I was born deaf, I have a HA and CI.

[Fritilleries]

AMA.

I'm sorry but what is/are a 'HA and CI'

Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant.

Why do you need both? My great nephew is profoundly deaf and has CI but why would he need HAs as well?

I was born deaf and with another condition requiring surgery. At the time, my parents were reluctant to put me through more invasive surgery so opted out of a CI. In my early 30s, I was accepted for a CI after I explored the option. It is far superior to my HA, but I wear my HA in the ear which has the best residual hearing so they complement each other very well.

Listening with just my CI is doable but very 'strange' as it doesn't always match my internal perception of what something should sound like. However, speech with just my HA is much harder as it simply cannot pick up the high frequency pitch sounds.

Hi!
my son was born deaf too, he has HA’s CIs not suitable for him.
My question comes from watching a programme recently where the person in it was deaf and really resented his parents for speech therapy sessions and encouraging him to be part of the hearing world.
My son has speech therapy and is too encouraged to be part of the hearing world ( we are all hearing, although we now sign and use SSE)
Am I wrong, will be resent me?

I'm curious from watching Love Island, current contestant Tasha was born profoundly deaf and has had a CI since she was 5, she seems to be understanding and joining in loud group conversation so well I assumed it meant she could fully hear everything so interested to read that's not how it works! Lip reading isn't much use in settings like that I imagine.

I can't see how he could ever resent his mum. He loves you unconditionally. It's great you use sign supported English as well as speech therapy. I had intensive speech therapy for almost 16 years so I'll admit there were times I was incredibly annoyed at it but ultimately it has given me a voice and a way to interact within a (hearing) world. My parents are also hearing and never really got involved with the deaf community beyond taking me to the local deaf club when I was a teenager.

You're doing the best you can. He'll love you whatever happens.

Thank you. He will be going to an ARP for HI kids when he starts school and we go to deaf club now.
I keep his HI’s funky currently blue with blue marble moulds.
I just hope I’m getting it right for him 🤞

I haven't seen it, but would say that with my CI, following group conversation is much much easier. I would also venture that she is working incredibly hard to "track" individual voices as opposed to lipreading. Sometimes I have to cut my losses within a large group and pick two or three people to focus on. I also wonder whether she is very good at mirroring/echoing phrases eg "That was so funny" and she replies something like "Yeh, so funny!" Does this make any sense?

It is easier to float within banter and light conversation than to respond to direct and unpredictable questions.

I would also say she was very open at the start about her deafness so perhaps the contestants are being amazingly cool with it all.

How old is he? Sounds like you are really doing the best by him. 😀

He was 3 in May. He’s got other disabilities too but he’s a total and utter superstar.

Amazing. Having a disability makes you a stronger person. You fight through the struggles to find your footing as a person that isn't defined by what makes you different. I am not 'deaf,' or part or a community. I'm just me. I happen to have ears that don't work.

I work on a ward where children have CI's. One of our ENT surgeons was one of the pioneers. They are my favourite patients to look after. As we are doing something really life changing. It's lovely to see younger and younger children come in for them. And parents no longer ha I g to remortgage their houses to pay for a second implant. My local CCG funded two. But many others didn't. Now do them as day cases. Which seemed unthinkable a free years ago!

Tell me about it, I got shafted from the day case ward 4 hours after surgery! Mind boggling but thank goodness for cocodamol, it made the trip home bearable. It has changed, and saved, my life.

Do you have any Deaf friends or family member?

No. My parents are hearing. My husband and son are hearing. I know two deaf people who don't really use BSL. I don't, either. I function within a hearing workplace and social life.

Well I can only see positives in having a CI in your case since you're surrounded by hearing people.

Do you have a deaf accent?

No. I mean, some of my letters sometimes sound out of place but that's more to do with my relocation to an area in which my accent is out of place. Since having a CI, my closest family say the 'deaf twang' has disappeared.