Michael in Ohio - Rondo 2 Question

[Michael Craig]

Hi -

My name is Michael and I live in Columbus, Ohio.

I just signed up here today.

I've had a bilateral, profound hearing loss from the age of 4 1/2.  I have miraculously been getting by with two CIC aids in both ears.

I am a candidate for a CI and have been looking at the Rondo 2.  My biggest concern with gettin a CI is to maintain my residual hearing so that I can still wear a CIC in my implant ear instead of the Rondo, if I so desire.

Is that possible?  If so, does anyone have any recommendations for CI implant centers / specialists in the Central Ohio or the region?

Many thanks and I hope to see everyone on here.

Michael

[Mary Beth]

Hi @Michael Craig

Welcome!  Rene Gifford did a study a few years back with Rondo (original Rondo) users also using a hearing aid in the same ear.  So yes it is possible depending on how much residual hearing is preserved.  In addition to electrode array design, surgeon skill in preserving residual hearing is an important factor.  Some people maintain their residual hearing forever, others lose it over time and still others lose it as a result of the CI surgery.

After receiving a CI on my right side and training my brain to use the CI input, I was doing so much better listening with a CI than I was listening with a HA in my other ear.  My brain locked into the awesome CI sound and that other HA became useless.  I received a second CI 8 months after the first.  

 

Wishing  you the best.

[Kara of Canada]

Welcome to the forum. For the most part people who get a CI is because they have no other options. Our hearing usually is so bad we have a very difficult time with regular hearing things in life. You would need to speak with a surgeon about what you ask  I do know they have an EAS version of CI available which is a version that uses residual hearing and implant hearing combined.  Hope this helped. Best of luck.  

 

 

 

[Michael Craig]

Every audiologist I've spoken to has stated that they feel a CI is what I should have.  However, I have been extremely functional with two Starkey high-power CIC's.

 

To most people, they can't tell I have a hearing loss.  According to the audiologist, I'm really good at non-verbal communication. I have a profound hearing loss.  Here in the US, my loss would qualify me for disability.  Thankfully I have been able to over-come that to some degree.  But I've realized that I'm not hearing everything that I want to hear.   I was told by the last audiologist that if I received a CI, she felt strongly that my hearing loss would improve to that of someone who had a "mild" hearing loss.

 

My biggest concern is losing the residual hearing that I have and having to wear a CI all of the time.  I like the idea of getting a CI and then wearing a CIC hearing aid in that ear if I don't want to wear the CI.

 

Also, how do those of you that have CI's, use the telephone?  I would really like a solution that enables me to talk on the phone.  It would open up so many doors for me personally and in my career.

 

Thanks,

 

M.

[Mary Featherston]

Hi @Michael Craig - Like Mary Beth, once I got my first CI I dropped my hearing aid in the other ear.  In comparison to the CI it just wasn't bringing me much benefit.  My speech comprehension went from 19% with my hearing aids to 89% with one CI.  I'm getting my second CI activated on Thursday.  I took the jump after realizing that I no longer cared if I lost the residual hearing in my remaining (what used to be my "good" ear).  But if you are nervous about keeping what hearing you have that's a decision that you will have to make.

In my experience it's going to be really hard to make that jump without seeing what a CI can do for you.  It sounds as though you are in a position where you can take your time.  Good luck!

 

As for phones - I haven't really started using the phone yet (my first CI was just implanted in April).  After almost twenty years of being unable to use them, I'm waiting till I get both sides farther along the rehab process.  I have used a neckloop with my cell phone a couple of times and was actually startled at how much I heard, though, so this is mostly force of habit with me at this point - that and the fact that I'm focusing on my activation.  After I get both CIs working well, watch out!  I think I may be able to use the phone routinely again.

[Mary Beth]

@Michael Craig

Wishing you the best on your hearing journey.

 

I have 2 CIs.  Implanted 8 months apart in 2015.

 

I use the phone by holding it over my processor mics.  We have other options too.....Artone 3 MAX BT neckloop, etc.

 

Have you checked out the free InnoCaption service for cell phones in the US?

[Daniel the Stranger]

Hi @Michael Craig, welcome to HP!

Certainly you can have residual hearing after CI surgery but no doctor can guarantee you that. I just had my second CI surgery 3 weeks ago and I got some residual hearing whereas in my first implanted ear I didn't get residual hearing.

In my case, the first CI was more complicated than usual as the taste and facial nerves were closer than usual and it was very tricky for the doctor to pass the electrodes between these nerves. This is one of the many cases that can make residual hearing very difficult to have after CI surgery.

