Meet Karen 'Kazzy' Stewart

In March 2003, I had another ear infection that over the years had become the bane of my life. This time, however, it was so bad I was laid up for 4 days; I was in so much pain that even touching my hair hurt. Finally, though, the meds worked and I was eventually back to my normal self - only something was different. I noticed a distinct hearing loss and so was referred back to the hospital to see the Consultant who had previously operated in 1999 to remove the Cholesteatoma I had had. At my appointment in May 2003, I had to wait quite a while for my time to see the doctor (not like on a normal clinic day) so I enquired when I might actually get to see him. I was told: "As soon as a Baha headband becomes available." That was when I first learned I was being considered for implant! WOW!! I was so very excited!! Eons later, it seemed, I got the Baha headband, and I wore it for about half an hour. I was amazed at what I could hear: there were birds singing outside, wheels squeaking as beds were pushed along the hospital corridor and I heard three conversations going on at the same time and could make sense of them all – I could hear most everything and it was so very clear! There were footsteps around the corner in the corridor and many things that I had forgotten made a sound, like people breathing!! Ohhhhhhhh, it was wonderful and I was ecstatic when the Consultant agreed I would be a suitable candidate for a Baha and placed me on his waiting list. I had my Baha implant surgery in early November 2003 and all went well with the operation itself. The atmosphere in the operating theatre was so relaxed, and we were all laughing and joking. It was strange to be able to hear and feel him working, but thanks to the injections of local anaesthetic, it was no worse than a trip to the dentist. I was in the operating theatre for about 1hr 30mins all told, and then rested a while in recovery. Within 2 hours of the surgery ending, I was back at home. About 10 days after the operation, I suffered a sudden and bad infection of the right ear and my eardrum perforated; this was totally unrelated to the actual surgery. (It was of course one of the reasons I had had the Baha surgery in the first place – I suffered constant infections and perforations and so couldn't wear my air-conducting hearing aids comfortably or to any great benefit.) On this occasion – as before – I went to my GP, who prescribed me the antibiotics and painkillers that had become my friends over the years. Unfortunately, this ear infection didn't respond to treatment as it had so many times before. The operative site itself also got infected resulting in two abscesses which burst, finally leaving the wound to heal. I went to see the specialist again in January 2004 to make sure that all was well with my ear (post perforations) and the operative site (post infection), and it was clear that everything had finally healed. In March 2004, after a wait of 19+ weeks post-surgery, I was finally issued with my sound processor - a Baha Compact. (This wait was somewhat longer than the norm, as the doctor wanted to be sure the fixture had fully integrated with my skull, bearing in mind my earlier infection problems.) This was the second and final stage of the bone-anchored system and procedure, and since that date, I've been on cloud nine! Just after I was issued it, I rejoined other Baha users in the hospital room that we all meet in, and I sat there, listening, playing with a serviette, totally astonished that I could hear the paper rustle. I could hear the sound of my hair, I could hear my coat, and I could hear the birds outside. I could hear the squeaking of the soles of shoes on the ground as people walked past me, and I could hear several conversations – and shock of shocks, I could understand them, too! Before I got my Baha, I was usually off work with an ear infection and perforation for a day or two (possibly even more when the infection was particularly bad) almost every month. Since having my sound processor, my Baha has proved its worth to me; my health is much better and with it, my quality of life has improved vastly. I went back to see the ENT specialists in May 2004 and it was recommended then that I have a longer abutment fitted, as my sound kept cutting out; it felt like someone kept turning my ears on and off – it felt almost like how strobe lighting affects one’s eyesight, but in my ears. It was said that this was likely due to the fact that I have thick skin on my scalp close to where the sound processor sits, and I also have very thick hair. When the longer abutment arrived, I went to the hospital, where the doctor unscrewed the shorter one, and screwed in the new one... no anaesthetic necessary, no pain, no nothing really - just a 3 or 4 minute job in his office. With the longer abutment in place, things are so much better – no sound cutting out, no problems at all. Now, 7 years down the line, I’ve been back in the hearing world for some time and am still very much enjoying life - thanks to my Baha. There are still some sounds I don't recognise, noises I had forgotten, and direction finding is a real problem so I am extremely careful when I go out of the house. In October 2007, I upgraded from my Compact to a Baha Divino. After a second visit to the Hearing Aid department for a little bit of fine tuning by the Audiologist, I could hear even better than I could previously. As for actually hearing with a Baha… sometimes, because of the constant exposure to noise, it can be just a little too much, and I get the occasional headache. When this happens, I take the sound processor off and enjoy a little quietness. Before too long, though, I'm plugged in again and enjoying the sound of the world around me. Baha – it's the best thing since sliced bread… and yes, despite everything, I would do it all again! Kazzy :-) Down on the Garden Coast of Kent England, UK