Strange question- research- hearing problems

[Jifmicroliquid]

Hi, I’m wondering if anybody who was born maybe deaf or with partial hearing could help me with some information I need for a novel?
It’s regarding cochlear implants/hearing devices.
Many thanks.

What do you want to know? My DC was born profoundly Deaf and has a CI.

Thank you for replying. How are CI’s fitted? if someone was say completely deaf in one ear and had partial hearing in the other, would a CI implant be used? On the deaf side or partially deaf side (or is it both sides?)
Can they be knocked out of place/fall off?

Sorry to sound so dense about it, but I want to get this right.

A CI would be on the 'completely' (profoundly) deaf side. Cochlear implants are not mandatory - if someone had useful hearing in their other ear, they may choose not to have a CI.
The technology is two part - some inside the head, fitted behind the ear. The part you see is the processor - the bit that goes over the ear like a hearing aid and the bit that sticks to the head, the coil. The coil is magnetic and fixes through the skin to the part that's in the head. Processors and coils do come off but the magnet is usually pretty strong (as can be tolerated) and in the rare occasion the processor comes off, DC's coil will remain in place. Hospitals do encourage people to use other methods to keep them on.

That’s really helpful, thank you. Is CI a known abbreviation for it? Would people refer to it as their CI rather than their cochlear implant? Is it known by any other words/terms?

If it did fall off, would the user know right away? Or could it be missed for a few moments if they were on their own and busy with something else? Sorry for the odd questions!

Hi there,
I am a professional with over 20 years of cochlear implant expertise. I have worked for the NHS within a large UK Cochlear Implant Centre. If you want to ask any further questions, please feel free to do so.

@Jifmicroliquid apologies, didn't realise you'd asked a question.
DD refers to it as her 'implant' as in "I'm wearing my implant/my implant is charging". If hers came off she'd notice immediately.

Thank you. Would you mind if I messaged you?

Not at all. Happy to help.