Email me at: bionically@gmail.com
I’m happy to respond to any questions or comments that you might have. Don’t be shy, as I am a very open person, and I’ve been asked every question that you can think of under the sun, from the most embarrassing to the most obvious.
I’ll do my best to answer your questions!
Thank you so much for documenting your journey …. I went deaf in the right ear in 2002 and in the left last August in 2006, both from viral infections. I was told that no hearing aid would help me and that I would need a CI. I’m at the stage of choosing between Freedom and AB and music is very important to me too, so your story has really helped. My doctors have done an initial evaluation and gave me the Freedom and the Auria to choose between. So, since I’m completely new to this, and in light of your experiences with Harmony, when I choose AB, would you pick the Auria or the platinum sound processor? I’m looking at both and don’t know what the difference would be when trying to hear music especially … would it make sense to get both?
I’m a 26 year old college instructor and just being able to hear voices and distinguish words would be enough to give me joy right now so, thanks again and I will be waiting for your response. I’m relatively newly deaf and don’t know sign language, but am thinking about learning as a backup.
Giselle
Good luck in all that you do.
Oh you are very welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it. And it’s comments/people like you that just add more fuel to keep writing.
Just for clarification, I don’t have the Harmony, but have been getting extra information from the audiologists that may be a bit more in-depth than what is available online. For a true account of people’s experiences with the Harmony, I would check out Advanced Bionics Webinar series. But the blogs I found for participants in the Harmony trials, all were favorable for the Harmony.
I’m a little confused by your question about choosing one or the other, or both. Are you getting a bilateral cochlear implant?
A lot of people use the ear-level processors (aka Auria/Harmony).
The PSP (platinum sound processor) has to be worn on a belt like a pager (or with a harness of some sort). It’s good if you’re one of those people who don’t want a device on your ear.
However, I decided against that, because if I was going to wear a dress, then where would I put it. If I was male, that might be a different story.
I got two Auria processors, one as a backup. I will be able to trade in the unopened Auria for a Harmony whenever the trade-in program starts. It’s all a matter of personal choice and your lifestyle.
I just didn’t want stuff on my hip, a cord snaking through my clothes and up my neck, because I just see it as an opportunity to get all tangled up due to my constant motion and physical activity.
As for sign language, it can be helpful in situations (like signing to somebody across a room, or through a glass window) or even underwater! Good luck in learning the language. I know ASL signs, but I’m not fluent in the grammatical structure of the language.
P.S. You’re not that much older than me (try two years). I think it’s great that you’re a college professor! Keep up the great work.
P.P.S. Sorry for the late response. The comment got lost on the site, and I just found it. Feel free to ask any more questions!
Hi Allison,
I’ve been reading your blog and am so delighted about your success! I absolutely LOVE your blog! I hope you will visit Advanced Bionics BRAND NEW online community at http://www.hearingjourney.com and share some of your exciting music discoveries with us! We just opened this week….and there are some great AB folks to meet over there!
Hi Allison,
I stumbled onto your blog today and have just absolutely enjoyed reading through your posts that detail your CI experiences! I’m 31 years old, and lost hearing in my right ear at the age of 16. I adapted to the situation and did the best I could do with the 70% that remained in my left ear for about 13 years. (For awhile, I was in denial about the idea of actually being completely deaf at some point) In January of 2005, I noticed that I was struggling more and more with being able to hear — and decided to see a doctor (I had not visited an ear doctor in 10 years). As it turns out, my hearing had dropped to 40% and in order to be eligible for the CI, it needed to be less than 40%. So, my doctor & audi fitted me with a HA and I gave that a shot for several months. It was such a frustrating time for me because I was really trying to give the HA a good shot, but it honestly didn’t seem to be helping me at all. After a few appts with my audi to tweak the HA, she decided to do another hearing test on me…the results showed that my hearing had dropped to around 10%. That very same day, we started the process of preparing me to have the CI surgery. Long story short—I was implanted with the CI in November 2005, activated in late December 05 and have had a very successful journey so far. I’m so anxious to recieve the Harmony! Thank you for sharing such a great blog!
Hello, guess I am 10,000th visitor! Don’t believe me? Hee hee… I already took a snapshot.