Comments on: Cochlear Implants or Hearing Aids? http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:35:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Charlie Cory http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-36004 Charlie Cory Sun, 12 Nov 2006 21:03:06 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-36004 Hi, Actually Tim, your advice regarding the Health Savings account holds good for pretty much any specialist medical care, and is not restricted to those requiring hearing aids. Hi,

Actually Tim, your advice regarding the Health Savings account holds good for pretty much any specialist medical care, and is not restricted to those requiring hearing aids.

]]> By: Teddy http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-9455 Teddy Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:49:22 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-9455 Contact sports? What are you, defensemen for the Capitols? Contact sports? What are you, defensemen for the Capitols?

]]> By: Curious Eyes http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-9454 Curious Eyes Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:45:48 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-9454 Hi Tim: someone else replied later on, but I want to share my experience with you too. Just so you can have all the facts. I'm not trying to bend your arm and convince you to get one if you don't want one, OK? Nowadays the scar is very small, just the size of a bobby pin, and behind your ear. No head shaving necessary. Of course for men with short hair, the implant is visible unless you have long curly hair like me. The improvement in hearing levels is huge. After the adjustment period, your hearing levels should rise to mild or nearly normal. As for contact sports, I had to give up my career as a roller derby queen when I got my CI. --just kidding. I drive a desk. -- And YES, you absolutely can be culturally Deaf, wear a CI, and use ASL. Hi Tim: someone else replied later on, but I want to share my experience with you too. Just so you can have all the facts. I’m not trying to bend your arm and convince you to get one if you don’t want one, OK? Nowadays the scar is very small, just the size of a bobby pin, and behind your ear. No head shaving necessary. Of course for men with short hair, the implant is visible unless you have long curly hair like me. The improvement in hearing levels is huge. After the adjustment period, your hearing levels should rise to mild or nearly normal. As for contact sports, I had to give up my career as a roller derby queen when I got my CI. –just kidding. I drive a desk. — And YES, you absolutely can be culturally Deaf, wear a CI, and use ASL.

]]> By: Curious Eyes http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-9453 Curious Eyes Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:39:14 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-9453 Erin, I know what you mean about the decision whether to get a CI not easy. I thought about it for years before I finally went ahead with it. My experience with the CI surgery was that it was very easy. Only took an hour and a half, and I had a tiny scar the size of a bobby pin behind my ear. I did not have to have my head shaved either. I had no pain whatsoever and the scar healed in less than a week. If you think you might need a CI down the road due to declining vision, I'd encourage you to think about getting a CI sooner rather than later. The reason is because it takes time to learn how to recognize sounds and get used to hearing at near-normal levels. The evaluation process for candidacy also takes time, with multiple appointments needed. I love my implant and consider it a "super hearing aid." I also have the option of simply taking it off any time I want. You can have it both ways! Erin, I know what you mean about the decision whether to get a CI not easy. I thought about it for years before I finally went ahead with it. My experience with the CI surgery was that it was very easy. Only took an hour and a half, and I had a tiny scar the size of a bobby pin behind my ear. I did not have to have my head shaved either. I had no pain whatsoever and the scar healed in less than a week. If you think you might need a CI down the road due to declining vision, I’d encourage you to think about getting a CI sooner rather than later. The reason is because it takes time to learn how to recognize sounds and get used to hearing at near-normal levels. The evaluation process for candidacy also takes time, with multiple appointments needed. I love my implant and consider it a “super hearing aid.” I also have the option of simply taking it off any time I want. You can have it both ways!

]]> By: mcconnell http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-9427 mcconnell Sun, 09 Jul 2006 05:29:08 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-9427 Actually, Joseph, that is incorrect. An excerpt from my report: Profits among cochlear implant companies are usually in the 10 to 30 million dollars. One cochlear implant company in Australia earned 27 million dollars in 2002. This is quite low according to many of the investors’ expectation of seeing double amount. Earning projections were usually sometimes at twice what was earned a year earlier or even previous years. Despite the numerous analyses on the potential market of 1.8 million “viable” deaf people with profound and severe hearing loss that could benefit from cochlear implants, cochlear implant companies have so far only produced 61,000+ devices. (Clegg). This produces to date with only a 3.4 percent cumulative market penetration. (Clegg “Investors ignore message from Cochlear.” May 2003. The Australian Financial Review.) As for hearing aids, they are sold in a much higher quantity than cochlear implant devices. The world’s hearing-aid market is estimated today with 5.5 million units sold totaling up to 4 billion dollars annually. The present growth is approx. 6% a year in volume and 9% in value according to Amplifon (www.amplifon.com). This is a true multi-billion dollars a year hearing aid industry, unlike the cochlear implant industry. Currently the cochlear implant industry is not a “billion dollar a year industry” as some people vehemently would like you to believe but a multi-million dollar-a-year industry, instead. Actually, Joseph, that is incorrect.

An excerpt from my report:

Profits among cochlear implant companies are usually in the 10 to 30 million dollars. One cochlear implant company in Australia earned 27 million dollars in 2002. This is quite low according to many of the investors’ expectation of seeing double amount. Earning projections were usually sometimes at twice what was earned a year earlier or even previous years. Despite the numerous analyses on the potential market of 1.8 million “viable” deaf people with profound and severe hearing loss that could benefit from cochlear implants, cochlear implant companies have so far only produced 61,000+ devices. (Clegg). This produces to date with only a 3.4 percent cumulative market penetration. (Clegg “Investors ignore message from Cochlear.” May 2003. The Australian Financial Review.)

