Re: electric stimulation of the nerve - hearing

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Except from walking problems,I also have hearing loss due to CMT. I recieved a

cochlear implant on my worst ear 2,5 years ago. The implant electrically

stimulates my hearig nerve which is not transmitting the signals correctly, and

that is why I have a hearing problem to start with. With the implant my hearing

improved from 25% (understanding 25% of words read to me) to 65% (and still

improving!). That is a dramatic increase and really great.

So my answer is: A disfunctioning nerve can be electrically stimulated to

perform better, in CMT. HOW this is done is an another question, and for

muscles, it can be more tricky. The hearing nerve can be directly stimulated via

electrodes, but how to do the samewith muscles.

Before I got my implant, the doctors said that there are only few cases of

people with problems in the hearing nerve who have received it, and they don't

know if it will work. Since it worked so well, I am " wonder woman " , and I have

been to doctor's seminars, talked with implant candidates to show them

how it works, etc.

To normally understand speech and the phone, at least 80% hearing is necessary,

but my hearing improves still, and at each testing, it has increased a little

more, so there is hope that it will come close to 80%. This improvment is

the great part: With CMT, I am used to it getting WORSE, so electrical

stimulation that improves nerve function is great! I hope they will strat to use

the technique of electrical nerve stimulation on muscles too!

Beata