Exciting and nerve-racking! The date has been set for Isobel's cochlear implant surgery. 7th February. It is amazing how far we have come in such a small amount of time. She has lots of tests to go through, blood, urine, MRI and another hearing test, all to take place mid January. The most important test is to make sure she actually has a cochlea nerve. There is a less than 1% chance that she doesn't have it, but her doctor just wants to be sure. Without the nerve, the implant won't work. So I guess it's better to be safe then sorry!
The following animation and diagram explain what a cochlear implant is and how it works.
Once Isobel has had the internal processor and electrodes implanted, she won't immediately hear. We will have to wait until her scar has completely healed before it gets activated. This will take about 4 weeks.
In the meantime, she will wear hearing aids on both ears. We'll be collecting those on Wednesday. We're excitied to see what her reaction will be to hearing all the sounds around her.
hi sally, i know it isnt quite the same but i stated losing my hearing in my twenties, but it wasnt until i got my first hearing aid that i realised how much i had been missing because i'd accepted the loss for so long. I still remember clearly the first time they switchd on the aid and the very first sound i heard was a bird singing! i hadnt even realised until that moment that it had been so long since id heard sounds most people take for granted! The wonder Isobel will experienc will be tenfold to mine and that will be something so very special. My love to you all, sadie x
That will be exciting indeed!! I know it must be scary and exciting all at once!! What a trooper Isobel is!
ReplyDeletehi sally, i know it isnt quite the same but i stated losing my hearing in my twenties, but it wasnt until i got my first hearing aid that i realised how much i had been missing because i'd accepted the loss for so long. I still remember clearly the first time they switchd on the aid and the very first sound i heard was a bird singing! i hadnt even realised until that moment that it had been so long since id heard sounds most people take for granted! The wonder Isobel will experienc will be tenfold to mine and that will be something so very special.
ReplyDeleteMy love to you all,
sadie x
I hope the next time isoble goes to the doctors it will be the same or better.
ReplyDelete