As for hearing aids, they are sold in a much higher quantity than cochlear implant devices. The world’s hearing-aid market is estimated today with 5.5 million units sold totaling up to 4 billion dollars annually. The present growth is approx. 6% a year in volume and 9% in value according to Amplifon (www.amplifon.com). This is a true multi-billion dollars a year hearing aid industry, unlike the cochlear implant industry. Currently the cochlear implant industry is not a “billion dollar a year industry” as some people vehemently would like you to believe but a multi-million dollar-a-year industry, instead.

]]> By: Audiologist http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-9426 Audiologist Sun, 09 Jul 2006 04:34:00 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-9426 Bobby, Cochlear implant surgery does not involve removing the cochlea. Rather, it involves placing the implant within the cochlea. It is true that in most cases this results in loss of residual hearing in the implanted ear. However, in the overwhelming majority it is done in exchange for better hearing via the cochlear implant. Effective use of a hearing aid does not preclude cochlear implant candidacy. The impetus promoted by lack of insurance coverage for hearing aids to investigate cochlear implants may create a win-win situation for you - better hearing for less money, plus no earmold and no feedback. I encourage you consult a professional for an evaluation of your candidacy. You are probably not far from Johns Hopkins, home of one of the most widely kown cochlear implant programs and the US. News & World report #1 ENT department. Bobby,
Cochlear implant surgery does not involve removing the cochlea. Rather, it involves placing the implant within the cochlea. It is true that in most cases this results in loss of residual hearing in the implanted ear. However, in the overwhelming majority it is done in exchange for better hearing via the cochlear implant. Effective use of a hearing aid does not preclude cochlear implant candidacy. The impetus promoted by lack of insurance coverage for hearing aids to investigate cochlear implants may create a win-win situation for you - better hearing for less money, plus no earmold and no feedback. I encourage you consult a professional for an evaluation of your candidacy. You are probably not far from Johns Hopkins, home of one of the most widely kown cochlear implant programs and the US. News & World report #1 ENT department.

]]> By: phys ed http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-1541 phys ed Fri, 28 Apr 2006 05:05:52 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-1541 Sorry - I have keyboard problems thus showing typos. For Mickie, There are no electrical wires outside the head. The external device is attached to the head by a magnet on the external device and the magnet inside the implant. The external device is removed before swimming or showering. Sorry - I have keyboard problems thus showing typos.

For Mickie,
There are no electrical wires outside the head. The external device is attached to the head by a magnet on the external device and the magnet inside the implant. The external device is removed before swimming or showering.

]]> By: phys ed http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-1540 phys ed Fri, 28 Apr 2006 04:54:24 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-1540 For Mickie, There are no electrical wires outside the head. The external device is attached to the head by a magent on the external device and the magnet inside the impant. The external device is removed before swimming or showering. For Bobby, The criteria for being a CI Candidate is to score under 50% of speech recognition tests with an hearing aid. Cochlear.com is a good website to get info on CI. They now have minimal array invasion to preserve the residual hearing as much as possible. You will get an honest eval from an audie as whether you can be a good candidate for a CI after some testings, and most CI recipients hear all the frequencies at around 20db, which beats the use of an hearing aid! If you desire to hear more sounds and understand speech better, then the CI is the better choice as a speech processor over an hearing aid which only provides amplification. Connect with Cochlear Americas at cochlear.com and they will be happy to refer you to a Consumer Volunteer Advocate who can answer your questions and only you can make an informed decision! For Mickie,
There are no electrical wires outside the head. The external device is attached to the head by a magent on the external device and the magnet inside the impant. The external device is removed before swimming or showering.

For Bobby,
The criteria for being a CI Candidate is to score under 50% of speech recognition tests with an hearing aid. Cochlear.com is a good website to get info on CI. They now have minimal array invasion to preserve the residual hearing as much as possible. You will get an honest eval from an audie as whether you can be a good candidate for a CI after some testings, and most CI recipients hear all the frequencies at around 20db, which beats the use of an hearing aid! If you desire to hear more sounds and understand speech better, then the CI is the better choice as a speech processor over an hearing aid which only provides amplification. Connect with Cochlear Americas at cochlear.com and they will be happy to refer you to a Consumer Volunteer Advocate who can answer your questions and only you can make an informed decision!

]]> By: mickie http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-884 mickie Mon, 17 Apr 2006 18:28:01 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-884 you see, i have VERY little residual hearing. but i can honestly say i would avoid the implant at all costs. think of all the extra work!! electrical wires outside your head. Shower, anyone.... you see, i have VERY little residual hearing. but i can honestly say i would avoid the implant at all costs. think of all the extra work!! electrical wires outside your head. Shower, anyone….

]]> By: Jack http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-534 Jack Mon, 20 Mar 2006 12:58:42 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/bobby-cox/2006-03-01/cochlear-implants-or-hearing-aids/#comment-534 Give these guys a call. You have an audiogram done and send it to them. They do a good job fitting a hearing aid and offer good terms. I have bought from them many times and significant discounts. Monroe Hearing Aid Corp 30 E Adams St # 400, Chicago, 60603 (312) 201-1116 Give these guys a call. You have an audiogram done and send it to them. They do a good job fitting a hearing aid and offer good terms. I have bought from them many times and significant discounts.

Monroe Hearing Aid Corp

30 E Adams St # 400, Chicago, 60603

(312) 201-1116

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