CI's and Music

http://tinyurl.com/mdykek

Above is an article posted on a few of the CI loops to which I belong. I found it really interesting and worth noting here. (I will also copy and paste it for reference once Mikaela starts school.) The article notes how CI users benefit in quiet environments, but how noisy environments are a huge challenge, particularly background music. Good to note for parties and just whenever we are in noisy situations.

Ever since I learned of Mikaela's hearing loss, I have listened to music less and less in the car. I know that it is a challenge to hear us talking over the road noise let alone adding in music!! If there is silence in the car, she is more likely to keep the processor on for the entire trip. Add too many potholes or background music and she is much more likely to pull it off. Subsequently, she prefers windows closed as well. The wind is too much and she will take it off.

Just sharing this here for those of you still learning about CI limitations and special considerations for CI recipients. Please take the time to read the entire article and I would love to read any comments or thoughts you have. Thanks!

Cochlear shares rise on new implant

http://business.smh.com.au/business/cochlear-rises-on-new-implant-20090603-bv0r.html


Here is an article about Cochlear Corp. and a new implant and processor coming out in a few weeks!


The implant itself will be smaller and the processor (outside of the head) is to have lots of new features and a sleeker design. Looking forward to learning all about it!


I do want to have Mikaela implanted in her left ear in a few years. Before she starts Kindergarten, maybe. It's just never an easy decision to have your child go under the knife for ANY reason, unless it's life saving. As nerve wracking as that is as well, it is much easier to justify! :0)

Never know when the link will be taken down so here is the article below:

Cochlear rises on new implant
Eli GreenblatJune 3, 2009 - 11:57AM
Shares in bionic-ear implant company Cochlear rose nearly 2 per cent this morning on growing speculation the company will soon win US Food and Drug Administration approval for its new implant and processor.

The win from the US regulator would allow a launch at a forthcoming key US conference in mid-June in Seattle. Analysts expect a launch in the European Union towards the end of this year.
UBS analyst Andrew Goodsall said expectation of the US clinics is that the "sleek design and features'' of Cochlear's new product will appeal to the market and is likely to result in market share gains.

Cochlear shares were up 94 cents, or 1.7 per cent, at $55.54 in late morning trade.
Mr Goodsall said he believed that Cochlear would seek FDA approval via the "510K like" path, which required the company to substantiate equivalence with an existing approved product.
"In this case the new implant is expected to essentially be a thinner/smaller version of the N24 implant. "We understand that Cochlear has submitted appropriate data and a decision is pending,'' he said. "Previous channel checks found the industry universally impressed with Cochlear's new feature-packed product suite. "New implant, being materially thinner, it is likely to be implanted without/less skull `excavation', which will appeal to surgeons. New processor, regarded as revolutionary in small design, high-tech features and software flexibility - all of which should strongly appeal to patients and clinicians.''

The processor that sits inside the bionic ear implant is also expected to be much sought after by customers as it has a range of new features such as requiring fewer batteries, a metal housing and fittings that will improve durability and a remote control that can operate two processors (bilaterals) and also serves as a link to external devices such as an iPods.

Cochlear recently reported a 22 per cent rise in profit to $69.94 million for the first half, and issued earnings guidance for 2009 profit to rise between 15 and 20 per cent. Unit sales contribute about 66 per cent of Cochlear's total earnings.

The 'test' results

So the 'test' we used is the Integrated Scales of Development Checklist for Listening, Receptive and Expressive Language. It is put out by Cochlear Co. I think there is another area for us still to evaluate, but this is what we have so far...

Her current results are:

Listening she is a solid 13-15 months with emerging skills at the 16-18 month range.

