[tri-med] Re: Hearing Aids

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jocelyn"
> Questions: How much?

It looks like Australian Hearing will pick up the cost of the device, which 
means we will just have to bear the cost of the surgery.

>>Can it be turned off at night?

Take the battery off and its off

>>Would it be
> suitable for otosclerosis ?

From what I understand yes. Its better than a hearing aid but only for 
moderate to severe losses. Anything less and you are no better off hearing 
wise than with hearing aids.

> 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.

With kids you dont get the option of going "top of the line" - I wish we 
did. Up until 21 the cost of hearing aids is borne by the government, and 
you cant get vouchers. Therefore they have a monopoly on pediatric hearing 
services and its almost impossible to find a private ped audiologist. There 
is a huge difference between adult and ped hearing too.

>>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)

He will have to take the battery off with the external one but if it were 
totally implanted no.

> and they apparently are very fragile as the only thing I could think
> of having done to mine was,

I find the opposite. Alex has BTE's (behind the ear) and they are so 
robust - they have survived being chewed by the dog, getting a dunking a few 
times and dropped I couldnt begin to count.
I am guessing you have an invisi ear? I am told that they are more fragile 
but we havent got that route yet as you cant use an FM with the invisi ear - 
BUT we are considering going with a neck loop in which case he could. The 
invisi ear would only work with his better ear - he has too much hearing 
loss for the inivis ear to work with his "bad" ear.

>>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).

Do you have a dry ear kit? Alex has at least one spare one that I can send 
you if you don't (he gets them free and we dont use them). Its basically 
just a container that has drying crystals in it. If you leave the hearing 
aid in the container overnight it absorbs the extra moisture. Alternatively 
I leave his sitting on the top of the TV while its on and the gentle warmth 
helps to dry them out (used frequently when they have had a dip in the bath 
tub)
I use the bulb blower thingy for drying out his tubing.

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.

In the current model the battery is outisde. I spoke to Dr Mutton - Alex's 
developmental ped who specialises in hearing impaired children. She said no 
one has done on a child here yet and she thinks only a couple of adults have 
had them (at St Vincents). I really would prefer to talk to someone who has 
had one I think, rather than him being a guinea pig.

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
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