Tag Archives: Ponto pro

From fearful to fearless – how advocacy helped Cierra McCorkell receive her abutment surgery

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Cierra McCorkell was born with bilateral hearing loss with microtia and atresia on the left side.

She received her first Ponto Bone Anchored Hearing device in 2012 when she was in 6th grade after her hearing loss had progressed. She began wearing a Ponto Pro on a headband and continued with the headband until she was in high school. When discussing the possibility of surgery, she found the decision overwhelming, and surgery was a frightening thought.

“Just the word alone made her afraid. I have always let her choose for herself when she is ready to do something so this decision was solely on her.” – Theresa McCorkell

While researching bone anchored hearing, Cierra’s mother Theresa found the blog of a Ponto advocate who had written about her recent surgery to have her abutment placed. Theresa commented that her daughter was afraid of the surgery which sparked an online conversation that would lead Theresa and Cierra to Oticon Medical’s annual patient advocacy conference to learn more about the procedure.

Overcoming a fear of surgery
In October of 2016, Cierra and her mother attended the Oticon Medical Patient Advocacy Workshop. It was there, among fellow Ponto users, that Cierra expressed her fear of surgery and where she learned first hand about the Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery (MIPS) procedure.

“She had never met anyone like her. But now she saw other children and adults who were doing great with the surgery and that helped her a lot. Cierra was nervous because she doesn’t talk about her hearing loss and we didn’t know what to expect. We had a great time and we learned a lot. She made friends and it opened up a whole new conversation for her to learn how to advocate for herself now that she is getting older.” – Theresa McCorkell

On the last day of the conference, Cierra announced that she had made the decision to move forward with abutment surgery thanks to the stories and information provided by fellow advocates.

Surgery and activation
On September 1, 2017, Cierra was implanted using the MIPS procedure. Her mother comments that the surgery was less than an hour and without complications. Four months after her abutment was placed, Cierra was finally able to snap on her Ponto Pro, which her mother captured in the video below.

 

“Ultimately, what helped was knowing there are people just like her out there.” – Theresa McCorkell

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Meet Ponto User Winslow Pipes!

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We asked Ponto users to share their experience with us about what life is like with their Oticon Medical Ponto. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing their responses and hope it inspires you to choose sound, choose Ponto.

This weeks user video comes from Ann and Winslow Pipes who share their journey of selecting the Ponto Pro Power.

“We didn’t notice any feedback at all and the TV wasn’t getting turned up as loud anymore. Once he (Winslow) had it implanted, he was so pleased with the clarity and volume we decided to implant his left side as well as his right”

Listen to the full story below:

If you would like to know more about the Ponto system and speak to an audiologist, click the button below and we will connect you. 

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Upgrading Your Bone Anchored Hearing System: Why and How

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Like most technology, there’s a lot of conversation around the value of making the leap from one product to another—whether it’s moving to the most recently released product within the same brand, or making a larger change by switching from one manufacturer to another. Your hearing, and quality of life, is at stake.

That’s something we take extremely seriously. So, we wanted to give you a more intimate view into why to consider a bone anchored hearing system upgrade and how to go about getting a new bone anchored hearing system.

What’s an upgrade?

First things first, what is considered an upgrade? There are two different types of upgrades: An upgrade from one Ponto model to another—i.e. switching from the Ponto Pro to the Ponto Plus. And, the second, a change from one device provider to another.

An independent study tested the Ponto against similar bone anchored sound processors, and findings show that two out of three prefer the Ponto.

An independent study tested the Ponto against similar bone anchored sound processors, and findings show that two out of three prefer the Ponto.

While this is terminology that we use, we checked in with community members to see if this makes sense from a bone anchored hearing-user perspective too.

“I usually call both upgrades. And if it’s to a different brand, I say something like, ‘for this upgrade, I switched to…’” – Katie Maslar

“I went from the BP110 Power, to the Ponto Plus Power…that was an upgrade, lol! But, in all seriousness…my insurance calls it an upgrade.” – Nancy Smith Oberman

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From the Field: How Active Ponto Users Play with Their Pontos in Place

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What does your day-to-day look like? It probably involves waking up, getting ready and going to work or school. In just the first couple hours of the day, there are the sounds of the alarm clock going off, the shower turning on, the coffee machine percolating, the car turning on or the bus pulling up and the hum of traffic.

If you’re like many people, your day also includes some type of activity. Running, riding a bike, and playing sports—all activities in which sound continues to play a crucial role.

Here’s how two of our community members play best with their Pontos.

The Creative Karate Kid

Sonja Herne’s son Jack loves karate, and he wears bilateral Pontos on a softband. When he advanced to a red belt, requiring a helmet during activity, Sonja and Jack got creative. When Jack practices karate, they remove one of his Pontos and shift the other to the back-middle of his head. They found a gap in the back of the helmet, which allows the Ponto to sit unobstructed.

