After those six weeks of researching and more researching, talking to my Mom, husband, and trying to find SOMEONE who had the BAHA (never did), I decided that I was going to go ahead with the surgery IF I was a good candidate. Man, waiting six weeks to find out if I was a good candidate - having this opportunity within reach and not being able to act on it, was horrendous! Just a.w.f.u.l.
Once I was in the exam room, they checked my ear, spoke a little about my past, and, knowing that my inner ear was intact, we went through a variety of options... AKA, they suggested, and I shot them down.
As you read on, please remember that this is my own opinion and I'm NOT a doctor. I'm also not knocking the decision you have made in your life or if you are a parent, the life of a child. This is simply what best suits my life.
For example, they wanted to build me an eardrum. I don't need that. Also, from what I understand my facial muscles might be cut into - yea, not something I want to deal with for the rest of my life if something goes wrong.
They wanted to build me a outer ear - which wouldn't give me hearing, just reconstruction of the external ear. I've gone through a lot of crap for how my ear looks, but quite frankly, I am used to it and even proud of it, and am most definitely a strong woman because of it. It doesn't bother me and I'm fine without it.
They told me about an external hearing aid that would sit on top of my ear and reroute the sound waves to my other ear around my neck by a wire (?). Not even sure I'm explaining that right. Basically, my ear structure wouldn't support a device like that.
Then they brought up the BAHA (yes!). Immediately, I said it was what I wanted. They said I was the "perfect candidate." Music to my ear :)
So, they told me just a bit about it, I spoke with my doctor who was doing the surgery, and hoped my insurance paid for it. I have a really great insurance plan and they ended up paying for the entire thing (after a grueling couple days of playing the waiting game to find out). The total was $27,500 had I not had insurance, which included the surgery, post op appointments, hearing aid, and audiology appointment, etc. There was a possibility that I would have to pay $500 for set-up with the audiologist, but didn't have to thankfully. I probably would've made payments, I love it that much!
I then scheduled my surgery. They even scheduled my follow-up appointments on the paper they sent me with all the information in regard to the surgery..
The surgery was scheduled for April 30, 2012. Basically, another long wait!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
ENT Visit
Well, around February I started to worry that my hearing in my left ear was going downhill. I hadn't had a hearing test since high school (9 years ago) and I started saying, "What?" a lot. It was bothering me, so I made an appointment with my local Ear, Nose and Throat doctor. Turns out my hearing is fine, by the way.
During the appointment he mentioned something about screwing something into my head and good hearing results as a possibility on the right side (I was only worried about the left, of course) and I blew him off. I actually said something to the fact of, "I've been living this way for 27 years and I am doing just fine. I don't want to ruin it." HA!
His comment, however, got me to thinking and doing some research.
In 1986 my parents took me to an otologist to discuss the different options available. I was a baby. The otologist, who now/still practices in St. Louis (I believe), gave the opinion to my parents to not do anything until I'm old enough to make my own decision. Thank God he did and my parents took heed. He moved to Cali when I was 9 months old and suggested that I go to a different doctor in Michigan.
Apparently, the doctor recommended to me to see is still practicing. When I went back to get my hearing results, I told the ENT that I was a fool for not considering something that would really positively change my life and he gave me the doctor recommended to me's number at the Michigan Ear Institute for more consideration.
I called and made an appointment right away to see if I was a good candidate. Unfortunately, they are busy people and I couldn't get in for six weeks. It was, what I thought would be the longest six weeks of my life - I was wrong :)
During the appointment he mentioned something about screwing something into my head and good hearing results as a possibility on the right side (I was only worried about the left, of course) and I blew him off. I actually said something to the fact of, "I've been living this way for 27 years and I am doing just fine. I don't want to ruin it." HA!
His comment, however, got me to thinking and doing some research.
In 1986 my parents took me to an otologist to discuss the different options available. I was a baby. The otologist, who now/still practices in St. Louis (I believe), gave the opinion to my parents to not do anything until I'm old enough to make my own decision. Thank God he did and my parents took heed. He moved to Cali when I was 9 months old and suggested that I go to a different doctor in Michigan.
Apparently, the doctor recommended to me to see is still practicing. When I went back to get my hearing results, I told the ENT that I was a fool for not considering something that would really positively change my life and he gave me the doctor recommended to me's number at the Michigan Ear Institute for more consideration.
I called and made an appointment right away to see if I was a good candidate. Unfortunately, they are busy people and I couldn't get in for six weeks. It was, what I thought would be the longest six weeks of my life - I was wrong :)
Monday, July 23, 2012
Pre-BAHA: A Day in the Life of "Me"
There are so many things that I have been through as someone who is single-sided deaf. I'm sure if you are even hard of hearing you "get it". If not, nothing I can say will ever allow you to see into my world completely, but hopefully this helps :)
I wake up in the morning and, if I hit my snooze button, I have to sleep on my deaf ear so I guarantee to hear the alarm go off again (because I'm already too tired as it is...) If I don't I risk the chance of sleeping in, which isn't good in my profession.
