| Cochlear Implant: I started reading about the Cochlear Implant on the Internet and decided this was something I wanted to pursue. In the summer of '00 I decided to get tested to see if I would qualify for the implant. I went to Bill Wilkerson's Center at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN and was tested. The criteria at that time were you could score no better than 40% in the best hearing environment with the best aids. I scored 46% and didn't qualify. I was very depressed after that. I was really looking forward to being able to hear again. The audiologist at Bill Wilkerson's emailed me about a month later and told me that there was a new FDA study going on and I might now qualify for the implant. I was just too crushed to go back for more testing. Last fall ('01) I decided to give it another try. I made my mind up that even if I didn't qualify, I wouldn't get depressed. I also enrolled in a community college to take photography classes (something to look forward to if I didn't qualify for the implant.) I went back for more testing in November '01 and qualified for the Cochlear Implant! Next, I had to meet with Dr. Haynes and get a CT Scan. I had to decide which ear I wanted implanted and chose the right ear. I felt I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I can still hear some sounds in my left ear with my hearing aid, but can't hear anything at all in my right. The doctor and audiologist felt that I would do fine with the right ear. My next decision was on which implant to get. This was a really hard decision. I researched the internet almost daily and talked online to many who have the Nucleus, Clarion and Med-El implants. I know all three brands are wonderful and I don't think I could have went wrong with either one. But for me, I decided I wanted to get the Nucleus. Some of the reasons for my decision were the possibility of bilateral implants and the new 3G BTE processor (still awaiting FDA approval for release). Finally, my surgery was scheduled for March 4, 2002! All my excitement started turning to anxiety! |