Mary Beth 2,322 Report post Posted July 26, 2019 I enjoy participating in research as a way of paying it forward in thanks for those who helped engineers create these amazing CIs that have changed my life. Med-El North America conducts research in Durham North Carolina. If you are an adult, use one or two cochlear implants, live in the USA/Canada, are willing to participate in research for one week (M-F 9-4, with an hour lunch break)....you can contact Med-El for more info. Med-El covers the costs for you and a guest to travel, rent a car, stay at a hotel and also covers up to a certain amount of food expenses. It is very easy to stay within the food limit in my opinion. If you are interested, private message me for the email contact or contact Med-El NA directly. (Since this is a public forum, I’m not going to post the email address here but am happy to give it to you in a PM). Med-El research team told me to share their contact info with interested people. I love it! It is so fascinating. Maybe some of you will enjoy it too. 1 Jewel reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jewel 462 Report post Posted July 27, 2019 Blehhhh I thought this was something I could have participated in. I like paying it forward. We are all in this together. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Beth 2,322 Report post Posted July 27, 2019 @Jewel I know. I’m sure there are other research opportunities you can participate in to pay it forward. I think you would enjoy that a lot. This research is only for people in the US and Canada to my knowledge. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ford 18 Report post Posted July 27, 2019 Hi Marybeth -- I would be interested in participating if you could PM me the contact info. BTW: I will be in Austria in sept so am currently arranging for tour of Med-El in innsbruk. Hope to meet some engineers too. 🙂 thanks Ford 2 Mary Beth and Jewel reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Beth 2,322 Report post Posted July 27, 2019 Enjoy Innsbruck and Med-El ! Report back. I will send you a PM for the US research contact. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jewel 462 Report post Posted July 28, 2019 @Ford has given me an idea. Maybe I should plan a trip to Austria and go visit Med-El. That would be awesome! 1 Mary Featherston reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Beth 2,322 Report post Posted July 28, 2019 @Jewel Many people have gone to Innsbruck and arranged a tour of Med-El prior to traveling. It is an amazing place full of wonderful Med-El employees. 1 Jewel reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Featherston 764 Report post Posted July 28, 2019 And Innsbruck's a cool town anyway - bonus! Quote Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ford 18 Report post Posted August 9, 2019 Med el in North Carolina got back to me and offered to fly me (and my wife if she wants to come too) to North Carolina for a week to participate in research, so I'm headed there second week of January. I imagine it will entail some drudgery but I am interested in seeing what they're doing and participating. Thanks for the email Mary Beth. Ursula from Austria headquarters has been emailing me too and looks like I'll get a tour and meet some engineers when I'm over there in September. Nice the company is so engaged with it's customers 🙂 1 Mary Featherston reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Beth 2,322 Report post Posted August 9, 2019 @Ford That’s terrific. I look forward to hearing about your research experience in. Durham and your visit to Innsbruck. Exciting year for you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Beth 2,322 Report post Posted January 13 @Ford Did you already have your research week in Durham? How was your trip to Austria? Did you visit Med-El headquarters? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ford 18 Report post Posted January 14 Hi Marybeth I am in Durham as we speak and will be here the whole week. Josh and team are great! Everyone is very hospitable and I feel well taken care of...and we were just talking about you today!🙂 I think it will be a very interesting week, especially since we'll be doing some music work. Med-el Innsbruck was interesting... if not quite as engaged with engineers as I had hoped. More of a facility tour. Great town and I got to meet the folks who built my implant. They were very inspired to meet a recipient as they don't get the chance to see their work in real life too often. F 1 Mary Beth reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Beth 2,322 Report post Posted January 14 Enjoy your experience in Durham with the awesome research team! @Ford Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnL 24 Report post Posted January 14 I’m heading to Durham in early March. Would love to hear about Ford’s experience. 1 Mary Beth reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Featherston 764 Report post Posted January 18 I'll be in Durham in late March - early April. Looking forward to it! 1 Mary Beth reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ford 18 Report post Posted January 18 Great week. Josh and team are really warm and friendly and i felt really taken care of. Be prepared for some grueling testing which gets quite tiring ... but they are very mindful of not burning you out. I found the projects very interesting and relevant and they are happy to share as much technical detail of what they are doing as you can handle... So I definitely did not feel like a lab rat. Felt great to be able to contribute 😊 I'll definitely go back next year. 1 Mary Beth reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Beth 2,322 Report post Posted January 18 Terrific @Ford! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnL 24 Report post Posted January 19 @Ford can you share some of the testing they did? I’m curious to know what I’m in for. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ford 18 Report post Posted January 19 Lots of listening...sentences in noise mostly testing various virtual processor maps Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave in Pittsburgh 104 Report post Posted January 21 I am going to MEDEL Durham,NC first week in June can’t wait. 1 Mary Beth reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Connie CAUSA 0 Report post Posted January 26 Mary Beth, Brand new here. I would love to participate in the research in Durham, NC. Can you please provide me with the information too? Thanks so much. I got my first CI activated on June 11, 2019 (68 yrs old). SNHL in both ears. Worn HA in right ear since 16 yo and HA in left ear since 30yo. Both ears qualified (18% left, 22% right). Surgery at UCI Medical Center Orange, CA with Dr. Hamid Djalilian. Still waiting for this to progress and pass up HA in other ear. Doing lots of regular aural rehab from Julie Hustings site and audio books, you tube and ted talks. You name it. Was laid off work and that was what helped propel me along to better my situation. Thanks for all everyone does to help others. Oh yes, just volunteered to be Chairman, HLAA City of Orange Chapter in Aug 2019. Great to give back and help others. Happy to pay it forward any way I can. I owe many that helped me with my research and steered me to all the right people to talk to which helped streamline the processes, especially testing, hospital, insurance, etc. Connie L. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Beth 2,322 Report post Posted January 26 @Connie CAUSA Congratulations on your CI! Aural rehab helped me a lot. Check out our REHAB topic for lots of suggestions. Which processor are you using? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Connie CAUSA 0 Report post Posted January 26 Thanks Mary Beth. I've got the Sonnet and Rondo2. Like them both. Is the research group interested in a particular group or type of hearing loss? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ford 18 Report post Posted January 26 Hi Connie...as far as I know they don't have a preference. They are booked for 2020 and starting waiting list for 2021...should start booking next year about July🙂 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mary Beth 2,322 Report post Posted January 26 @Connie CAUSA look above for the mail icon. I will send you contact info and you can email the Med-El US research team directly. I am glad you like both of your processors. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
