🚀 go-pugleaf

Dan,

First off, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions (...other
posters: thanks, too.)  I think you answered my questions very well--and to
my satisfactory.  I am about 99.0 percent sure that I want to get this now.
It is strange, when I walked out of the doctors office last August, I was
like "Man, I'm 99.0 percent sure that I DON'T want this."  :-)  It really is
quite a change.

The cochlear implant looks bigger than it really is.  I always visualized
the doctors opening up my skull in multiple spots and drilling a lot of
holes and what not.  (Scary...but, upon reflection, quite irrational).  I
was intimidated by all the hardware of the CI.  The battery issue was
something I was concerned about; but, I am beginning to let it go.  I have
read about the fuel cell technology myself.  You are right; This WILL
revolutionize CI sometime down the road.

Thanks again,

Martin Eden






"Dan Hildebrand" <danhilde@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8t315b$8h2$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
> Let me do what I can Martin ...
>
> In article <YS1J5.57108$hD4.13280400@news1.rdc1.mi.home.com>,
>   "Martin Eden" <Martin-Edenn@home.com> wrote:
> > Hello:
> >
> > I have a few questions about C.I., and I would be grateful if anyone
> could
> > answer any of the questions:
> >
> > 1. How much damage does the electrode do to the cochlea and how could
> that
> > influence the ability to use future CI or other technology?
>
> In order to insert and thread the electrode array around the
> approximately 2.5 turns of the cochlea, the cochlea has to be, for all
> intents and purposes, sacrificed.  New advancements in CI will be on the
> external system for the most part so users can "upgrade" to the newer
> external device without any worry.  It is possible to reimplant by
> taking out the array and reinserting a new device, but this is generally
> not thought to be the thing to do.  The 'drag' of the array could hurt a
> particular membrane.  It is not clear whether an implanted ear could
> benefit from a new technology (e.g. hair cell regen) because we just
> don't know what that is yet.
>
> >
> > 2. How long will the batteries last?
>
> Depending on what CI you have, you use different batteries.  My son uses
> two Nickel Metal Hydride AA batteries in his external processor and they
> last an entire day.  We recharge them in about an hour and the system is
> really fine.  Of course, new battery technology is coming soon.  One
> semiconductor company has just invented something called fuel cell
> technology which will revolutionize many devices.  It is based on the
> butane approach that people used to use to fill their cigarette
> lighters.  A cell phone usually lasts a few hours right?  The new
> battery will be much lighter and will last 30 days or more of continuous
> use.  The CI companies are constantly looking for better batteries and
> they will get it.
>
> >
> > 3. How reliable is the implant system?
>
> Very.  The failure rate of CIs is negligible.  In the very early days,
> ESD, or electro static discharge, (i.e. static electricity) was zapping
> people with CIs but this has been resolved for the most part.  The
> devices are now resilient to such hits.
>
> >
> > 4. HOW do they hook up the CI to the Skull?  This baffles me, do they
> drill
> > a hole through the skull?  Would this be hard if playing sports?
>
> The surgery, while on the head, is not one of the more intense or
> complicated ear surgeries.  A flap of skin is opened behind the ear.  A
> well is carved into the mastoid bone.  The tricky part is getting passed
> the nerve canal and to the cochlea so a tiny hole can be drilled.  The
> processor is seated on the well and tied in.  The little array of
> electrodes is threaded through the cochlea.  Enough room is left to take
> into accound growth of the head to adulthood.  The process takes the
> surgeon about 2 hours and they're getting real good at it at this point.
>  The two potential problems include infection and disruption of the
> facial (balance) nerve but these things just don't happen often at all.
>  In the early days, surgeons occasionally made a mistake because the
> procedure was so new.  Now the surgeons can detect when they are near
> the facial nerve and they know exactly how to avoid it.
>
> >
> > 5. Are there reports of any irritableness *in* the head from the
> device?
> > Could it move around it there?
>
> It can not move.  It is very secure.  Depending on the size/shape of the
> kid's head, there is a bump and you can feel the device.  It's scary
> when you first feel it but it's totally okay.
>
> >
> > Thanks for any replies,
>
> no prob ...
>
> My kid's latest thing is that he takes me by the hand and says "Let's go
> Daddy... over there'.  He's 2 years and 4 months old and he's been
> implanted/mapped for 7 months.  It's a damned good technology; believe
> you me.  He's pretty much developing as a normal hearing kid (actually
> faster from what the therapists tell me).
>
> >
> > Martin Eden
> >
> >
>
> --
> ----------------------------------------
> Dan, Tehetina, and David Abel Hildebrand
> Beating Deafness A Little More Every Day
> http://www.netcom.com/~danhilde
> ----------------------------------------
>
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.

