On the Forum: CI or Stay with Hearing Aids?

No THe Dr is not right. Go ahead get CI, and learn Sign Language. I have many friends who got CI, and learn ASL.

CI won’t make you a hearing person again. Several of my friends who have CI, and their devices got broken, and they would have to have another surgery to replace the devices. In the meantime, its good to know ASL.

Follow your feelings. Drs are wrong a lot of times!

First of all, I’d say change the way you think. God does not give you the spirit of fear. And whose report will you believe? The doctor’s or God’s. If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, He can and will restore your hearing. You do not have to get the CI if you do not wish to. You can continue with hearing-aids as long as you want, or better yet, be healed by the Lord. What you say and think will manifest. If you declare you will be going deaf, then that is what will happen. Just like if you think and say you will fail an exam, then you will fail. If you say and think you will pass a test, then you will pass. It’s up to you to decide what you want. I don’t mean to “write off” doctors in general. Doctors are a blessing. On the other hand, they can be wrong because the Lord is the Healer. Be at peace at whatever you decide for yourself.

I hope you are planning to get second and third opinions from audiologists.

About the choices, why does it has to be one or the other? Some people use both options. You have to decide what feels the most comfortable for you.

You may want to check out the cochlear implant forums where they discuss the pros and cons of C.I. Personally I think ASL is really great.

Wow – #2 is a nutcase…

As for a CI vs ASL. I’m in the same boat you are, but I’m 29 I was mainstreamed my entire life, and live quite successfully in the hearing world. Relegating myself to no hearing, and communications to ASL would be a major step backwards in my lifestyle and social status/progress.

You have to consider what you’re seeking long-term, and I personally see CI’s as a bridge of communications with a majority of the world…a world that is hearing…

Personally I’m aiming for an implant, though trying to hold off until the 128 channel implants come out (http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/0506/Feb13_06/22.shtml)

Good luck.

#4 – GB
No, I am not a nutcase. I am in the same position you are regarding CIs and being mainstreamed, etc. In fact, I’m ahead of you here. I already have my CI.
I personally rather have my natural hearing without any CI or hearing-aids. So, I am believing that God will heal my ears. After all, God gave us ears just like He gave us eyes.
Hearing-aids and CIs works differently for each individual, so just because it works for someone else, doesn’t mean it will work for you. It takes time, effort, training to use hearing-aids and CIs.

I had the implant installed last Thursday and am looking forward to the turn-on in two weeks. As for the notion that some divinity will restore hearing: “I have no need of that philosophy” – LaPlace

I would get second and third opinions. I have known alot of people whose CI’s failed. I knew one woman whose CI failed 3 times! You will not hear the same way with the CI’s. It will also take a long time to adjust to the CI’s and you will have to learn to “hear”. Personally, I am waiting for something better than CI’s such as gene therapy. Once your hearing nerves are cut, they can’t be replaced, if your CI’s fail. Good luck in making a tough decision.

I was deafened over night in my 20’s. Hearing aids didn’t help. I went back to school and am a teacher for Deaf students, so am fluent in ASL. I got a CI in October ‘06. WOW! It ‘almost’ has restored my normal hearing. Everyone is different so your experience may not be the same. but I can’t believe how wonderfully I can hear. I still LOVE sign language but it is lovely to listen to the radio, go to plays that aren’t interpreted or captioned, etc. I have many students with CIs that also are working so well. Consider a CI. And learn sign too because it is fun!

It would be more helpful if #2 told of ACTUAL HEALINGS – or kept his opinion to himself!

I am nearing deafness too (although in my 50’s) and would love to hear from dozens of people who had CI’s before I would consider it. They’re making such progress with stem cells – I’m putting my hopes there. I’d be a guinea pig for stem cell research if the opportunity arose!

GOOD LUCK with your decision.

I am a Christian who grew up Catholic. My mom told me that if I prayed hard enough, God could restore my hearing. Well, I am now approaching 61 yrs. of age. Yes, God can heal you, but if He choses not to, He is still a good God and loves you to pieces. Telling a person that God can heal them without letting them know that God DOES love them just the way they are is not loving. I have been there and I know. I, too, am a good candidate for a CI and I, also, am to the point where a hearing aid won’t improve my hearing. I am waiting awhile on the CI. We each have to listen to our hearts.

Hello and good morning! Just wanted to come in and say hi. I’m Jerry. I enjoy cooking, volunteering, doing Paint Shop on the computer. I also like to listen to country, 70’s and 80’s music. Thanks for letting me join your group!

tks for the effort you put in here I appreciate it!