Hi,
I have profound hearing loss, and wear hearing aids, but still struggle. I’m looking to get a proper full evaluation for cochlear implants. Where do I start? Whom do I go to? Are there top rated specialists that I should seek out somewhere? Where/how do I find them? Any advice is appreciated.
Hello @Abe1.
Firstly what country do you live in and what state?
This is a world wide forum, and without that knowledge it will be difficult to offer any info on a surgical team.
You can speak to your Aud he/she may offer suggestions for a surgical team in your area. There are only 3 companies who offer a CI processors. Advanced Bionics, Cochlear & MedEl.
If you look on each companies website you might find good recommendations for a surgical team in your area.
You also need to get organized a thorough CI evaluation done. Your surgical team will give you requests for further testing.
Do some thorough research into the 3 companies to see which one you might like. Your surgical team will also guide you with this as well. If you could put your most recent audiogram up as well that will also help the experienced Auds and recipients offer further advice.
For me deciding on the surgeon guided me through everything.
Learning which company has the best support where you live is probably the most important thing. There will be times something goes wrong and you will need help from the CI company you have. Great support will keep you going.
The 3 companies all make good equipment. You will hear equally well with any one of them.
Another very important part of a CI is the audiologist. Finding one that serves you well is important. As mentioned by Deaf_piper if you contact the CI companies on the Internet then can help. They will share information about surgeons and audiologist that can help you.
This time you are in is the most hectic time for CI. Once these preliminary things are decided everything will calm down. You also have pretty good help here on this forum if you ask.
Good luck
Why didn’t you mention Envoy Medical? You don’t think it’s valid?
@lello58 there’s a very simple reason. Because the fully implanted device isn’t readily available for use “today”. From memory it hasn’t yet been approved.
The “live trial” that happened several years ago in Australia was ceased. Because all the recipients were complaining of all the “body noises” they were unpleasant to be constantly hearing. Constant white noise when you’re trying to “hear” what the conversation is, would be enough to give you constant brain fog. From memory these recipients have had them replaced with “normal CI’s”
IMO those recipients who want a fully implanted device will wait for several years to come. As the microphones on the implanted device will always pick up the normal body noises. Eg the whooshing of the heart beat, the rumbling of stomach noises, gas passing along the bowel etc. I can hear these noises well enough without them being amplified by the microphone in the device.
Thanks for the reply, and for expressing your doubts about the fully implantable cochlear.
However, my question was asked to understand if Envoy is still a reliable company and I thought that at the moment they also made “normal CI’s”
It would help if you post your recent audiogram.
@lello58 to the best of my knowledge they only make fully implantable CI. They are not available for use as I don’t think they have FDA full approval as yet. Still only available for trials as yet.
It’s already visible in my profile