Hi Kelli
I'm sorry to hear your loss is getting worse. It is well worth exploring the implant option - even if the answer is no or not yet. Find a CI clinic near you and make an appointment.
The guidelines for implantation currently (in Australia at least) is
(1) At least a bilateral moderate-to-profound sloping sensorinerual hearing loss. Hearing below 40dcbl in low tones and hearing below about 80-90 dcbls in high frequencies.
(2) A severe, progressive sesorinerual hearing loss
(3) Less than 79% correct keywords on open-set, pre-recorded materials presented at 65 dcbl in the best aided condition (without lip reading)
If your loss is not sensorineural you may be a candidate for a Baha which is a bone conduction hearing aid.
Only a specialist can really tell you whether you are a suitable candidate. It is certainly scarey as we get deafer and it becomes harder to communicate in our normal environment. I can honestly say I wish I had done it 10 years earlier before my deafness really impacted on my life.
Let me know how you get on...or if you need information about clinics in your area contact me. felicity@bleckly.com
