. However, I am one of the few people that, after over a year of having my > implant, am still hearing chipmunk voices and constant high-pitched tones, even > after repeated mapping sessions. My comprehension is still poor too. The device > has been tested, and CT scans have been conducted, yet everything looks normal. > So audiologists are stumped. The last visit I had, my audiologist confided that > even if my comprehension improves, if the sound quality is still poor after all > this time, it's not likely to get much better. So I may be stuck hearing this > high-pitched squawking forever, unless I decide to just stop wearing the > implant. > > I do not want to discourage anyone from getting an implant, because I know from > the stats, from all the posts here, and from everyone I personally know that has > one, that the results are usually miraculous and wonderful. I fully believe in > the process. But part of me also wishes that I had heard more of the less > successful stories when I was doing all my initial research. I may be part of > the 1% or less who have had less than thrilling results, but I still think > people should be aware of the possibilities. > > - > > ________________________________ > From: Deborah Herczog <mailto:dherczog%40> > mailto:%40 > Sent: Wed, May 11, 2011 4:08:38 AM > Subject: hearing with CI (to Joe) > > I highly recommend NOT listening to opinions about CI hearing results from those > > who do not have experience working with CIs (or using one). The brain has > incredible plasticity, and for those of us who were post lingually deafened, it > works to make sense of input and we convert mentally to what was once familiar > because this is what the brain wants to do. > > Indeed initially many of us " hear " chipmunk voices (or in the case of my 2nd CI, > > a less common low pitched accent), but this typically declines/vanishes over > time with practice/rehab. Best analogy I can think of is that the brain routes > the " new " sounds from CI into old comprehension pathways and learns to > reinterpret that input along those old channels or circuitry so that sounds > begin to register a lot like the old ones. This means that the voices of family > > and friends now sound just like they used to. > > Having said that, when my CI was turned on, I was so ecstatic to comprehend > anything, that I said I would happily take that and only that for the rest of my > > life if that was all I got. Another huge benefit is that hearing with a CI is > so relatively automatic compared to hearing with hearing aids (in quiet) that I > started to wonder if the qualification standards should be lowered, meaning > those with moderately severe loss might hear better and more easily with CI than > > with hearing aids. I only wish I had had the surgery years earlier as that would > > have saved me a lot of stress, exhaustion, emotional wreckage. It takes post-op > > work (practice) and some CI patients do not have miraculous outcomes, but as my > Mayo Clinic audiologist says, these days, essentially 100% of patients hear > better with CI than before. > > PS: an ENT from a large practice in Texas told me that CI sound was fake, I > couldn't use CI with hearing aid, that I didn't qualify for CI anyway, and that > I should just take disability. I am a health care provider myself, and in my > opinion that was malpractice (or at least definite negligence) and resulted in > my feeling increasing despondency which could have had a very negative outcome > because I was at rock bottom. BUT thanks to HLAA information I figured I should > > get a second opinion and I am now leading a wonderful hearing life thanks to the > > CI. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Hi , Thanks for your input. Indeed, not everyone does well with a CI. Some of us do well with the first, and not with the 2nd. I was one of those. I had my second CI, a Nucleus 5, done in September 2009. First mapping took HOURS and finally was able to comprehend what was being said, but it was all high pitched and chipmunky sounding. Figured it would go away. It didn't. I found out that I was being mapped with ACE strategy. I'd tried ACE on my older implant, and wasn't successful with it. So I asked for the new one to be mapped with SPEAK, the strategy I use so successfully on the older implant. Come to find out that ACE was the ONLY programming strategy available on the N5 implant. I was ticked. From " hearing as individualized as your fingerprint " to " one size fits all " was a total about face as far as I was concerned. Fortunately, SPEAK became available a while ago, and I went and had it put on my N5, and heard, comprehended, and can talk on the phone from minutes one. This after listening to hearing professionals tell me that " Slow ACE is the same as SPEAK " It is not. 93 maps into the game, I finally got what I wanted and can tell everyone, " I told you so " . I also had 2 of the higher frequencies turned OFF to save from having to listen to those high pitched sounds. With my first mappings, I was hearing traffic 3 blocks away. I don't NEED to hear that, and I don't want to hear it. So try going a lot lower on the volume and sensititivy. I keep mine about 3 or 4 on all maps. If you haven't had an audiologist from your implant company come out and MAP you, request one. If you are using a Nucleus 5 implant, have the audiologist try SPEAK or even CIS for you. Because some of us do better with slower strategies (SPEAK) and some do better with faster (CIS) strategies. It is highly frustrating to have annoying noises in your ears, and have everyone tell you that they've done all they can for you. Good luck. I was more than 18 months post activation and not hearing well with the N5. It's only because I had my other implant for so many years that I KNEW how good it could be. Just needed to get the mapping to do it. Hello, I've been hesitant to post any messages here, because the last thing I want to do is create any negativity relating to CIs. Obviously, from everyone's posts, the CI process is highly successful and has greatly improved the lives of most people. However, I am one of the few people that, after over a year of having my implant, am still hearing chipmunk voices and constant high-pitched tones, even after repeated mapping