> By the way, Martin, if you go to my web site below, there is a link
called An Introduciton to  cochlear Implants or something like that.  You'll
read all you want to know and more there if you care to.   Before you buy.

I'm going to them all!  :-)  Seriously, I think it is the testimonials on
the Internet that is getting me to go.

Martin

Well, take your time; there is no rush really.  Make sure you are
comfortable with your decision; and make sure you have trust in your
medical team (audiologist and otolaryngologist).

As an adult, you will most likely get a model that is BTE only which is
attractive since it all fits on/behind the ear.  Even the body worn
processor (with the better software) is going BTE shortly.

Take your time ... be sure you like your decision and talk to adults who
have implanted.  They will be the ones that give you the most valuable
advice.

Dan

In article <bBkJ5.59874$hD4.13684695@news1.rdc1.mi.home.com>,
  "Martin Eden" <Martin-Edenn@home.com> wrote:
> Dan,
>
> First off, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions (...other
> posters: thanks, too.)  I think you answered my questions very
well--and to
> my satisfactory.  I am about 99.0 percent sure that I want to get this
now.
> It is strange, when I walked out of the doctors office last August, I
was
> like "Man, I'm 99.0 percent sure that I DON'T want this."  :-)  It
really is
> quite a change.
>
> The cochlear implant looks bigger than it really is.  I always
visualized
> the doctors opening up my skull in multiple spots and drilling a lot
of
> holes and what not.  (Scary...but, upon reflection, quite irrational).
I
> was intimidated by all the hardware of the CI.  The battery issue was
> something I was concerned about; but, I am beginning to let it go.  I
have
> read about the fuel cell technology myself.  You are right; This WILL
> revolutionize CI sometime down the road.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Martin Eden
>
> "Dan Hildebrand" <danhilde@my-deja.com> wrote in message
> news:8t315b$8h2$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
> > Let me do what I can Martin ...
> >
> > In article <YS1J5.57108$hD4.13280400@news1.rdc1.mi.home.com>,
> >   "Martin Eden" <Martin-Edenn@home.com> wrote:
> > > Hello:
> > >
> > > I have a few questions about C.I., and I would be grateful if
anyone
> > could
> > > answer any of the questions:
> > >
> > > 1. How much damage does the electrode do to the cochlea and how
could
> > that
> > > influence the ability to use future CI or other technology?
> >
> > In order to insert and thread the electrode array around the
> > approximately 2.5 turns of the cochlea, the cochlea has to be, for
all
> > intents and purposes, sacrificed.  New advancements in CI will be on
the
> > external system for the most part so users can "upgrade" to the
newer
> > external device without any worry.  It is possible to reimplant by
> > taking out the array and reinserting a new device, but this is
generally
> > not thought to be the thing to do.  The 'drag' of the array could
hurt a
> > particular membrane.  It is not clear whether an implanted ear could
> > benefit from a new technology (e.g. hair cell regen) because we just
> > don't know what that is yet.
> >
> > >
> > > 2. How long will the batteries last?
> >
> > Depending on what CI you have, you use different batteries.  My son
uses
> > two Nickel Metal Hydride AA batteries in his external processor and
they
> > last an entire day.  We recharge them in about an hour and the
system is
> > really fine.  Of course, new battery technology is coming soon.  One
> > semiconductor company has just invented something called fuel cell
> > technology which will revolutionize many devices.  It is based on
the
> > butane approach that people used to use to fill their cigarette
> > lighters.  A cell phone usually lasts a few hours right?  The new
> > battery will be much lighter and will last 30 days or more of
continuous
> > use.  The CI companies are constantly looking for better batteries
and
> > they will get it.
> >
> > >
> > > 3. How reliable is the implant system?
> >
> > Very.  The failure rate of CIs is negligible.  In the very early
days,
> > ESD, or electro static discharge, (i.e. static electricity) was
zapping
> > people with CIs but this has been resolved for the most part.  The
> > devices are now resilient to such hits.
> >
> > >
> > > 4. HOW do they hook up the CI to the Skull?  This baffles me, do
they
> > drill
> > > a hole through the skull?  Would this be hard if playing sports?
> >
> > The surgery, while on the head, is not one of the more intense or
> > complicated ear surgeries.  A flap of skin is opened behind the ear.
A
> > well is carved into the mastoid bone.  The tricky part is getting
passed
> > the nerve canal and to the cochlea so a tiny hole can be drilled.
The
> > processor is seated on the well and tied in.  The little array of
> > electrodes is threaded through the cochlea.  Enough room is left to
take
> > into accound growth of the head to adulthood.  The process takes the
> > surgeon about 2 hours and they're getting real good at it at this
point.
> >  The two potential problems include infection and disruption of the
> > facial (balance) nerve but these things just don't happen often at
all.
> >  In the early days, surgeons occasionally made a mistake because the
> > procedure was so new.  Now the surgeons can detect when they are
near
> > the facial nerve and they know exactly how to avoid it.
> >
> > >
> > > 5. Are there reports of any irritableness *in* the head from the
> > device?
> > > Could it move around it there?
> >
> > It can not move.  It is very secure.  Depending on the size/shape of
the
> > kid's head, there is a bump and you can feel the device.  It's scary
> > when you first feel it but it's totally okay.
> >
> > >
> > > Thanks for any replies,
> >
> > no prob ...
> >
> > My kid's latest thing is that he takes me by the hand and says
"Let's go
> > Daddy... over there'.  He's 2 years and 4 months old and he's been
> > implanted/mapped for 7 months.  It's a damned good technology;
believe
> > you me.  He's pretty much developing as a normal hearing kid
(actually
> > faster from what the therapists tell me).
> >
> > >
> > > Martin Eden
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --
> > ----------------------------------------
> > Dan, Tehetina, and David Abel Hildebrand
> > Beating Deafness A Little More Every Day
> > http://www.netcom.com/~danhilde
> > ----------------------------------------
> >
> >
> > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> > Before you buy.
>
>

