[tri-med] Re: Hearing Aids

Questions: How much? and Can it be turned off at night? Would it be 
suitable for otosclerosis ?

As coincidence would have it, I've just returned from picking up one 
of my hearing aids, which began playing up (I've only had it just on 
one year). It cost $1,750.00 and the government paid $1000 of that 
cost on the pension. (for two) They are a top of the line digital and 
have worked beautifully for almost twelve months. However the 
drawbacks are you have to take them out when showering or visiting 
the hairdresser, and of course when you lie down at night (feedback) 
and they apparently are very fragile as the only thing I could think 
of having done to mine was, I flipped it off the bathroom vanity 
basin with a towel accidentally, and of course it is a tiled floor. 
 From then on it kept playing up, going on and off, beeping to tell 
me the battery was low, when I'd not long put a new one in. I also 
find humidity makes them play up and am constantly taking them out 
and drying them, and the inside of my ear with a tissue. (especially 
at this time of year). I grant you that this implant sounds great, 
but I'm not sure I would feel happy about having a battery under the 
skin either.

At 01:33 PM 17/12/2007, you wrote:
>Has anyone had any dealings with the Vibrant Sound Bridge hearing 
>aid? We saw a doctor from the cochlear implant centre and she has 
>suggested it as an option for Alex's "worse" ear. Its NOT a cochlear 
>implant but rather a hearing aid thats implanted directly into the 
>ear. It works by directly vibrating the ossicles (bones of the 
>middle ear) and therefore it (theoretically) gives a clearer sound 
>and does not amplify tinnitus (which is a major problem for Alex). 
>The "receiver" is a small spot on the head like a cochlear implant 
>only smaller and the battery also sits on top of that.
>(pictures etc at 
>http://www.chicagoear.com/implantable_hearing_devices/vibrant_soundbridge.htm )
>
>Its a "new" invention from the US (California) and has recently been 
>granted FDA approval.
>
>Alex would no longer have to actually wear a hearing aid in his 
>right ear and he could then have an invisi-ear fitted to his left. 
>It also solves the problem of his not having ears that will support 
>a hearing aid, smaller than normal ear canals that are convoluted 
>etc. Alex wants it - yesterday, mainly because he thinks it would be 
>great to ditch his hearing aid permanently. It sounds good but my 
>mummy gut is saying "not so sure" but I am not sure if thats because 
>I am just nervous of new technology or what? The next generation of 
>the Vibrant Ear is being planned already and with that the battery 
>will also be internal (implanted under the skin) and would simply 
>requiring hooking him up to a charger to recharge the battery - 
>thats more scary. He already has a pacemaker implanted, not sure I 
>want him to have any more batteries inside his "wittle body", 
>Surgery to change them when they can't hold a charge anymore, and 
>like all batteries as they get old it requires longer chargin
>  g times, less time between charges etc. Nope dont want to go there 
> just yet, but the extenal battery ......... I just dont know for 
> sure. Anyone with any advice, wisdom or experience?
>
>Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.
>                                             -- Josh Billings
>
>Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
>    _--_|\
>  /Karen \
>  \ _.--._ /
>           v Karen, Mum to Alex (12 years, T-18 Mosaic)
>http://members.optushome.com.au/karens
>
>                   Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
>                        www.trisomyonline.org
>                   Families Helping Families On-line
>
>
>
>
>--
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>16/12/2007 11:36 AM

Jocelyn, loving Nanna to Tess with Trisomy 18 aged 10 & 1/2 years

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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