sessions. My comprehension is still poor too. The device has been tested, and CT scans have been conducted, yet everything looks normal. So audiologists are stumped. The last visit I had, my audiologist confided that even if my comprehension improves, if the sound quality is still poor after all this time, it's not likely to get much better. So I may be stuck hearing this high-pitched squawking forever, unless I decide to just stop wearing the implant. I do not want to discourage anyone from getting an implant, because I know from the stats, from all the posts here, and from everyone I personally know that has one, that the results are usually miraculous and wonderful. I fully believe in the process. But part of me also wishes that I had heard more of the less successful stories when I was doing all my initial research. I may be part of the 1% or less who have had less than thrilling results, but I still think people should be aware of the possibilities. - ____________________________________________________________ Groupon & #8482 Official Site 1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Get 50-90% off your city & #39;s best! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4dcc69b21138140a3bcst04duc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 , I feel the same way you do. I only heard great successful stories about their cochlear implant but my experiences have not been a success story. I had implanted " Cochlear Freedom " about 3 years ago and I still cannot speak on the phone, hearing chipmunk voices, high pitch voices, and you can forget about me hearing even a small group. I can only hear when someone is speaking to me directly and there is no background noise. My biggest problem is back ground noise of any kind. It picks up those sounds so clearly but yet I still cannot hear a person talking unless it is in a quiet place and it's one-on-one. I have had many mappings and they all turn out the same, everyone sounds like Mickey Mouse down in a deep, deep well. I am very frustrated and seeking a new audiologist to try and help me. So, you are not the only one, and I became deaf overnight due to medication the hospital gave me 3 years ago. So I have heard all my life until the last 3 years and this is the most horrible thing that has happened to me. Judy > > From: lisayuan3@... > Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 15:34:30 -0700 > Subject: Re: hearing with CI > > Hello, > > I've been hesitant to post any messages here, because the last thing I want to > do is create any negativity relating to CIs. Obviously, from everyone's posts, > the CI process is highly successful and has greatly improved the lives of most > people. However, I am one of the few people that, after over a year of having my > implant, am still hearing chipmunk voices and constant high-pitched tones, even > after repeated mapping sessions. My comprehension is still poor too. The device > has been tested, and CT scans have been conducted, yet everything looks normal. > So audiologists are stumped. The last visit I had, my audiologist confided that > even if my comprehension improves, if the sound quality is still poor after all > this time, it's not likely to get much better. So I may be stuck hearing this > high-pitched squawking forever, unless I decide to just stop wearing the > implant. > > I do not want to discourage anyone from getting an implant, because I know from > the stats, from all the posts here, and from everyone I personally know that has > one, that the results are usually miraculous and wonderful. I fully believe in > the process. But part of me also wishes that I had heard more of the less > successful stories when I was doing all my initial research. I may be part of > the 1% or less who have had less than thrilling results, but I still think > people should be aware of the possibilities. > > - > > > > ________________________________ > From: Deborah Herczog <dherczog@...> > > Sent: Wed, May 11, 2011 4:08:38 AM > Subject: hearing with CI (to Joe) > > > I highly recommend NOT listening to opinions about CI hearing results from those > > who do not have experience working with CIs (or using one). The brain has > incredible plasticity, and for those of us who were post lingually deafened, it > works to make sense of input and we convert mentally to what was once familiar > because this is what the brain wants to do. > > Indeed initially many of us " hear " chipmunk voices (or in the case of my 2nd CI, > > a less common low pitched accent), but this typically declines/vanishes over > time with practice/rehab. Best analogy I can think of is that the brain routes > the " new " sounds from CI into old comprehension pathways and learns to > reinterpret that input along those old channels or circuitry so that sounds > begin to register a lot like the old ones. This means that the voices of family > > and friends now sound just like they used to. > > Having said that, when my CI was turned on, I was so ecstatic to comprehend > anything, that I said I would happily take that and only that for the rest of my > > life if that was all I got. Another huge benefit is that hearing with a CI is > so relatively automatic compared to hearing with hearing aids (in quiet) that I > started to wonder if the qualification standards should be lowered, meaning > those with moderately severe loss might hear better and more easily with CI than > > with hearing aids. I only wish I had had the surgery years earlier as that would > > have saved me a lot of stress, exhaustion, emotional wreckage. It takes post-op > > work (practice) and some CI patients do not have miraculous outcomes, but as my > Mayo Clinic audiologist says, these days, essentially 100% of patients hear > better with CI than before. > > PS: an ENT from a large practice in Texas told me that CI sound was fake, I > couldn't use CI with hearing aid, that I didn't qualify for CI anyway, and that > I should just take disability. I am a health care provider myself, and in my > opinion that was malpractice (or at least definite negligence) and resulted in > my feeling increasing despondency which could have had a very negative outcome > because I was at rock bottom. BUT thanks to HLAA information I figured I should > > get a second opinion and I am now leading a wonderful hearing life thanks to the > > CI. