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• • 63 year-old female
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• • Adult onset with gradually progressive hearing loss over 30 years
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• • Implanted at age 55

June 2008 Update to Story

WOW! It is now eight years since I received my cochlear implant. Time flies when you are “hearing well” and enjoying life immensely because of that restored ability. My audiologist once described me as “her vanilla cream” patient. By that I suppose she meant that I have liked the initial settings/mappings and programs for my cochlear implant and have not needed many changes. In writing this sequel I want to stress the dependability or reliability I have experienced from my cochlear implant.

While I have continued to read about the latest CI technology available by Advanced Bionics (and other manufacturers of cochlear implants) as well as the advantages of bilateral implants to keep abreast of current research, my original cochlear implant continues to function extremely well. By the way, if I had it to do over today, I would not hesitate to be re-implanted with the AB device. I have been so very pleased with it.

Original Story - written in 2003

I have a progressive sensorineural hearing loss which began when I was about 29 years old. I am now 59. The hearing problem was first noticed when my son was a baby. Holding the baby in my right arm, while putting the phone to my left ear, I realized that I was having difficulty understanding the conversation. After having my hearing tested and realizing that I was having a problem, I began a long journey, progressing from medication to attempt to stop the loss, to various types of and increasingly sophisticated hearing aids, over a period of thirty years.

Though I did not work for a few years when my children were very young, I returned to teaching when I was about 32 years old. I have taught full-time, first on the high school level, and for the last 23 years, at the college level. As a teacher, I have always been interested in learning opportunities. Losing my hearing has proved to be one of my greatest learning experiences, though not one that I yearned for or expected to have.

Gradually, my hearing declined so that I had great difficulty with things such as: phone use, family gatherings, church activities, plays, many work-related activities such as attending conferences and committee work, T.V. watching, etc. I continued to attempt to do all of these things for a long time. However, I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated and tense as my hearing worsened. Finally, I became somewhat of a hermit socially and increasingly felt alone, though I continued to teach, and attend a few church and family-related activities.

I always informed students on the first day of classes that I was hard of hearing. I provided them with some tips to use in communicating with me: face me, get my attention, etc. As a biology instructor, I found that I had a golden opportunity. As we discussed the anatomy of the ear and the hearing organ (the cochlea), I could use myself as an example of what might happen (and did) as damage occurred to the intricate structures and hair cells are destroyed, leading to hearing loss. I was not so bold with my colleagues as I worried about how they would perceive my capabilities if they knew I was hearing impaired. Initially, I told only a select few that I was hard of hearing and only when absolutely necessary. I discreetly positioned myself in meetings where I could best follow the discussion, and sought out written accounts as often as I could. I carried my own volume control hearing aid compatible telephone to work, reluctant to request such accommodations be provided for me.

My family, consisting of my husband and two children, has been extremely supportive of me, though I know they were also frustrated over the years with my inability to hear and their need to interpret for me. Increasingly, my family became my telephone communicator, social communicator, as well as moral supporter.

Finally, in the Spring of 2000 my ENT doctor recommended that I be evaluated for a cochlear implant. I had never heard of cochlear implants. When I told my husband I wanted to find out more, he immediately said, "You should go for it!"

Previously, I had joined a local SHHH (Self Help for Hard of Hearing People) group. There I met other folks just like me and learned a great deal through the educational programs and fellowship offered by this group. I went to the National SHHH Convention in June of 2000. While there, I attended two seminars: 1) a panel composed of individuals who had cochlear implants, and 2) a presentation by a surgeon who had done many cochlear implant surgeries with much success. His statistics using the Advanced Bionics device were particularly impressive. Right there in the meeting, as I listened to these presentations, tears rolled down my face. My journey was NOT Unique; I was NOT alone!! Hope was NOT lost!!! One lady in her 60s described the very same journey I have had. However, she had received a CI. Her only regret was that she had not had it done five years earlier.

That experience at the SHHH convention is what prompted me to pursue cochlear implantation. After being evaluated and deemed a good candidate for the cochlear implant, I went ahead with plans for the surgery. I had to find a way to work it into my busy teaching schedule. I taught Fall Semester 2000, took off the Tuesday before Thanksgiving for the surgery, returned to work the next week and finished the semester before the cochlear implant was even activated!

The CI was turned on in January 2001. WOW! It has been a true miracle for me, my family and friends, my colleagues and students!! After receiving my implant I can: talk on the phone, talk to my husband from an adjacent room, hear in church, hear during various social activities well enough to "catch the joke", hear students sitting in the back of the room, hear rain falling, birds singing, the blinker on the car, hear better in a somewhat noisy restaurant, attend conferences, hear lyrics as my son plays his CDs, and the list goes on and on. The quality of my life has been enriched so very much. I am less tense and more relaxed. Teaching again became a joy rather than a struggle. I was no longer doubtful about my colleagues' perception of my hearing loss as I became open about my abilities and no longer found the need to hide my struggles. I only wished that I had known about the cochlear implant and had been able to take advantage of it much earlier.

Learning is a life-long process. I learned that, once I admitted my hearing loss to myself and to others, that life became bearable. Most students, faculty, and friends were gracious in their wanting to be of help to me. After my cochlear implant, life has become a joy! I will continue to read, to keep abreast of new technology, attend conventions, volunteer, write congressman, tell every day people I meet when asked (and sometimes with no prompting), to educate, and to speak out about my experience with hearing loss and the miracle that is mine with my cochlear implant. I feel so strongly that no one who could benefit from a cochlear implant should be uneducated about them or denied the opportunity to hear, if that is possible! Most of all I will continue to enjoy every moment since I have been given the miracle of hearing again. Everyday is a marvelous new day simply loaded with opportunities.