A mom with cochlear implant

My name is Sandra Caballero. I'm a mom of two daughters and one son. I love being a mom and it's not easy.

I'm wear a cochlear implant on my right ear after I lost my hearing completely back in 2000.

I woke up one morning and thought my hearing aid was not working. My audiologist tested the hearing aid and it was working just fine. I took the hearing test and the result were that I lost my hearing completely. For no reason my hearing was gone just like that. I was not sick. At the time I was 20 years old. I was in shock!

My audiologist suggested the Cochlear Implant because I was able to understand sounds before I lost my hearing. Also because it was the only solution to hear again. She handed me a Cochlear Implant book. I read everything and did the online review check to see if Cochlear Implant was for me.

It took me weeks before I decided to get the Cochlear Implant. I thought about hearing again and how I would understand the sounds. Since I always spoke and listen to people talked to me. I also thought about the surgery. Would it hurt but pain reliever pills will help. I thought about how after surgery I won't hear anything until my ear is healed. And how it would be wearing the cochlear implant.

I met Dr. De La Cruz at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles,California. Great doctor! (May He Rest In Peace) He discussed with me the process of receiving the Cochlear Implant.

He explained every step of the surgery and after surgery. At the House Ear Clinic I was told that I would be on the waiting list when someone donate money into the House Ear Clinic. One day I got the call that I was accepted to get my Cochlear Implant! I was so excited! Couldn’t wait to hear again! I thank those people who donate to House Ear Clinic.

Surgery day came and was finished by the end of the day. A one day surgery that I got to go home to recover until my right ear heal.

A electrode array was placed inside the cochlear of my right ear and receiver/stimulator inside the side of my head.

When I arrive home from the hospital on the same day of the surgery; I was in so much pain. I could only sleep on one side that was not operated. I felt the pain for few days but the ibuprofen helped so much. Sleeping a lot and eating liquid food also helped. Following the doctor’s orders is the key to the best result.

I recovered completely in a month. I went back to the House Ear Clinic to see Dr.De La Cruz. He checked how the surgical wound healed. He was happy to see that I took care of it very good. Because how nicely and healthy the wound came out. I was able to move to the next step and schedule an appointment with a audiologist at the House Ear Clinic.

I was completely deaf for almost two months. Then I met the audiologist to set up the powerful bodyworn speech processor. The box was placed in my Jean back pocket along with the wires going up to place the implant onto my right ear. This was a huge difference from my old ear mold hearing aid. I was able to hear again! The sound was awful loud and weird. The audiologist adjust from her computer to my processor as it was connected to her computer. I raised my hand if the sound beeps were too loud or too soft. I also had to hear words and say what I heard through my processor. When the audiologist put everything together to get the result of my hearing test. She set up programs. Program 1 would be so loud.. program 2 would be soft and thick.. and program 3 just not clear at all. I would pick the one that comfort my hearing and brain. ( yes; I say brain because listening send signal to the brain to understand what sound you heard. ) The processor is connected to the box where it’s place in the back of my jean pocket. There are buttons to change the programs and volumes. Even batteries to replace when it dies.

So much to adapt when I received the processor. I was stressed but I was strong because I wanted to hear again!

Several appointments may be needed after this initial activation to adjust the program as patients adapt to sound and practice listening with the device. The number of appointments needed varies by the person but is typically 3 to 6 appointments the first year and one appointment per year after that.

I recommend auditory therapist to help reach your full potential with a cochlear implant. It requires a lot of hearing practice and brain connection to understand what sound you are hearing.

I had to ask everyone around me what noise I was hearing. I heard a lot of sounds that I never heard before with my old ear mold hearing aid.

Few months later I receive a speech processor that is worn entirely behind the ear, freeing recipients from long cables and extra components. How amazing I felt !! I didn’t have to worry anything hanging behind my ear and back. I was so happy when I received it.

The speech processor also has programs to change when not comfortable. It also has volume adjustment. This processor is also adjusted by the audiologist like with the powerful bodyworn speech processor. Same testing.

Wishing few appointments adjusting the sounds from the audiologist’s computer; the sounds gets better. You get used to the sounds. You would know if the sounds does not sound good. The audiologist would easily set up another appointment to adjust it for you. Like I mentioned you get two or three programs. You get to pick the sound on each programs where ever you are!

From when I started wearing Cochlear Implant back in 2000; cochlear implant had three batteries and now my cochlear implant has 2 batteries. Technology is getting better and better each few years. I love my cochlear implant now than my first cochlear implant because now I have bluetooth connected to my phone. I get to sleep at night with music playing in my cochlear implant. How cool is that! I also hear phone ringing from my phone into my Bluetooth Cochlear Implant. When I make a call to an office I get to hear the receptionist and no one else around me can hear. Another reason to say how awesome Cochlear is improving for all of us Deaf people.

I suggest flash cards when you receive your Cochlear processor. Have someone say the word on the flash card while covering their mouth. You say what you think you heard. Practice this and it will help you improve your hearing. It’s what I did for months. It helped me a lot!

Iam now a mom of 3 kiddos. I’m so blessed to hear their voice. I’m so glad I got the Cochlear Implant before I had my babies.

I thank all of those people who donate their money to House Ear Clinic. Also to California Medical Department for covering the expenses of the Cochlear Implant.

Hearing again changed my life! I appreciate it more to hear because for a whole two months being deaf was not easy for me. I was so used to hearing all the time with family and friends.

Iam now teaching my kids to learn more American Sign Language 🤟🏼 They will be my future interpreters.