My deafness doesn't really affect any morning activities (or at least I thought it didn't). If someone is talking to me, or trying to, when I'm doing something that is making noise (taking a shower, drying my hair, brushing my teeth with a battery-operated tooth brush) you might as well start the entire conversation over again because I didn't hear you.
Once at school I have to make sure I'm on double the alert because I can't face one way for fear of not hearing whispering, answering questions, etc. I've had students stand at my desk out of my peripheral vision for over 5 minutes while I'm working on my computer. (Then I have "the talk" with the entire class and explain that I'm deaf in my right ear and ask that they come to the front of the desk to get my attention :)
Talking with my colleagues is fine as long as I'm on their right side. When walking down the hallway it's almost natural for me to be standing on the right side. If I find myself on the left I ask to stand to their right so I can hear them.
When I'm sitting down to eat I always sit on the very far right of the entire table so I can hear everyones' conversations, but usually end up at some points just nodding and smiling like I know exactly what is going on (but really not having a clue). I'd say that happens more often then not, or I have to ask them to repeat themselves 20 times while I stare at their lips trying to lip read (which surprisingly is more successful than I think it would be - I guess I'm just getting good at it after all those years!)
If I'm driving home we might as well just listen to the radio because I would have to look at the person in the passenger seat to talk to them over all the noise on the road and I'd rather stay alive than strain my neck for half-heard conversation. My friend Suzy is SSD on her left side in the car - which means as a passenger she is in my situation. I'm sure she has a lot of hours in behind the wheel!
When I'm watching TV the volume is incredibly high. In fact, one day recently I was cleaning and watching TV and my husband stormed out of the computer room and screamed that it was way too loud - that he just felt the entire house shake! I hadn't noticed because it was the volume I was used to and needed to be able to understand what was going on in the show. Apparently it was WAY TOO LOUD! (It was, actually, but how am I to tell without my hearing aid on?) Lol. The same goes with the radio in the car.
Finally, the best part of being deaf in one ear is that my husband is the worse snorer ever. I don't even have to listen to it because of my disability. It's the best! (Never thought I'd say that, huh!?)
All in all, when you look at it through my eyes here it seems like a big intrusion on my life. The fact is, I've been living with SSD for over 27 years. I've learned to cope quite well and barely notice now because everything I do to adapt has become second nature to me.
There are a ton of other times that annoy me, but none that were as prominent as what I've written here. Honestly, I didn't notice the other things until after I got my BAHA. Then they really started to stand out.
I wake up in the morning and, if I hit my snooze button, I have to sleep on my deaf ear so I guarantee to hear the alarm go off again (because I'm already too tired as it is...) If I don't I risk the chance of sleeping in, which isn't good in my profession.
My deafness doesn't really affect any morning activities (or at least I thought it didn't). If someone is talking to me, or trying to, when I'm doing something that is making noise (taking a shower, drying my hair, brushing my teeth with a battery-operated tooth brush) you might as well start the entire conversation over again because I didn't hear you.
Once at school I have to make sure I'm on double the alert because I can't face one way for fear of not hearing whispering, answering questions, etc. I've had students stand at my desk out of my peripheral vision for over 5 minutes while I'm working on my computer. (Then I have "the talk" with the entire class and explain that I'm deaf in my right ear and ask that they come to the front of the desk to get my attention :)
Talking with my colleagues is fine as long as I'm on their right side. When walking down the hallway it's almost natural for me to be standing on the right side. If I find myself on the left I ask to stand to their right so I can hear them.
When I'm sitting down to eat I always sit on the very far right of the entire table so I can hear everyones' conversations, but usually end up at some points just nodding and smiling like I know exactly what is going on (but really not having a clue). I'd say that happens more often then not, or I have to ask them to repeat themselves 20 times while I stare at their lips trying to lip read (which surprisingly is more successful than I think it would be - I guess I'm just getting good at it after all those years!)
If I'm driving home we might as well just listen to the radio because I would have to look at the person in the passenger seat to talk to them over all the noise on the road and I'd rather stay alive than strain my neck for half-heard conversation. My friend Suzy is SSD on her left side in the car - which means as a passenger she is in my situation. I'm sure she has a lot of hours in behind the wheel!
When I'm watching TV the volume is incredibly high. In fact, one day recently I was cleaning and watching TV and my husband stormed out of the computer room and screamed that it was way too loud - that he just felt the entire house shake! I hadn't noticed because it was the volume I was used to and needed to be able to understand what was going on in the show. Apparently it was WAY TOO LOUD! (It was, actually, but how am I to tell without my hearing aid on?) Lol. The same goes with the radio in the car.
Finally, the best part of being deaf in one ear is that my husband is the worse snorer ever. I don't even have to listen to it because of my disability. It's the best! (Never thought I'd say that, huh!?)