But hey! I can tell you that you won't regret it!! I stopped using my HA in my no implanted ear a month after activation of my CI. Sound with HA is so boring compared with CI. I once said that HA is like watching a VHS movie and CI is like watching a 4k movie.

Best of luck with everything.

[Mary Beth]

@Daniel the Stranger

I wonder how you will describe hearing with bilateral CIs after they get balanced?  Smile 

[Daniel the Stranger]

1 minute ago, Mary Beth said:

@Daniel the Stranger

I wonder how you will describe hearing with bilateral CIs after they get balanced?  Smile 

I'm wondering this too!!!

And I'm also curious to find out if there will be a difference between my old and new implanted ear as I got residual hearing... not that I'm hoping for too much just to see if there is a difference in hearing.

When I shower, I can feel water hitting my head in my new implanted ear but nothing in my old implanted ear. Also, I can ear my voice in my new implanted ear when I'm not using the processor in my old implanted ear. 

Interesting times coming! One more day to go!

[Jewel]

Hi @Michael Craig

Welcome to HearPeers! 

I was very concerned about losing my residual hearing too. I got even more anxious about the surgery when one week before the operation my surgeon changed his mind and decided that it would be better to do my better ear. I had already persuaded myself that I didn't have anything to lose getting a CI in my worse ear since a HA was never an option for that ear and I didn't have much residual hearing in that ear. But when the surgeon decided to do my better ear, oh boy, it was earth shattering news to me cos I had a lot of low frequency hearing left. He told me not to worry about it. Lo and behold I ended up losing a good amount of my residual hearing but after activation I was no longer concerned. I was able to hear people talking behind me, in front of me, etc. without any lipreading whatsoever! I definitely gained far more than I lost. The HA I wore would only help me if I lipread people. So the CI is way better. 

I have only been activated a little over a month now and I'm able to converse very well over the phone. I can make out most of  what the person is saying to me whether it be on a landline or my cellphone. I just hold the phone by my ear and then move it towards the magnet area until I find the spot where I hear best. This was amazing to me especially since I have had to rely on others to take my phone calls or make calls for me for the last 6-7 years. Reclaiming my independendence has meant a lot. 

Before I decided to go to the US to start the CI journey my local audi told me that if I got a CI, my hearing would be up to the level of a normal hearing person in that I would be able to make out speech well. I didn't believe her but lo and behold she was right! Note that I was getting 0% WRS before the CI. 

My advice to you is to go for it. My surgeon had told me that I could wear my HA after surgery if I wanted to but I didn't bother. So check with your surgeon. Maybe you will have that option too. 

Everyone's journey is different but I doubt things can get worse for you. 

Please keep us posted. 

[Mary Featherston]

4 hours ago, Daniel the Stranger said:

I'm wondering this too!!!

And I'm also curious to find out if there will be a difference between my old and new implanted ear as I got residual hearing... not that I'm hoping for too much just to see if there is a difference in hearing.

When I shower, I can feel water hitting my head in my new implanted ear but nothing in my old implanted ear. Also, I can ear my voice in my new implanted ear when I'm not using the processor in my old implanted ear. 

Interesting times coming! One more day to go!

Hey, @Daniel the Stranger - I have that too, but it seems like too little hearing to even think about.  I can hear my hair dryer (barely) and I can hear myself cough.  What I can't hear is anyone else talking, so....

[Daniel the Stranger]

10 minutes ago, Mary Featherston said:

Hey, @Daniel the Stranger - I have that too, but it seems like too little hearing to even think about.  I can hear my hair dryer (barely) and I can hear myself cough.  What I can't hear is anyone else talking, so....

Yes, I agree, I also can't hear people talking. Sounds I can hear are mostly low pitches. Let's see if it will make a difference or not against my other ear.

[Hila]

10 hours ago, Michael Craig said:

Also, how do those of you that have CI's, use the telephone?  I would really like a solution that enables me to talk on the phone.  It would open up so many doors for me personally and in my career.

 

 

I take and place phone calls holding the phone up to my processor's microphone.  Very similar to any hearing person.  I've used Roger pen to speak on the phone before i built up confidence to just be on the phone without additional assistive device.

I personally wasn't able to talk on the phone anymore with the HA.  It may have been possible but very difficult.  So for me,  the CI is huge improvement. 

 

In fact,  today at work,  I got a call from the manager office discussing a special project that is just ready to start.  We went over the details.  All new info.  The manager asked if I can do this over the phone and I said yes.  So no problem we were both very pleased. A game changer for sure.