Re: Implant Update
Well I had my assessment for Cochlear Implant today at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Quite daunting for me as my hearing is so bad now and my wife has to "translate" for me!
I've had lots of tests and psychological questionnaire or specific questions to respond to plus a
sleep test where I was wired-up with no aids in for 20 mins to assess the condition of my "hearing" nerves.
I failed that - but that's good they said?!
It means my residual hearing is as much use as a chocolate fire-guard - and that's Official now!
I had a test where I had to repeat what I heard coming from 4 speakers in a sound-proof room - with my aids in of course.
Failed miserably - but that's a "pass" too it seems.
Someone told me that my hearing is the worst they had come across for some time so I'm in the programme now, providing the CT Scan is OK and the surgeon's happy so I'm still on tenterhooks.
One worry I have is that the surgeon and his team will decide where the implant goes for optimum benefit - so it could be in my "good" ear rather than the right ear.
I do have a choice but I really have to listen to their advice and decide.
My right ear's been getting worse quicker and in fact was the first one I had an aid for back in the early 90s.
They know what they are doing of course and have to consider the best outcome for a procedure which costs in excess of £40,000 but to me it means that despite having a top-of-the-range Implant, I could still lose the hearing in my right ear and therefore the element of sound
balance that helps me differentiate were what I hear is coming from.
They tell me it'll be fine though......stevmk2