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Children with Microtia/Atresia Receive Pontos During Humanitarian Trip with Peak ENT & Utah State University

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Recently, Oticon Medical donated four Ponto Pro and Ponto Pro Power devices on a softband to a hearing humanitarian trip with Peak ENT and Utah State University. There’s nothing that could make our day more than hearing the stories of those who received the Bone Anchored Hearing Systems. We thought we’d share and hopefully bring some joy to your day too.

Joseph Dansie, AuD CCC-A/F-AAA, Peak ENT Associates-Audiologist, went on the mission to Central America to deliver and help fit the softbands. Below, Dr. Dansie recounts his experience with each child.

“I want to say thank you to Oticon Medical for their generous donations of the four softband Ponto Pro and Ponto Pro Power devices,” said Dr. Dansie. “We were able to fit all of the kids with bilateral Microtia/Atresia.”

Meet David

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Two Pontos Help 14-Year-Old Andrew Overcome Maximum Conductive Hearing Loss

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Being a teenager is a fun, but it can be hard work too. Andrew Perry, a 14-year-old born with Treacher Collins and Bilateral Microtia and Atresia, has maximum conductive hearing loss in both ears making participation, working in groups of students and hearing class lectures even more draining than it can already be.

“Straining to hear can make someone with a hearing loss tired throughout the day,” says Melissa Tumblin, Founder of Ear Community. The background noise common in rooms full of students made concentration difficult for Andrew. Clyde, Andrew’s father, said that Andrew’s academic performance had declined significantly, and he believed it was because of the difficulty of hearing and following instructions in the classroom.

Here’s how an Audiologist went the extra mile for Andrew, as first told on Ear Community. 

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Responding Like Never Before: Three-year-old Guoyiyang Receives Ponto Pro

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Guoyiyang, a three-year old twin boy who has Bilateral Microtia and Atesia in China, received a Ponto Pro this month. Since birth, Guoyiyang has not been able to hear well, and for the first time ever, he has the opportunity to use a sound processor.

Until now, Guoyiyang has only responded to very loud sounds. He had only said “baba” and “mama”. Because Guoyiyang’s family does not have healthcare coverage, they were unable to afford a hearing device. Guoyiyang’s father, Mr. Guotao, found Ear Community online and inquired about help for his son. Now, with his new Ponto Pro, Guoyiyang instantly responds to soft whispers and the other sounds around him.

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Melissa Tumblin, founder of Ear Community, and Alan Raffauf, VP of marketing for Oticon Medical US, connected with a local business colleague, Martin Moller, a business director for Oticon China. Martin was able to obtain help from Scott Sun, also of Oticon China, where Scott helped translate and communicate with the family and Guoyiyang’s doctor, Dr. Qin Zhaobing.

“In addition to everyone coming together in China and the United States to help Yiyang, it was a joyous day for everyone.  Even Dr. Qin’s ENT team enjoyed not only getting to help little Yiyang, but they also were given the opportunity to learn more about bone conduction hearing devices and the chance to try a device on,” Melissa Tumblin said.

Inspired by this story? Please share on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or your favorite social network. The more we spread the word, the more we can help others like Guoyiyang.

Aaron’s Story, Part III: The Journey to Getting a Ponto

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We spoke to Aaron not too long ago, a couple weeks before he was set to get his Ponto. Those weeks moved slowly for Aaron as he eagerly anticipated the day that finally came last week– the day that he got to snap on his new Ponto Pro.

So, what’s changed for Aaron?

A lot. But, what he’s realized is that it’s many little things that are making up a very big change. It started with getting used to the volume of his own voice.  “I was overwhelmed at how I could hear. I had to take a moment in the elevator to collect myself,” Aaron shared.

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Then, he focused on what he could hear. He was surprised at the distinct sound of tires bumping along the freeway as he road to the airport for a trip to Vegas. “I went to the airport after I got setup, and I couldn’t believe how loud the concrete was while driving on the highway. I had ask, ‘is that normal?'”

What he could hear became even more apparent while doing one of the things he loves most– listening to music. Throughout each conversation we’ve had with Aaron, he’s mentioned his love for music. He’s now noticed that listening to songs he’s heard before might take some getting used to. “When I hear songs that I know, I hear instruments that I didn’t pick up on before. I even asked my wife, is that a remix?” Aaron’s been experimenting with his playlist, seeing which songs are changed now, just by sounding so slightly different.

While Aaron is personally exploring changes, others are taking notice too. One of the benefits that many Ponto users experience is being able to hear well in a group. Particularly, a meeting room or dining table with many people. So, this time, it wasn’t Aaron pointing out the change, it was the group members he met with. “I went to a meeting with a long board-room-like table, the table was long enough to fit about 20 people. When we finished the meeting, the group mentioned that they could actually tell that I could hear better. I would turn my head as a new person spoke, paying attention in a quicker and more focused way.”