--
----------------------------------------
Dan, Tehetina, and David Abel Hildebrand
Beating Deafness A Little More Every Day
http://www.netcom.com/~danhilde
----------------------------------------


Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Let me do what I can Martin ...

In article <YS1J5.57108$hD4.13280400@news1.rdc1.mi.home.com>,
  "Martin Eden" <Martin-Edenn@home.com> wrote:
> Hello:
>
> I have a few questions about C.I., and I would be grateful if anyone
could
> answer any of the questions:
>
> 1. How much damage does the electrode do to the cochlea and how could
that
> influence the ability to use future CI or other technology?

In order to insert and thread the electrode array around the
approximately 2.5 turns of the cochlea, the cochlea has to be, for all
intents and purposes, sacrificed.  New advancements in CI will be on the
external system for the most part so users can "upgrade" to the newer
external device without any worry.  It is possible to reimplant by
taking out the array and reinserting a new device, but this is generally
not thought to be the thing to do.  The 'drag' of the array could hurt a
particular membrane.  It is not clear whether an implanted ear could
benefit from a new technology (e.g. hair cell regen) because we just
don't know what that is yet.

>
> 2. How long will the batteries last?

Depending on what CI you have, you use different batteries.  My son uses
two Nickel Metal Hydride AA batteries in his external processor and they
last an entire day.  We recharge them in about an hour and the system is
really fine.  Of course, new battery technology is coming soon.  One
semiconductor company has just invented something called fuel cell
technology which will revolutionize many devices.  It is based on the
butane approach that people used to use to fill their cigarette
lighters.  A cell phone usually lasts a few hours right?  The new
battery will be much lighter and will last 30 days or more of continuous
use.  The CI companies are constantly looking for better batteries and
they will get it.

>
> 3. How reliable is the implant system?

Very.  The failure rate of CIs is negligible.  In the very early days,
ESD, or electro static discharge, (i.e. static electricity) was zapping
people with CIs but this has been resolved for the most part.  The
devices are now resilient to such hits.

>
> 4. HOW do they hook up the CI to the Skull?  This baffles me, do they
drill
> a hole through the skull?  Would this be hard if playing sports?

The surgery, while on the head, is not one of the more intense or
complicated ear surgeries.  A flap of skin is opened behind the ear.  A
well is carved into the mastoid bone.  The tricky part is getting passed
the nerve canal and to the cochlea so a tiny hole can be drilled.  The
processor is seated on the well and tied in.  The little array of
electrodes is threaded through the cochlea.  Enough room is left to take
into accound growth of the head to adulthood.  The process takes the
surgeon about 2 hours and they're getting real good at it at this point.
 The two potential problems include infection and disruption of the
facial (balance) nerve but these things just don't happen often at all.
 In the early days, surgeons occasionally made a mistake because the
procedure was so new.  Now the surgeons can detect when they are near
the facial nerve and they know exactly how to avoid it.

>
> 5. Are there reports of any irritableness *in* the head from the
device?
> Could it move around it there?

It can not move.  It is very secure.  Depending on the size/shape of the
kid's head, there is a bump and you can feel the device.  It's scary
when you first feel it but it's totally okay.

>
> Thanks for any replies,

no prob ...

My kid's latest thing is that he takes me by the hand and says "Let's go
Daddy... over there'.  He's 2 years and 4 months old and he's been
implanted/mapped for 7 months.  It's a damned good technology; believe
you me.  He's pretty much developing as a normal hearing kid (actually
faster from what the therapists tell me).

