Comments for Turn On My Ears! Cochlear Implant Blog http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com Spreading Cochlear Implant Awareness Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:49:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Why Cochlear? by Scott http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/02/02/why-cochlear/#comment-420 Scott Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:49:43 +0000 http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/02/02/why-cochlear/#comment-420 Everybody, thanks for sharing your decision logic. I am an adult who has been deaf for about 18 months, and I'm trying to choose which implant I will be getting soon. In my case, I have already had two liver transplants, and I may very likely need MRIs in the future (a complication from the first implant actually caused my deafness). What I do know of the Medel system is that it does not have a removable magnet, but it is FDA certified for use in MRI up to 0.2T. Unfortunately, almost all MRI equipment now uses at least 1.5T, so that may actually be a drawback. With CA or AB, the magnet can be removed, then replaced right after the MRI, if needed. It's kind of counter-intuitive, but the one system that's MRI certified "as-is" may actually be the worst choice for MRIs. The electrode arrangement is also a bit different in the Medel. According to my audiologist, it has 12 pairs of electrodes, and they select the one in each pair that gives the best connection to the nerves. So, essentially you get a better likelihood of a good connection early on, and a spare connection if that one ever fails, for each electrode. Medel also has a neat remote control device for changing the settings without handling the processor directly, and we all know how guys like remote controls. I'm still collecting information, but from what I've seen so far I'm leaning toward the AB system. I'm not worried about what externals are available, since that it usually an easy upgrade later. Any really useful advances will probably get copied into the others' upgrades anyway. The AB implant does seem to have the best internal setup for future expansion (currently, anyway). Fortunately I don't have to consider how well the externals stay on while crawling around. I can only imagine what a tough decision this must be to make for your kids. Thanks again for sharing, and making my decision a little easier. Everybody, thanks for sharing your decision logic. I am an adult who has been deaf for about 18 months, and I’m trying to choose which implant I will be getting soon. In my case, I have already had two liver transplants, and I may very likely need MRIs in the future (a complication from the first implant actually caused my deafness).
What I do know of the Medel system is that it does not have a removable magnet, but it is FDA certified for use in MRI up to 0.2T. Unfortunately, almost all MRI equipment now uses at least 1.5T, so that may actually be a drawback. With CA or AB, the magnet can be removed, then replaced right after the MRI, if needed. It’s kind of counter-intuitive, but the one system that’s MRI certified “as-is” may actually be the worst choice for MRIs.
The electrode arrangement is also a bit different in the Medel. According to my audiologist, it has 12 pairs of electrodes, and they select the one in each pair that gives the best connection to the nerves. So, essentially you get a better likelihood of a good connection early on, and a spare connection if that one ever fails, for each electrode. Medel also has a neat remote control device for changing the settings without handling the processor directly, and we all know how guys like remote controls.
I’m still collecting information, but from what I’ve seen so far I’m leaning toward the AB system. I’m not worried about what externals are available, since that it usually an easy upgrade later. Any really useful advances will probably get copied into the others’ upgrades anyway. The AB implant does seem to have the best internal setup for future expansion (currently, anyway).
Fortunately I don’t have to consider how well the externals stay on while crawling around. I can only imagine what a tough decision this must be to make for your kids.
Thanks again for sharing, and making my decision a little easier.

]]> Comment on Deaf NBA Player Has Cochlear Implants by Celeste http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-416 Celeste Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:25:00 +0000 http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-416 My father sent this to me this morning. Evryone always tells us that cochler implants won't ever slow our children down and that anything is possible, but it's great to see that really happen with those also with implants. Thanks for posting. My father sent this to me this morning. Evryone always tells us that cochler implants won’t ever slow our children down and that anything is possible, but it’s great to see that really happen with those also with implants. Thanks for posting.

]]> Comment on Lance Allred Cavs Update by MB http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/27/lance-allred-cavs-update/#comment-415 MB Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:08:00 +0000 http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/27/lance-allred-cavs-update/#comment-415 He has had quit the life. Amazing he has done so well. Did you read about his childhood in a polygamous compound? <br/><br/>I hope that coach feels like #($*& now! What a jerk. He has had quit the life. Amazing he has done so well. Did you read about his childhood in a polygamous compound?

