My Advance Bionics Cochlear Implant

I became hard of hearing at the age of six due to Ataxia. I purchased two hearing aids to help my hearing and a ComTek FM System too. The hearing aid in my left ear did not really help because it did not give me any input but the one in my right ear did help as that ear had a mild hearing lost. It is a frustrating and isolating thing to deal with a hearing lost. I would struggle trying to hear other people. I got into a bad habit of smiling and nodding my head when I did not hear things but as I realized my bad habit of smiling and nodding my head was not good. I missed out on a lot of conversations so sometimes my Mother would tell me what was being said. I would try to avoid large crowds and group conversations and tend to focus more on one on one conversation. In 2009 I decided to get a cochlear implant. I went to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, AR to have my hearing tested. I had both ears tested and I was a candidate to receive a cochlear implant in my left ear but would still be wearing a hearing aid in my right ear. I had my CI Surgery July 23, 09 on my left ear which had a little bit of hearing left but it was worth the risk to me. I worried myself what would happen during surgery. But it turned out better then I expected. As time passes things do get better. Every individual is different and will react differently. What I experienced when I had CI Surgery is that I had a hard time waking up from anesthesia so the nurses decided to keep me in the hospital for one night to see how I was doing. Some symptoms I experienced were feeling very sleepy and weak. My throat and mouth was very dry for two days. Bad head ache, sore jaws, burping and blowing my nose were painful. Just be sure you take a button shirt and some sweat pants or something simple to put on. No poll over shirt because you will have your head wrapped up in bandages. Bring some thing to support your neck and head while in the car like a pillow or neck pad.
On Aug.13, 09, I had my first mapping and my brain did not respond to the processor at all but I have made great progress since my first mapping. My programs on my processor are each at an IDR of 60 paired 100% T-mic and 50/50. I can understand words and short sentences at a close range which I have not hear in 45 years. I would go to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, AR for mappings and speech therapy too. I love my AB CI while still wearing a HA in my other ear. We all get anxious to using a new CI and a lot of practice, patents and determination and time will be needed in order to adapt. The CI/HA Combo has really helped me hear well. Some of the reasons I choose AB (Advanced Bionics’) is the superior Technology, durability, reliable service, AB is continuously developing new strategies & software upgrades. The rechargeable Slim Cell and Power Cell batteries that come with the processor last a long time. Around 12 to 14 hours for the Slim Cell and 18 to 24 hours for the Power Cell.
An AB (Advance Bionics) CI (Cochlear Implant) is a device to help stimulate your auditory nerve. Cochlear Implants are unlike hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear Implants usually work best when implanted at a young age. Although, there is no specific age at which one can be implanted. The better the stimulation in one ear the better he or she is likely to adapt to the implant. For example, the more residential hearing one has then the better he or she can adapt to the CI. The less stimulation one has in the implanted ear the more effort it will take. The device consists of an external speech processor that captures sound and converts it into digital signals; a processor that sends the digital signals to the internal implant; the implant that converts the digital signals into electrical energy and sends it to an electrode array inside the cochlea; and the electrodes that stimulate the hearing nerve, bypassing damaged hair cells to allow the brain to perceive signals from sound.We all get anxious to using a new CI and a lot of practice, patents and determination and time will be needed in order to adapt.
- Three years ago and counting - Yes it has been quite a journey. Thanks advanced bionics

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