David´s Story

             IT IS WHAT IS INSIDE THE HEAD THAT REALLY MATTERS

1. I’m writing this not only to recount my own experiences as a bilateral implantee but also, and much more importantly, to argue that many of those who are considering cochlear implants for themselves or their children make choices for the wrong reasons and, as a result, end up making the wrong choice.
2. I also believe that it is perhaps inevitable that this happens since there is no easily understandable independent information to guide those who have to make this choice.
3. What I have found surprising is that there seems to be a general lack of appreciation of the importance of this choice. We are not talking about a hearing aid that can be changed to a more suitable one if the wrong choice has been made or to a newer and better model when it becomes available.
4. We are talking about a decision which once implemented cannot be changed without another lengthy and expensive operation and also one which, for NHS patients, is unlikely to be available.
5. I have had experience of advising potential implantees and I have had the benefit of talking to others who have advised other implantees.
6. There seems to be a general lack of appreciation that there are differences in the performance of implants and in fact many implant centres do nothing to inform candidates of such differences, possibly because they themselves have not studied this area in detail or because they are afraid of upsetting any one manufacturer.
7. One manufacturer has said to me that any of the implants now deliver good results for speech in quiet surroundings. However there are differences in the performance of implants in respect of speech in noisy areas and in music (are these all the areas of difference?) Research studies show this to be true. Yet potential implantees are not told about this.
8. There are also differences in the ability of what is implanted to cope with future software changes – how much unutilised capacity remains to allow for software upgrades? Potential implantees are not told about this.
9. As a result many candidates and the parents of candidates choose devices based on size or weight or colour of the external devices. These are important issues but by no means the most vital ones. They can and will be changed over the years. It really is what is in the head that matters most and should be given prime consideration.