Lee Mules continued..

I have continued with my Emmett therapy on a regular basis and my ears have steadily improved. In May I travelled to Brisbane to see a specialist Cochlear Implant Centre and Doctor with the hope that I may be able to have an implant. We had two days of testing booked plus an appointment with the specialist Dr at the Centre. The first day consisted of an MRI and various other tests including an electrode test for nerve activity. After the test for nerve activity the Specialist came to see me and told me that it was no point continuing with the testing as they could not find any definite indication of nerve activity and a CI requires nerve activity to work. This was very disappointing of course, however I still had an appointment with the Dr the next day. The Dr showed Mum the MRI and explained how the nerves on the right were totally obscured by scar tissue and on the left the nerve had a line of scar tissue going across it. The Dr was quite amazed by the amount of hearing I had on the left and the fact that the right was also testing as some hearing. He said I was a unique and complex case, as he had never seen this type of recovery in someone with my extensive damage. He asked if we were doing something different so we explained Emmett Therapy. His comment was to just keep doing what you are doing. The Dr told us there was one other test I could have which he thought was worth having but don't get your hopes up. This test is an electronic test done in a small operation and will give an accurate nerve activity reading. Let's do it!

In August, just before I had the test, my hearing was tested again and my right ear had a fifteen-point improvement, which was very exciting. Thank you Emmett Therapy! In September it was back to Brisbane for the electronic test. The results stunned the specialists. I had a rare amount of hearing nerve activity in BOTH ears. WOW. That CI was still a possibility but I needed some further testing. Late October, it was back to Brisbane for more tests, the results of which were good and again surprised all the experts.

After testing the Dr saw me and explained that they could only locate two records in New Zealand and Australia of a Cryptoccal Meningitis patient having a CI. Of these one had environmental noise only, no speech. The other had, for the last year, vibration only and was just starting to get some environmental sound. This meant no one knew how things would turn out. However the Dr said he thought there was a good chance I would experience some improvement. This was great news, but I still had to be approved by his board of specialists. On the tenth of November the Dr's office rang to say the CI was approved and I would have the implant on the twenty fifth. Yahoo! Thank you Emmett Therapy.

Everything went ahead as scheduled and on the sixth of December I had switch on. This was a very exciting day as no one had any idea what I would get. On this first day they program and switch on half of the electrodes on the implant. The mapping, as it is called, is done using chime like sounds and the audiologist kept asking if I was hearing sound or getting vibration. I had to keep assuring her it was sound. Switch on. Lots of noise and chimes for a while and as that started to settle she tested my hearing with the CI. She said the days of the week and asked if I heard anything. I replied that I had heard them although not clearly, it was definite speech. Total amazement. She couldn't believe it and I was over the moon. I am still in the early stages and have two more sessions in this round. Every time I see the clinic I show significant improvement and amaze the specialists with my progress. It will take a long time and a lot of training to achieve my goal of conversation but I believe I can. And they said I would never hear again let alone have a successful Cochlear Implant.

I strongly believe that the recovery in my hearing nerves is mostly due to Ross Emmett and his wonderful therapy. What next? Eyes? Time for us to concentrate on my vision and if I get the same level of recovery in my eyes as ears this will be wonderful. My goal is to walk the Inca Indian Trail in Mexico for my fiftieth birthday. We've got four years Ross!

Lee Mules, Tully QLD