A not-so-subtle change that Aaron was expecting is the noise level around his house. He knew that living in downtown Dallas would be a different experience with his Ponto Pro. “Of course I expected to hear the crowds on the weekends, but I can also hear the cars driving down the service road. It’s louder to live here than I thought,” Aaron realized.

Although Aaron will tell you, he’s still adjusting to his Ponto, he’s learning a lot and has a very valuable suggestion. That’s to use the clip that ensures the device won’t fall to the ground if it comes off– at least for the first couple of weeks. “I’d only had my Ponto for about 20 minutes, and as I was getting into the car, I bumped my head on the window. It didn’t get damaged when it feel to the floor, but I don’t want to have to live without it now that I finally have it.”

One of the parts of the experience that Aaron enjoyed the most was getting his device programmed by Johanna Whitson, Au.D., CCC-A of Southwestern Medical Center. “I’ve heard that the software makes a huge different in the sound quality,” Aaron mentioned. And, he’s right, not only is it incredible and interesting, we spend a lot of time ensuring that the software is part of the quality experience. (Foreshadowing: We see a blog post of its own on this topic coming up soon).

We’ll continue to follow Aaron throughout his journey of getting used to all of the little things that have changed. He’s already inspired by how much those little things have contributed to such a different way of living life.

Do you have a question for Aaron? You can always ask him in the comments section below. Also, we’d like to take the time to thank Aaron for sharing his experience. It’s been incredible to be a part of the change in a Ponto user’s life in a whole new way. You can read the full series here.

If you’d like to share your story, you can let us know here.

Aaron’s Story, Part II: The Journey to Getting a Ponto

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Last time we spoke with Aaron Morris he was at the beginning of his journey in getting his Ponto Pro– it was just a few days before his surgery. Now, over a month later, Aaron is counting down the days until he receives his device.

With the surgery out of the way and his doctor’s confirmation that everything is progressing well, he’ll soon get to snap on his Ponto Pro. Here’s how Aaron’s experience has been since the last time we spoke.

Before setting out to get a Ponto, Aaron had been through a few surgeries due to complications and a car accident. So, it’s not surprising that this time around was quick and relatively painless. “The surgery only took about an hour. And, as expected, my previous surgeries were more in-depth. No matter how many times you’ve done something, you’re a little nervous when someone plans on placing an object in your head,” Aaron admitted. “But this, it was simple and I felt back to normal the same day.”

Aaron MorrisWhile the surgery was quick and easy, Aaron did have a bump in the road a couple of weeks after his surgery. Living in Dallas, it was common that sweat would get near and in the wound site. Aaron and his doctor, Brandon Isaacson M.D. at the University-Tx Southwestern (whom Aaron has been working with since 2006), did some trouble-shooting, and they decided it would be best if Aaron wear a sweat band while outside to keep the site as dry as possible.

There have been some other things to get used to as well. While out and about, Aaron has noticed that he’s gotten some strange looks. “People ask what the abutment is– without the device attached it does resemble something that you might see in a movie.” But, those same strange looks have enabled Aaron to share his experience and the technology of bone anchored devices with others who had no idea such devices existed. “It’s crazy, about 7 out of 10 people who ask me about it have never heard of a bone anchored hearing system,” Aaron said. Recently, he had a conversation with a man in the grocery store. The man asked about Aaron’s abutment and mentioned that his hearing aid had never been optimal for overcoming his middle ear issues. “He had an outdated hearing aid. After our talk, he and his wife were going to the doctor to ask about him trying a Ponto. He didn’t even know it was an option.”

Aaron is excited to continue to introduce people to what will soon be his new way of hearing. With the date he’ll receive his device set by his doctor, he’s even making plans for the day that he’ll finally be able to fully hear again. “Honestly, my plan is to go see a movie with the best surround sound in the world. There’s a great new theater in Dallas, and I’ve never experienced sound like that before.”

Our last question for Aaron before he gets his device– is he nervous? “I’m not nervous, but I know I’ll hear strange things that I haven’t before. We live downtown, and my wife always mentions the sounds outside, especially on the weekends… Now, when she says ‘did you hear that’ the answer will finally be ‘yes’.”

Ask Aaron any questions you may have in the comments section below, or on Facebook and Twitter. Aaron will also be sharing his journey through his Twitter and Instagram accounts. We’ll be interviewing Aaron again, for the third installment of the series on his journey, after he receives his Ponto Pro in less than a month!

Michael Shepherd Shares Ponto Pro Experience

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Michael Shepherd shares his experience with his Oticon Ponto Pro.

“It has actually let me come out of my shell. In a group of people, I struggled so much. I pretty much went off by myself. This has let me overcome that. I’m so happy that I’ve had this done. I would not change anything.”

Thank you to Medical Hearing Aids for sharing.