Aussie with Single Sided Deafness

[Mark]

Hello Caroline and Mary Beth and others

I am now a recipient of a CI (about 2 months ago) for my single-sided deafness. In response to Caroline's queries, I can only relate my own situation but here goes.

My audiologists gave me a 'trial' BAHA for a couple of weeks. This was held against the skull with a tight headband. It only marginally improved hearing in the deaf ear, but not enough for me to notice any improvement in noisy restaurant/pub situations. You might like to ask about this.

So I made the decision to go for a CI. The CI is working well and has already improved things for me, although I am expecting 6 months or more before it reaches its peak performance. Or should I say before my 65 year old brain reaches its peak performance, because that's what it is all about - the brain has to adjust to the new signals coming in.

It has not been an easy process and I have had to put considerable time into exercises, but that pays off.

The surgery was ok and I felt well soon after. However, in my case the recovery then became slow as after a couple of days I developed severe dizziness - which has improved but I am still working on, with help from neuro physiotherapists. I say 'in my case' because the severity of this is not at all normal but you should talk with your ENT specialist about that.

Despite the setbacks, I am convinced that it was the right thing to do for me.

Hope that helps a bit!

[Mary Beth]

@Mark

I’m glad you are progressing well hearing with your new CI.  I hope your dizziness resolves completely soon!

 

Wishing you the best!

[Mary Featherston]

@Mark - yes, indeed, the work of training the brain does pay off!  I'm glad you're doing well.  I hope that dizziness passes - I had some vertigo issues about ten years ago and it was awful. 

I was fixed right up with what they called the Epley Maneuver.  I don't know if it would help you - it depends on the cause of the vertigo.

[Little_chooky]

@Mary Beth @Daniel the Stranger Thanks for your comments

Mary Beth I have heard of the ADHEAR but not tried it, thanks for the suggestion. As you said, in my case it is sensorineural total hearing loss on the left + tinnitus and excellent hearing on the right.. I am told my left hearing nerve is in good condition (from the MRI).

 I am yet to find an audi who has any real interest in rehab - so far I've been told I'll just get used to SSD, or I should get a CI, or CROS, BAHA or install lots of carpets in my home!! None of them seem to want to spend much time with me talking about those options, beyond testing my hearing. I am trying another audi in a couple of weeks for a rehab only appointment so I will ask about the bone conduction options then. I am not so keen on the CROS as the idea of putting MORE sound into my already overwhelmed right ear sounds horrible! While CI sounds good in the sense of potentially reducing tinnitus and hopefully restoring hearing to the left, I am cautious of going straight to a surgical option. I feel I have already been so unlucky as to develop SSD I am not sure I want to test my luck with surgery just yet!

I really appreciate all of your input, it has been such a sudden thing for me and I feel so fortunate that you guys are willing to share your knowledge and experiences  

 

 

 

[Little_chooky]

@Mark Thanks for your reply! I am definitely going to look at trialling a BAHA or the ADHEAR at some point. I appreciate the comments about noisy environments though, as those are the most problematic for me. I guess all you can do is try these things eh.

I am glad to hear you are recovering OK from the CI op, and that the rehab is progressing (even if slowly)  The dizziness does sound bad if you are needing physio, I'm sorry to hear that. I had some severe vertigo when I first lost my hearing and it was appalling, so debilitating. I do hope you recover soon and regain your old ability to move around in a non-wobbly way! It's amazing how many aspects of your life dizziness impacts.

All the best with your rehab and recovery.

Caroline

[Kylie]

I am soon to receive my CI (also in Australia) and though all the options were presented to me, this was the only one the ENT and audiologist strongly recommended. Not a last resort but the most suitable for my condition - severe sensorineural hearing loss following an inner ear infection in right ear. Perfect left ear.  It is expected to gain me the most 'normal' hearing function. I did lots of reading on my own and became convinced they were right so now I am waiting my surgery date. Nothing I have read in these forums in the last few weeks since I joined has made me doubt this decision. Obviously I will have more to say once I'm implanted!

[Mary Beth]

@Kylie

I am excited for you!  Which processor did you select?

[Kylie]

@Mary Beth

I am getting the sonnet. Though I don't think I was given a choice, it was presented to me as the device I would be receiving now that I was getting a CI.  At the time I didn't even realise there was an alternative (I know better now, after reading this forum and the med-el catalogue!)  Perhaps the sonnet is considered best for me and they didn't want me to have anything else?  Or some funding thing?  Don't know.

[Mary Featherston]

3 hours ago, Kylie said:

@Mary Beth

I am getting the sonnet. Though I don't think I was given a choice, it was presented to me as the device I would be receiving now that I was getting a CI.  At the time I didn't even realise there was an alternative (I know better now, after reading this forum and the med-el catalogue!)  Perhaps the sonnet is considered best for me and they didn't want me to have anything else?  Or some funding thing?  Don't know.

It may be the one that they provide as policy, but I think  you will like it.  Sonnet has more options than Rondo2.  Rondo2 is great, I really like it, but I'm not sure I'd choose it as my only processor.

@Kylie

[Randy Walton]

Hi Little Chooky/Caroline.... I’m in OZ as well in VIC. Have conductive loss and am looking at the ADHEAR.  Have you tested it?   Challenge I have a present is there are no providers in the Melbourne area that seem to carry it.   NSW, QLD and TAS, but not Victoria.

Love to hear your experiences.
Randy

[Randy Walton]

Well... finally got to the trial stage... hearing test confirmed progression in the left ear otosclerosis with carhardts notch down to -70db from 2000-6000hz.... with the rest of the left ear between about -50db down.

So got the Adhear as a trial and will also be trialling the Baha 5 with SoundArc. This is the first Adhear my guy has done... he has supported more CI customers in addition to the standard portfolio of in ear devices... test device serial is 1320... so fairly low number device.  Still fairly new here in Australia evidently.

Initial impression is that fitting the adhesive pad is easy and secure. Audiologist programmed the sound processor to my pattern.  Feels good against my head... and after a bit (initial feeling is like a bandaid on the head,,,) you don’t feel it.... nice and light.

Now for the sound... it does add breadth and richness....kind of like the back speakers in a Dolby 5.1 system.  I had to re-fit after I left the audiologist to get what I felt was the best position on the Mastoid.  So after 24 hours I can feel the difference, still fiddling with adjustments to get the best sound.  At present it makes a difference and I can hear out of the left ear... still a bit tinny but per the Audiologist the programming can be adjusted... simple graphics equalizer paradigm in the programming.

Bottom line SO FAR.... most important test.... I can hear my wife speak in my left ear and clearly... big win!  She is over the moon.  So we will see how the rest of the trial goes.

Cheers

[Mary Beth]

That is so exciting @Randy Walton!  Keep us posted!

[Mary Beth]

@MED-EL Moderator

SSD folder please

thanks