Putting Hope to the Test
There’s the good news and the bad news. I was always a fan of getting the bad news first.
I sent a copy of the results of my last hearing test, called an audiogram, over to Envoy to see if I qualified. I already knew I was within range but they needed to confirm, etc.
The not so bad news (edited after @dungeekin pointed out it’s not so bad news):
They will only implant on one ear for the clinical trial. One would be paid for and the other wouldn’t and would have to happen later on. They will only implant on the worst ear, in case something goes wrong, the damage won’t be as bad to lose that ear as it would be to lose the hearing in my better.
My word discrimination scores on the bad (left ear) are horrible. Word discrimination tests determine how well you can make out sounds and words with one ear or the other and then together. A better way to explain, I often mix up words in a song, thinking the song says x when the word is really y. (I asked for the lyrics to GPE as I heard the songs so I could ensure I would know what the words to the songs were accurately before I learned them!)
They want a word discrimination score of 60% in the ear they implant. They’ve had the best success with this score. She said that does not mean that they won’t take me, but that there’s less of a chance. My word discrimination score for the left ear is 30%.
The good news:
I’ve put in a call to the clinical site in Boston with their coordinator. I’m going to save my slot for the trial but yet, while in Arkansas SOMEHOW find the time to go for another audiogram since my last was two years ago. This is if they think it’ll make a difference. If not, I’ll approach them with this audiogram, let them retest me and then go from there.
I’m not definitely in by any means (and wouldn’t be after a phone call) but I’m still hopeful. Even if I can’t qualify for the clinical, after approval I can definitely decide to move forward with it. As long as my doctor is good with it and approves it I can move forward then, but as this is Phase II of testing, who knows when that’ll be.
I’m trying to stay hopeful.
7 Responses to “Putting Hope to the Test”
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Michelle Wolverton is a social media maven, digital project manager and lead organizer of PodCamp Boston 4.
She runs her own agency and had a love of being involved in a bunch of non-profit initiatives.
Known for her love of Matthew Ebel, social media, and all things pixie, she writes here about things that interest her.
All posts are the personal thoughts and opinions of Chel and not her clients.
You keep that hope going, Chel!
Don’t get disheartened and stay persistent.
Much love to you and please keep posting updates on this.
~cyl~
Chel, I know this is really hard, and it’s tempting to give up hope so you won’t be even more disappointed. But you have thought this through carefully, and it does sound like you have to take it a step at a time. Well, you have a lot of friends hoping along with you, so you’re not alone—don’t give up. Persistence is what gets us anything, and the word “patience” seems to be part of “persistence.” I’m sending hugs and ongoing cheers of support—keep hanging in there. A lot will change in hearing implants over the next few years, and you stand a good chance of getting them eventually. Keep the faith.
Hi Chel,
I know you have a lot of factors to consider in this process. I can only relate through the experience we’ve had with our daughter, who was born hard of hearing.
Please know that there are many of us here that are thinking of you.
New technology is great.
New technology is advancing at an ever faster rate.
If this particular technology does not work out…
… the next generation will. And that may be in 5 years, or it may be next week at a research institute in Italy.
You never know. But hope is certainly not unfounded with the current rate of progress. If anything, hope underestimates our capacity for change.
Christopher, I love your last sentence (above):
“If anything, hope underestimates our capacity for change.”
Yes! Have a good holiday weekend, Chel. Enjoy yourself and relax in the moment.:-)
I hope for the best for you. The hearing loss thing really sneaks up on people. So cool that you should be getting some free help via the trial.
On a lighter note, should I comment louder or can you hear that?
We’re staying hopeful for your too!