>
> Martin Eden
>
>

--
----------------------------------------
Dan, Tehetina, and David Abel Hildebrand
Beating Deafness A Little More Every Day
http://www.netcom.com/~danhilde
----------------------------------------


Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

By the way, Martin, if you go to my web site below, there is a link
called An Introduciton to Cochlear Implants or something like that.
You'll read all you want to know and more there if you care to.

In article <8t315b$8h2$1@nnrp1.deja.com>,
  Dan Hildebrand <danhilde@my-deja.com> wrote:
> Let me do what I can Martin ...
>
> In article <YS1J5.57108$hD4.13280400@news1.rdc1.mi.home.com>,
>   "Martin Eden" <Martin-Edenn@home.com> wrote:
> > Hello:
> >
> > I have a few questions about C.I., and I would be grateful if anyone
> could
> > answer any of the questions:
> >
> > 1. How much damage does the electrode do to the cochlea and how
could
> that
> > influence the ability to use future CI or other technology?
>
> In order to insert and thread the electrode array around the
> approximately 2.5 turns of the cochlea, the cochlea has to be, for all
> intents and purposes, sacrificed.  New advancements in CI will be on
the
> external system for the most part so users can "upgrade" to the newer
> external device without any worry.  It is possible to reimplant by
> taking out the array and reinserting a new device, but this is
generally
> not thought to be the thing to do.  The 'drag' of the array could hurt
a
> particular membrane.  It is not clear whether an implanted ear could
> benefit from a new technology (e.g. hair cell regen) because we just
> don't know what that is yet.
>
> >
> > 2. How long will the batteries last?
>
> Depending on what CI you have, you use different batteries.  My son
uses
> two Nickel Metal Hydride AA batteries in his external processor and
they
> last an entire day.  We recharge them in about an hour and the system
is
> really fine.  Of course, new battery technology is coming soon.  One
> semiconductor company has just invented something called fuel cell
> technology which will revolutionize many devices.  It is based on the
> butane approach that people used to use to fill their cigarette
> lighters.  A cell phone usually lasts a few hours right?  The new
> battery will be much lighter and will last 30 days or more of
continuous
> use.  The CI companies are constantly looking for better batteries and
> they will get it.
>
> >
> > 3. How reliable is the implant system?
>
> Very.  The failure rate of CIs is negligible.  In the very early days,
> ESD, or electro static discharge, (i.e. static electricity) was
zapping
> people with CIs but this has been resolved for the most part.  The
> devices are now resilient to such hits.
>
> >
> > 4. HOW do they hook up the CI to the Skull?  This baffles me, do
they
> drill
> > a hole through the skull?  Would this be hard if playing sports?
>
> The surgery, while on the head, is not one of the more intense or
> complicated ear surgeries.  A flap of skin is opened behind the ear.
A
> well is carved into the mastoid bone.  The tricky part is getting
passed
> the nerve canal and to the cochlea so a tiny hole can be drilled.  The
> processor is seated on the well and tied in.  The little array of
> electrodes is threaded through the cochlea.  Enough room is left to
take
> into accound growth of the head to adulthood.  The process takes the
> surgeon about 2 hours and they're getting real good at it at this
point.
>  The two potential problems include infection and disruption of the
> facial (balance) nerve but these things just don't happen often at
all.
>  In the early days, surgeons occasionally made a mistake because the
> procedure was so new.  Now the surgeons can detect when they are near
> the facial nerve and they know exactly how to avoid it.
>
> >
> > 5. Are there reports of any irritableness *in* the head from the
> device?
> > Could it move around it there?
>
> It can not move.  It is very secure.  Depending on the size/shape of
the
> kid's head, there is a bump and you can feel the device.  It's scary
> when you first feel it but it's totally okay.
>
> >
> > Thanks for any replies,
>
> no prob ...
>
> My kid's latest thing is that he takes me by the hand and says "Let's
go
> Daddy... over there'.  He's 2 years and 4 months old and he's been
> implanted/mapped for 7 months.  It's a damned good technology; believe
> you me.  He's pretty much developing as a normal hearing kid (actually
> faster from what the therapists tell me).
>
> >
> > Martin Eden
> >
> >
>
> --
> ----------------------------------------
> Dan, Tehetina, and David Abel Hildebrand
> Beating Deafness A Little More Every Day
> http://www.netcom.com/~danhilde
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.
>

--
----------------------------------------
Dan, Tehetina, and David Abel Hildebrand
Beating Deafness A Little More Every Day
http://www.netcom.com/~danhilde
----------------------------------------


Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.