Earstuff

[ellenmillion]

The ears I kept gabbing about last week but never showed off...











They are figures for a thesis on hearing loss and treatment by Candis Shannon. We go way back! I babysat her daughter Carolyn when I was in middle school, and did odd job around the place for her. In many ways, she helped me start EMG, since it was that babysitting money that fueled all the initial expenses and got me started. Candis is deaf, but reads lips, and now has treatment (see pictures!) that enables her to hear. She played in the local orchestra ... um... french horn? ... I forget, but did it all by feeling the vibrations through the floor before she was able to get correction for her hearing. She's planning to write a book which I am dying to read, and she'd like me to illustrate it. :) A wonderful woman, and I feel really fortunate to have been a part of her life - I'm really glad we've kept in touch.



Having trouble getting moving this morning... want to twiddle along and write fanfic or take a nap in the worst way and keep getting distracted. Stupid Internet. Ought to go knuckle down on some artwork now, or work on the article for EMG-Zine, or something useful. Blah blah blah...

Comments

[autumnstar1.livejournal.com]

These are really detailed and interesting.

My sister was born 90% deaf in one ear and (I think) 75% in the other -- Her partner (who is even 'more deaf') got either the same surgery/implant shown here or a VERY similar one...she amused the children at Christmas time by showing that the transmitter plate was magnetic by sticking forks to her head. To the adults she spoke of the first time she heard a bird chirping -- she said she had no idea what it was and couldn't believe they could be so annoying.

[uneide.livejournal.com]

I've been dying to see these!! And wow, amazing illustrations; they'd have to be, since they are for people in the know. :) Your friends story is really impressive - I'd love to know when her book comes out!

[littlefire.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, you've really brought back some memories of grad school for me! I had to draw these diagrams so many times! Great work on it all and I like how the cochlear implant came out. The detail is wonderful! I'm surprised you didn't have to also draw the parts of the tympanic membrane too!

[celticwren.livejournal.com]

I have always admired the folks who do medical diagrams, you have to be so detailed and precise! I have to wonder how many folks with the implant end up bumping it when brushing their hair.

[curvature.livejournal.com]

wow, good job on the details there - The one that shows the scala timpany and the scala vestibuli came out looking quite three dimensional.


I know a woman who had a very early version of this device implanted during the mid ninties, and it ruined her. She lost all of her balance, and all she could hear was constant static noises and 'roaring'. And they couldn't take it out again without damaging her even further.

Things have come a really long way since then though!

[littlefire.livejournal.com]

Heh heh...they remove the outer part (attaches to an inner magnet implanted under the skin) when they brush their hair and shower and stuff like that.