Although I didn't go to have my hearing tested until I was 38 years old, I now know I was not hearing what others were hearing when I was in my early 20's.

     I was having sudden dizzy spells and buzzing in my ears which was later diagnosed as Meniere's Disease. At that time I was advised that I had lost most of the hearing in my right ear and wouldn't receive much benefit from a hearing aid in that ear. I did, however, wear one in the left ear from that time on.

     Over the years since, while the hearing aid gave me enough volume, I had a lot of distortion and the aids did not help much with speech recognition any longer. I have not been able to understand on the telephone for many years now.

     My husband and I talked of the possibility of my having a cochlear implant over the last several years, but I hadn't actually done anything about it. In December 2008, he went ahead and made an appointment for me to at least see if I would qualify. So on January 19, 2009 I learned that I did indeed qualify for an implant.

     After having the MRI and CT Scan, the Surgeon informed me I was an excellent candidate!

    *** Fast forward > July 24, 2009 ... I had the implant surgery in my left ear! I have done quite well so far, and I am scheduled for my first activation on August 26, 2009 - the day after my husband and I celebrate 47 years of marriage! What would I ever do without him :)

***Please read my blog "My Surgery" dated August 24, 2009***

UPDATE: JANUARY 2013

I have now had my cochlear implant for going on 3 1/2 years and I am doing well with just the one implant, with no problems. I do continue to have tinnitus, with only occasional bouts where it gets pretty loud - even though it is noticeable, most of the time I am able to ignore it. I use the phone, not always understanding everything, but that's so much more than I was pre-CI ! I am scoring in the high 90's percentage wise on sentences in the booth with just one CI. I am very happy I did this! ..... Karen