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2011 Report Share Posted May 26, 2011 Has the audiologist asked for a Cochlear Clinical Specialist to help out at a mapping? If not, please request this. They are available to help out with difficult cases. That is what they do. After all, not everyone is a text book case and the company acknowledges this. Many people have problems with high pitched sounds but that should be able to be mapped so you could hear more normally. So if your hearing is still not what it should be, please be an advocate for yourself and do request this. And.... if your audiologist will not go along with this request, it is time to move on to a different audiologist. Happy Hearing! Carol Boca Raton, FL Cochlear America Nucleus 24C - left ear - Sprint 12/11/01 then 3G then upgraded to Freedom on 2/19/08 Cochlear America Freedom right ear -implanted 3/01/06 - activated 4/06/06 From: Judy wilkins Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 11:52 AM Subject: RE: hearing with CI , I feel the same way you do. I only heard great successful stories about their cochlear implant but my experiences have not been a success story. I had implanted " Cochlear Freedom " about 3 years ago and I still cannot speak on the phone, hearing chipmunk voices, high pitch voices, and you can forget about me hearing even a small group. I can only hear when someone is speaking to me directly and there is no background noise. My biggest problem is back ground noise of any kind. It picks up those sounds so clearly but yet I still cannot hear a person talking unless it is in a quiet place and it's one-on-one. I have had many mappings and they all turn out the same, everyone sounds like Mickey Mouse down in a deep, deep well. I am very frustrated and seeking a new audiologist to try and help me. So, you are not the only one, and I became deaf overnight due to medication the hospital gave me 3 years ago. So I have heard all my life until the last 3 years and this is the most horrible thing that has happened to me. Judy > mailto:%40 > From: mailto:lisayuan3%40 > Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 15:34:30 -0700 > Subject: Re: hearing with CI > > Hello, > > I've been hesitant to post any messages here, because the last thing I want to > do is create any negativity relating to CIs. Obviously, from everyone's posts, > the CI process is highly successful and has greatly improved the lives of most > people. However, I am one of the few people that, after over a year of having my > implant, am still hearing chipmunk voices and constant high-pitched tones, even > after repeated mapping sessions. My comprehension is still poor too. The device > has been tested, and CT scans have been conducted, yet everything looks normal. > So audiologists are stumped. The last visit I had, my audiologist confided that > even if my comprehension improves, if the sound quality is still poor after all > this time, it's not likely to get much better. So I may be stuck hearing this > high-pitched squawking forever, unless I decide to just stop wearing the > implant. > > I do not want to discourage anyone from getting an implant, because I know from > the stats, from all the posts here, and from everyone I personally know that has > one, that the results are usually miraculous and wonderful. I fully believe in > the process. But part of me also wishes that I had heard more of the less > successful stories when I was doing all my initial research. I may be part of > the 1% or less who have had less than thrilling results, but I still think > people should be aware of the possibilities. > > - > > > > ________________________________ > From: Deborah Herczog <mailto:dherczog%40> > mailto:%40 > Sent: Wed, May 11, 2011 4:08:38 AM > Subject: hearing with CI (to Joe) > > > I highly recommend NOT listening to opinions about CI hearing results from those > > who do not have experience working with CIs (or using one). The brain has > incredible plasticity, and for those of us who were post lingually deafened, it > works to make sense of input and we convert mentally to what was once familiar > because this is what the brain wants to do. > > Indeed initially many of us " hear " chipmunk voices (or in the case of my 2nd CI, > > a less common low pitched accent), but this typically declines/vanishes over > time with practice/rehab. Best analogy I can think of is that the brain routes > the " new " sounds from CI into old comprehension pathways and learns to > reinterpret that input along those old channels or circuitry so that sounds > begin to register a lot like the old ones. This means that the voices of family > > and friends now sound just like they used to. > > Having said that, when my CI was turned on, I was so ecstatic to comprehend > anything, that I said I would happily take that and only that for the rest of my > > life if that was all I got. Another huge benefit is that hearing with a CI is > so relatively automatic compared to hearing with hearing aids (in quiet) that I > started to wonder if the qualification standards should be lowered, meaning > those with moderately severe loss might hear better and more easily with CI than > > with hearing aids. I only wish I had had the surgery years earlier as that would > > have saved me a lot of stress, exhaustion, emotional wreckage. It takes post-op > > work (practice) and some CI patients do not have miraculous outcomes, but as my > Mayo Clinic audiologist says, these days, essentially 100% of patients hear > better with CI than before. > > PS: an ENT from a large practice in Texas told me that CI sound was fake, I > couldn't use CI with hearing aid, that I didn't qualify for CI anyway, and that > I should just take disability. I am a health care provider myself, and in my > opinion that was malpractice (or at least definite negligence) and resulted in > my feeling increasing despondency which could have had a very negative outcome > because I was at rock bottom. BUT thanks to HLAA information I figured I should > > get a second opinion and I am now leading a wonderful hearing life thanks to the > > CI. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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