Receptive is the same

Expressive is about 10-12 months with emerging skills at the 13-15 month range. (Thank God for ASL because sign counts!) Her oral expressive is right on track, in my humble opinion, for someone who has only had access to speech for about 5 months. Only those who live with her can really understand her expressive approximations. For example: Outside is 'ow, eye', Da Da is "aa, aa", More is 'muh', Bye-bye is still "eye, eye". The two words that are pretty darn clear are "Hi" and "mouth" (she says "mouf" - but the 'f' doesn't always show up. :-))

Like I said before, I couldn't be happier with how well she is doing in only 5 months! I think she understands a lot, and it is so cool to see that she is benefiting from the CI. I am happy that we did choose to give her this opportunity. It helps that she really wants to learn to listen and speak. She watches our mouth like a hawk!! One if my favorites is when we sing and sign the ABC song, she appears to move her lips with ours and her fingers are trying to do the signs! I have to get that on video!!!

Well, I am dog tired and I have another full day tomorrow. So I am signing off for now! Good night, all!

So much!

I have to say, Mikaela is doing very well these days. Thank God.

We did have a scare on the 17th of May, though. She woke up not happy. I assumed teething, but she was miserable. I put her in bed early for a rest - didn't think she'd nap because it was before lunch, but thought she could just use some quiet time. Around 11 a.m. she was making noises that I knew I should go up. She was pastey white, sweaty and clammy. She had absolutely no color in her lips or face. I picked her up and thought maybe she caught a virus. About a minute and a half later, she puked all over us. Lovely! I ran in the bathroom and managed to get the next wave or two in the appropriate location!

Kurt came up and cleaned up. I got us both changed and went downstairs to the couch armed with the basin and some cloths and tissues. She continued to throw up and by 1 p.m. it had the all-to-familiar green tinge to it. I called my step-mom and asked if she could cover Juliana as we were heading back over to CHoP for another bowel obstruction. I was a complete mess! Because I knew what was in store for her....surgery.....AGAIN....(I was also very bummed to miss the picnic for our South Jersey Family Fun Group!) You have to see how badly this affects her. She is completely colorless, listless, weak. So weak in fact that I have to hold her head up as she vomits. It's scary!

She continued to vomit until we got to CHoP around 4:45 p.m. Still green. Then all of a sudden, she turned a corner. She began to sit on her own. Point to things and play with my necklace. Hmm....this was different. Well, she went through the gambit. IV, NG tube, blood work, CT scan, contrast X-ray. We got admitted to the surgical floor, yet they saw no blockage on the scans. Interestingly enough, she was much more alert than in the times past. This was both good and bad. Good because maybe there wasn't a blockage....Bad because she CARED that they were poking, prodding, sticking her every so often! The NG tube wasn't bringing up anything of consequence. The scans were clean....She didn't need surgery after all! The doctors can't say what would cause the green vomit - other than a blockage. So, I believe that we got a miracle. There must have been a blockage, but it must have untwisted itself. I believe that all the prayers were heard and answered. Again, thank God!

So physically, Mikaela is beginning to get much more confident! She is cruising like a pro. Gets up and lowers herself with much more ease and stability. She can crawl super fast now. She walks pretty well with a push toy, but not looking like walking on her own for a while longer. I really wish she could walk because she is getting so heavy for me to carry. We are both gaining weight at a nice pace and my back is paying the price! Her core strength is getting better and all the PT is showing it's effect.

Listening wise, she is doing amazingly! Her TOD and I did a 'test' with documentation that would let us know where she is compared to a 'typical' hearing child and she surprised me! She is comprehending solidly at a 12-14 month level (I think). Oral expressive language is maybe 9 months or so. Once I get a copy of the results, I'll post a correction.

She does really well with signing though! She is beginning to string two signs together!! Like 'more, o'. For 'more cheerios'. Or more and please! It's so awesome and something I just took for granted with Justin and Juliana.

Each week I see so many new accomplishments that I am thrilled with her progress. She seems so much happier and her pediatrician thinks she 'engages' more than a typical 18 month old. She wants to play with you, not just alongside you. My thought is: all that therapy is why!

I can't believe it's June already and in only 3 months, we'll be adding another blessing to our family! I couldn't really be happier!