Transcript Document 7116309

Two Implants
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Understanding the parents perspective in the cochlear-implant
decision making process, and learning from successes
and challenges of a bilaterally implanted child.
Taunya Paxton, Mother
Pleasant Grove, Utah
Obligatory Faculty Disclosure Information
In the past 12 months, I have not had a significant financial interest
or other relationship with the manufacturer(s) of the product(s) or
provider(s) of the service(s) that will be discussed in my
presentation.
This presentation will not include discussion of pharmaceuticals or
devices that have not been approved by the FDA.
Agenda
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Our Story: The Timeline
To Implant or Not To Implant
The Decision to Implant, Take Two
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (in reverse)
Summary
Questions
Our Story: The Timeline
I'm OK... You All Have Issues
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Chance figured he was talking and we were the
ones with the problem
Hearing Aids are just fine, thank you
Chance is covered... Or is he?
Chance's favorite question becomes “What?”
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He realizes how much he's missing
To Implant...
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Potentially “cleaner” sound
Potentially better gain
Potentially more reliable results
Focus on “understanding” not just “hearing”
...Or Not To Implant
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No guaranteed results
Invasive surgery
Permanent
Impact on residual hearing
Future Implications
Questions, Questions, Questions
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What about future technology?
What about hair cell regeneration?
Improvements in implants?
Will Chance need therapy to come to terms with
his parents' decision?
Implant: Take One
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Finally, we're ready to launch.
Houston, we have a problem !
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Insurance denies, 3 days before the surgery
Thus begins 18 month battle with insurance
The Launch
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Prep
Surgery and recovery went great
Tried to ride his bike the next morning
It Was All We Hoped For
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Transition to new sound
Chance hears from 30+ feet away
His confidence soars!
Happily ever after, until...
Implant, Take Two
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Chance's Dad attends convention
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Bilateral Research Begins
Thorough investigation
Our research showed best candidates for bilateral
implants:
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We blame the convention :)
Kids who had heard before
Kids implanted before the age of 8
Successful adaptation of first implant
But would the pros outweigh the cons ?
More Questions
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Future technology !
Will Chance be a guinea-pig?
Will the benefit be substantial enough
Another surgery – are we testing fate?
We have liftoff! Again!
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Teachers have indicated huge improvement
We can call him down the hall, down the street
Vocabulary has grown by leaps and bounds
Localization
Incidental Hearing
Stays Better Focused
The Ugly
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Fighting Insurance
Research – Getting unbiased information
Your decision will be questioned
The Bad
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$$$
Twice as many batteries – and batteries aren't
universal
Keeping two implants parts separated
Some professionals believe that more study is
warranted, making decision more difficult
No bilateral support in many areas
Sometimes you get professionals' personal
feelings rather than all the options
The Good
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Phenomenal Increase in Speech skills
No more hearing aid feedback
Incidental hearing / overhearing
Progresses more than 1 school year in approx 6
months time
Reading at age-equivalent peer level
Confidence soars
Summary
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Chance is not cured... All is not perfect – but
perfection is overrated
Absolutely No Regrets !
Results are all we could have hoped for – and
more.
Questions?