How it all started ?

If you've been reading the start of my blog you will see that my interest began from a leaflet that i was given at the hospital - it had a really cool diagram on it with the ear and the device showing - and seeing that made me realise how tiny technology has become. Here's a copy of a similar one - if you focus on the grey wire thingy you will see where it is implanted :

I can remember a fellow peer of mine who went to Ovingdean with me having  it done and although it was new - i think there was alot of uncertainly to how it would work. To be honest though my loss wasn't that bad at this stage in my life - but i was really pleased for her and it did make a huge difference to her life. I can remember visiting her at home and her speech had improved dramatically since our school days so I was in awe of how well she was doing.I suppose this was my first encounter of someone who had a CI and i did hear of many more story's, being children mainly - some of them i heard didn't work so well or some of which did work but the child disliked. The emphasis at the time in the UK was huge and became common practice to implant children as young as they could which would assist them with speech and to prepare them for the big world.

On referral to see a specialist for another problem I've been having which was was identified as Vestibular migranos - it was duly noted that I was still showing deterioration in my hearing loss and I also mentioned how bad my tinnitus was getting  too. The vestibular specialist Mr Peter West took one look at my file and then said ' have you thought about having a Cochlear implant?' I looked at him and said ' the audiologist did mention this to me but I've always been told that my loss wasn't bad enough for them to consider ?' his response was ' Lisa you are looking suitable - i would say its at the stage we would consider you for one - I'll refer you to Mr Pringle for him to see you'.

In between this stage I had a chat to my friends and family - in the past I'd been dead set against them - this was because i was probably afraid , its a big operation drilling into your head isn't it? but i was reunited with some old peers from ovingdean - one was about to go through this experience and the other was already implanted and they too discussed with me their situation and options.

Here's a photo of my old school pals Nicky and Ben - they both had single implants- its been great catching up with them



My main worry was that I was deaf - i didn't want to loose my identity but I spoke to a close family friend whose child was implanted at a young age and she described although it didn't fully work for her son, that times had changed and she didn't regret it one bit - he was still able to get some sounds from the processor he wore and to ignore the rumours and pressure from the deaf community as they didn't know what they were missing out on. She had grown up in the deaf world as a CODA ( child of a deaf adult ) and deafness is in her genes - hence her having two deaf children and probably understood my concerns. Technology had improved so much since she had him implanted and she was even considering on getting his second ear done so he could gain much more, She also did say that it wasn't a cure to deafness but it was far better than wearing the post aural aids that the NHS ( National Health Service ) provided us with.

One month later i was waiting in the Ear Nose and throat Department to see Mr Pringle - he looked extremely busy and popular that day - but as soon as i sat down with him and discussed my history, the reoccurring infections i got from wearing ear moulds, my tiredness, my depression, - he took one look at me and said ' Have a think about it - you are hitting all criteria and I really think you'd be a good candidate'
and informed me that they had  to apply for funding for me to attend the CI centre which was based in Southampton. I would then be under the centre care for which he is on the panel for and the specialists at the centre would support me whilst undergoing more intensive tests and assessments to look at my suitability.


I looked at my Mother who attended with me and she smiled - she then said to me afterwards ' What made you change your mind? i said well times have changed and i've had to start too face the facts now - Im not coping with being profoundly deaf no more so if they can help me then its a bonus '