A Jeff responded to my microsurgical thread-I had question about stem implants since My HEaring is GONE all the way too (Nerve is GONE-tumor took it over and it had to go)
He states something about a ABI, not an ABA, is an baha the cochlea implant that actually sends sounds to the nerve itself and those that do not have the nerve?, -especially the bilateral NF2 patients-have the ABI -the actual brain stem to Brain implant that sends impulses? I am just trying to figure out the acronyms and the meanings.
The BAHA-can you swim with it, scuba dive etc? have to put a plastic cover over it? I'd be concerned with some jerk ripping it off at a rock concert and throwing it into the crowd or something.
Do you actually have to have your vestibularcochlear nerve to use one? Mine is gone on the left. Does it just re wire stuff to the good ear?-not sure if I'd want that either.
Quote from: ixta on December 23, 2006, 01:11:11 PM
What about these bone/brain stem implants I am hearing about? Anyone have those?
Hello,
I have an ABI but mine did not work for me. The device itself works, but the electrodes that were placed on my brainstem moved after the surgery. Thus, the wrong portion of my brain was stimulated when it was switched on. This caused some interesting and scary side-effects.
My brother got an ABI in February and it works well for him. Using a combination of lip-reading and hearing from the ABI, he understood 96% of what said during his testing. This drops significantly when lip-reading is not employed.
Currently in the US, the ABI is only allowed for NF2 patients. However, I believe that doctors in Italy have implanted no-NF2 patients with success.
I hope that this helps.
Jeff
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!