All in all, when you look at it through my eyes here it seems like a big intrusion on my life. The fact is, I've been living with SSD for over 27 years. I've learned to cope quite well and barely notice now because everything I do to adapt has become second nature to me.
There are a ton of other times that annoy me, but none that were as prominent as what I've written here. Honestly, I didn't notice the other things until after I got my BAHA. Then they really started to stand out.
About Me
Welcome to BAHA in Real Life. The primary goal of this blog is to document my BAHA experience and be the "real person" that many people are looking for when they try to make the decision in regard to taking the leap - aka, selecting the BAHA (bone anchored hearing aid).
When I write, I will do my best to stay as non-opinionated as possible, but I will not lie, I LOVE my BAHA. It was a great choice for my particular situation. However, I understand there are many questions when it comes to choosing to have the BAHA - it's life changing. I want to make sure that I stay as unbiased as possible when I write about the things I deal with, though I will probably end up stating how minuscule some nuances are, etc. Please forgive me if I offend you, I will certainly try not to as it is not the intention of my blog. I simply want parents, adults, teens, guardians, care-givers, etc, to have the full experience as I'm experiencing it when it comes to my BAHA. Hopefully I can take the burden of the unknown off your shoulders as you try to navigate the BAHA scene.
A bit about me:
I was born with unilateral microtia and atresia on the right side. I am not a technical person when it comes to audiology, so I can't tell you how bad it is, but I can't hear anything on that side besides loud (VERY LOUD) noises and consider myself deaf on the right side. Not until I started researching 6 months ago would I have known that people who are in the hearing field consider me SSD, or single-sided deaf. So, apparently I'm SSD (right). I do not have an outer or middle ear, but my inner ear is intact.
My Mom recently admitted that 90% of the time she forgot I was deaf in one ear, which is, in my humble opinion, an advantage that I had growing up as I was treated as a "normal" and still think of myself as normal. In fact, when people would say they were going deaf I would think to myself (and still do!), "Oh wow, I couldn't imagine what that would be like." LOL!
I recently had the BAHA surgery and even more recently received my BAHA hearing aid. I chose the Ponto Pro by Oticon Medical but there is also the Cochlear BAHA. If there are others I am unfamiliar with them. There are other types of devices on the market but I felt that the BAHA was my "best bet". So, if you are looking for a comparison I will not have that here. It is only going to be documenting my life with the Ponto Pro BAHA system.
I am a teacher, have my MA in Educational Technology, and recently found myself in a position I love at work. I am married with no children (yet) and am 27 years old.
I hope this blog helps you in some way - I look forward to getting to know you as I write about my experiences with my BAHA. Please feel free to comment and/or message me if you have more personal questions. I will do my best to help you! I wish someone would've been able to help me and answer all the questions I had!
When I write, I will do my best to stay as non-opinionated as possible, but I will not lie, I LOVE my BAHA. It was a great choice for my particular situation. However, I understand there are many questions when it comes to choosing to have the BAHA - it's life changing. I want to make sure that I stay as unbiased as possible when I write about the things I deal with, though I will probably end up stating how minuscule some nuances are, etc. Please forgive me if I offend you, I will certainly try not to as it is not the intention of my blog. I simply want parents, adults, teens, guardians, care-givers, etc, to have the full experience as I'm experiencing it when it comes to my BAHA. Hopefully I can take the burden of the unknown off your shoulders as you try to navigate the BAHA scene.
A bit about me:
I was born with unilateral microtia and atresia on the right side. I am not a technical person when it comes to audiology, so I can't tell you how bad it is, but I can't hear anything on that side besides loud (VERY LOUD) noises and consider myself deaf on the right side. Not until I started researching 6 months ago would I have known that people who are in the hearing field consider me SSD, or single-sided deaf. So, apparently I'm SSD (right). I do not have an outer or middle ear, but my inner ear is intact.
My Mom recently admitted that 90% of the time she forgot I was deaf in one ear, which is, in my humble opinion, an advantage that I had growing up as I was treated as a "normal" and still think of myself as normal. In fact, when people would say they were going deaf I would think to myself (and still do!), "Oh wow, I couldn't imagine what that would be like." LOL!
I recently had the BAHA surgery and even more recently received my BAHA hearing aid. I chose the Ponto Pro by Oticon Medical but there is also the Cochlear BAHA. If there are others I am unfamiliar with them. There are other types of devices on the market but I felt that the BAHA was my "best bet". So, if you are looking for a comparison I will not have that here. It is only going to be documenting my life with the Ponto Pro BAHA system.
I am a teacher, have my MA in Educational Technology, and recently found myself in a position I love at work. I am married with no children (yet) and am 27 years old.
I hope this blog helps you in some way - I look forward to getting to know you as I write about my experiences with my BAHA. Please feel free to comment and/or message me if you have more personal questions. I will do my best to help you! I wish someone would've been able to help me and answer all the questions I had!
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