About ~*B*~
First, a little information about the author of this blog. I am a 27 year old female. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for almost 8 years. We do not have children, but we have 2 dogs who like to think they are. One of them is my retired Certified Hearing Service Dog. We live in a little house in middle of Oklahoma.
My husband is hearing as are most of my family and friends, and even though I was biologically deaf, I was raised “culturally hearing”. This means that I was raised to read lips and speak normally (oral-ism). I did not begin to really learn sign language until I went to college, and even now I am not fluent in it, although I still prefer that over the oralist way of life. However, I unfortunately don’t have much contact with those who use sign language, so it’s not a big part of my life.
I was born with Large Vestibular Aqueducts in both ears. This causes Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome, also known as LVAS, which still affects my life and will until the day I die. It is also the reason I began losing my hearing at age 4. I was fitted with two hearing aids, but my hearing got progressively worse as I got older. Finally at age 23 I had almost no hearing left and that’s when I began the journey with cochlear implants.
“Being Bionic” is about my adventure with bilateral cochlear implants. I started the blog the day before the surgery for my very first cochlear implant, and it follows my journey since. I also cover some other related issues such as vestibular disorders and how the one I have affects my life.
This blog covers all aspects of my journey with cochlear implants: the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am bluntly honest in my writings, and I don’t sugarcoat anything. Everyone’s experience with cochlear implants is different, so I ask that you remember that when reading about mine. And more than anything, I hope this blog provides interesting insight into a life of being bionic.
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Steve Said:
on February 10, 2008 at 10:00 pm
You speak pragmatically about cochlear implants that give me pause regarding my own impending CI surgery scheduled for Feb. 29. Thank you. It’s good to have that bit of reality check. Even though I actually have a surgery date scheduled, sometimes the decision seems to get more difficult rather than easier, but I’m still pretty sure I’m going to do this. I’ve blogged a fair amount about my hearing and CI decision (let me know if you’re curious and I’ll send you the blog address). Just so I’m not a complete stranger, I live in Seattle, am married, work FT, go to school part time, and am also a Christian! Anyway, just wanted to thank you for telling it like it really is (both on MySpace and your “Being Bionic” blog) regarding CIs, that they’re not necessarily a perfect solution. – Steve
Christina Said:
on June 14, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I have finally found someone like me – LVAS and Menieres. Thank you for sharing your story. I have been deaf in my right ear since birth and was fine until I turned 27 years old. It all started with the horrible rining and hearing loss. Now I have vertigo with profound hearing loss. I am waiting to qualify for CI. I am scared to death of this all — being deaf and getting a CI. I am now 36, married with two children 6 and 8 and work full-time. It is getting harder by the day to keep functioning. I just wanted to thank you for sharing your story and to realize that a CI is not the perfect answer for us.
Christina
Julia Said:
on November 30, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Bree,
I really enjoyed reading your story. I’m currently writing a paper on cochlear implants for a linguistics class. I am focusing on the social implications and how these relate to the implant’s success. Specifically, I wanted to ask you more about how your family and friends have played a role in the extent to which you feel your implant has been a success. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for sharing!
Julia
jallyn@usc.edu