I hope that coach feels like #($*& now! What a jerk.

]]> Comment on Deaf NBA Player Has Cochlear Implants by troubled teen http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-414 troubled teen Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:24:00 +0000 http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-414 ill watch him .. turn on my ears that sounds great ill watch him .. turn on my ears that sounds great

]]> Comment on Deaf NBA Player Has Cochlear Implants by Laurie http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-413 Laurie Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:44:00 +0000 http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-413 Cool! I'll have to watch for him. Shouldn't be a problem for him to wear his processor(s) on court. . .there are ways to keep those on!<br/><br/>P.S. Go Tennessee Vols! Go Lady Vols!(Sorry, I had to put that in!)<br/><br/>~A Tennessee Fan Cool! I’ll have to watch for him. Shouldn’t be a problem for him to wear his processor(s) on court. . .there are ways to keep those on!

P.S. Go Tennessee Vols! Go Lady Vols!(Sorry, I had to put that in!)

~A Tennessee Fan

]]> Comment on Deaf NBA Player Has Cochlear Implants by Drew's Dad http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-412 Drew's Dad Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:43:00 +0000 http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-412 hetha - I'm surprised that I hadn't heard of him (or remember him), because that is impressive to be third in rebounding for all schools!<br/><br/>mom to toes - I don't know if he wears the processors on the court or not, but I assumed he did because of how he mentioned sometimes missing sounds from behind him and getting "wiped out" by someone he could not see.<br/><br/>If anyone finds out, let us know. hetha – I’m surprised that I hadn’t heard of him (or remember him), because that is impressive to be third in rebounding for all schools!

mom to toes – I don’t know if he wears the processors on the court or not, but I assumed he did because of how he mentioned sometimes missing sounds from behind him and getting “wiped out” by someone he could not see.

If anyone finds out, let us know.

]]> Comment on Deaf NBA Player Has Cochlear Implants by Mom to Toes http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-411 Mom to Toes Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:36:00 +0000 http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-411 Cool! Thanks for posting this.<br/><br/>I wonder, does he wear the processors on the court? I imagine that would be tricky.<br/><br/>I just may have to turn on a basketball game... Cool! Thanks for posting this.

I wonder, does he wear the processors on the court? I imagine that would be tricky.

I just may have to turn on a basketball game…

]]> Comment on Deaf NBA Player Has Cochlear Implants by Hetha http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-410 Hetha Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:57:00 +0000 http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/deaf-nba-player-has-cochlear-implants/#comment-410 I don't know either but I do know that he was 3rd in the nation in college basketball rebounding in 04-05! Um.... that's out of every single school that plays basketball. WOW. I don’t know either but I do know that he was 3rd in the nation in college basketball rebounding in 04-05! Um…. that’s out of every single school that plays basketball. WOW.

]]> Comment on Speech-Language Pathology Semi-Annual Evaluation by Drew's Mom http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/speech-language-pathology-semi-annual-evaluation/#comment-409 Drew's Mom Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:50:00 +0000 http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/speech-language-pathology-semi-annual-evaluation/#comment-409 Kristen,<br/><br/>I hope Drew and Kevin can meet one day, too! I know we will family vacation one day in CA. I'm sure we'll go to Disney Land and a Rose Bowl sometime! (If they Buckeye's ever get back there!<br/><br/>I hope Drew meets all of his "virtual" friends one day.<br/><br/>Drew's Mom Kristen,

I hope Drew and Kevin can meet one day, too! I know we will family vacation one day in CA. I’m sure we’ll go to Disney Land and a Rose Bowl sometime! (If they Buckeye’s ever get back there!

I hope Drew meets all of his “virtual” friends one day.

Drew’s Mom

]]> Comment on Speech-Language Pathology Semi-Annual Evaluation by Kristen http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/speech-language-pathology-semi-annual-evaluation/#comment-408 Kristen Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:44:00 +0000 http://turnonmyears.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/speech-language-pathology-semi-annual-evaluation/#comment-408 Way to go, Drew! I hope you and Kevin can meet one day! You guys would get along so well! Way to go, Drew! I hope you and Kevin can meet one day! You guys would get along so well!

]]>