Bilateral Implantation

Bill

Hi to everybody. I am Bill Beveridge and I was Industrially Deafened, a very slow process, from 40 years in heavy industry. My hearing loss became so bad that Hearing Aids could no longer assist me. I had my 1st Implant in July 1998 and the result was absolutely wonderful and exceeded my and my specialists' expectations.

In gratitude for my rebirth into the hearing world I wanted to do something/anything to repay my good fortune. An opportunity to do this came about, and continues, by my involvement in research programs conducted by The National Acoustics Laboratories, SCIC and Cochlear Ltd. So far I have participated in:

The Bilateral Program, conducted jointly by the Acoustics Laboratory and SCIC, was a major involvement and was a totally unexpected development for me as I had thought bilateral implantation was not a possibility for me. Even while part of the program bi-lateral implantation was it a foregone conclusion. Rather I was part of an investigation and testing process which would indicate suitability or otherwise.

However, the testing suggested that I would benefit and the decision was mine alone. It wasn't an easy decision. WHY? I asked.

There was nobody to confer with as I would become only the 2nd Bi-lateral Implantee in NSW. The biggest hurdle was I would lose the last 3% of my normal hearing. I put so much importance in this 3% that if all else failed I still had this little bit to fall back on. Not much but still something.

I deliberated long and hard I wrote my doubts and answered them myself and there didn't seem much that was reassuring. (Looking back, the decision now seems so simple but then it wasn't.) I knew that Implant No1 had lifted my hearing maybe 60% or better and a 2nd Implant could not double that to 120% but I did expect something in excess of 60% and that any improvement to the hearing impaired was a bonus even if it was just 5%.

Then I had one to one talks with Prof Gibson and the state's very first bilateral implantee Steve Pascoe and these discussions gave me the confidence to go ahead with the bilateral implant.

Having made the decision I believed Implant No 2 would be a breeze; after all I had walked this path before I know every step of the way. HADN'T I? Well Yes & No! up until "Switch On" and including electrode setting YES it was all so easy.

Off computer onto real voice - Disastrous NO!NO! NO! Yuk it was devastating. The noise was horrific, indescribable, unintelligible and it took me so long to realise that it was my Audiologist Yetta and myself that was responsible for this cacophony ( dictionary says unpleasant vocal sounds how right a description). It seemed Implant No 2 was a SHATTERING FAILURE and I'd lost my last 3% of hearing. Heartbreaking!

THEN

I understood one single solitary word. My eyes light up. Then another word then a couple of words together and some 20 minutes later with relief and great joy I had both implants functioning correctly. From this point onwards have never had cause to regret Bilateral Implantation.

People most often ask not is bilateral better but how is it better?

WELL! The obvious answer "TWO is better than ONE in most cases." Sounds are all round not one sided. Sounds are more real - an improvement that is very noticeable. Hearing now has direction PLUS, very importantly and a feature that was unheralded, unexpected and truly welcomed was BACKGROUND NOISE was under control.

Finally I would make mention that no two implantees are the same and results vary with the individual. To date I have yet to hear a complaint from any other bilateral implantee I have had association with all - are well satisfied.

Regardless, the final decision remains with that individual. My own comment to any proposing bilateral implantee would be to wish for them the hearing gain that has been my experience.