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The Evaluation Process
The evaluation process is nothing to be scared of .. it is just a series of tests, talks with an audiologist, a CT scan and an ear exam with the implant surgeon. It takes so much time that it is spread over two days at some centres.
It starts off with a meeting with an audiologist who take your medical and hearing loss history, discusses at length the components of the implant, their functions, the surgical process as well as the benefits and limitations of a cochlear implant. Do not fret, if you are unable to hear well written or other means of communication will be used and they will do their best to make you feel comfortable and at ease. It would be a good idea to take along a friend or family member who can help interpret and make it easier for you. This takes approx 2-3 hours.
Next comes the audiological evaluation which consists of a hearing test to confirm type and degree of hearing loss, (similar to the one you do for a hearing aid - recognizing beeps at various levels) then the same test is repeated with your hearing aid or with a digital hearing aid which they provide you for the test to determine whether a hearing aid might provide greater benefit than that anticipated with the implant. The speech recognition test involves repeating single words and some sentances with each ear seperately and then with both ears together .. This information also becomes your baseline against which future tests after CI can be compared with. This part of the test is repetative and requires a lot of time and effort by the audi and of course patience from you .. By this time your audi and you will be so exhausted that you will want to call it a day!
Then coems the CT scan. It takes about 10 mintues from start to finish. You need to keep still for this one. You will be asked to take off jewellery, watch etc and take off your clothes and get into the gown they give you. You lie very still face down on your tummy for 10 minutes while the X-rays are being taken. The bed is narrow and the room is usually cold so you can ask for a blanket to keep you warm. You can take a quick shut eye. This scan produces a two- dimensional x-ray of the inner ear. This is important because it allows the surgeon to evaluate the ear's internal structure, recommend which ear to implant and may provide information as to the cause of deafness.
Next on the list comes the Psychological Screening .. This sometimes is done by the audiologist itself or else by clinical psychologists at the concerned centre. It is an hour or two spent talking to seek your feelings about hearing loss, your expectations of the cochlear implant, reasons for seeking the implant and your ability and capacity to work to make the most of your CI. Remember the CI is just a tool that you will have to learn to use it to hear better much better than a hearing aid. (This takes 1-2 hours)
Somewhere on the second day the audiologist will spend an hour or two reviewing the results of all the tests and make recommendations based on the results of the entire evaluation. This is also the time when you will be given an opportunity to see the various various external and internal parts of the implant system and the various accessories that come with and the choices you will have.
The Last part of the evaluation is the Medical examination conducted by the implant surgeon who will take a medical history, examine the ears and explain the surgical process. This is usually a brief meeting because everything is over and there is really nothing to talk about. If you have any questions for the surgeon this is the time to ask them as otherwise you will only see him or her a day before surgery!
The same goes for the audiologist .. feel free to ask any questions and clarify your doubts and compare the various brands etc when you meet with the audiologist .. When it is finally over it would be a good idea to establish an email contact with the audi so you can go back to them for additional information etc later on ..
Go Back to the Evaluation Process Page
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