Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Cochlear Implant Names

The other day I was at the farmer's market -- I was in a hurry to get out of the house and get to the market right when it opened so I could be sure to get a carton of eggs from the guy who has the most delicious eggs but only has a few cartons available every week. My parents were at the market, so I said hello and informed them that I had run out of the house so fast, I had forgotten my cochlear implant.

Only I said I had forgotten my "implant".

On the way home, I got to thinking. "Implant" is such a silly word to use, since the implant really refers to the internal piece which was ... well, implanted. Stating that I had forgotten my implant makes no sense -- like having your camera with you and forgetting the lens? Okay maybe a bad analogy. "Cochlear implant" is such a mouthful. I guess I could say "processor", since that is what the external piece really is, but that is such a generic word.

"I forgot my processor."

Sounds like I forgot to bring my computer or something. At least, I think that is what would first come to mind for most people.

I could say I forgot my Esprit 3G, which is the name of that specific processor, but again that is a mouthful and most people would have no idea what I was talking about.

Soon I am hoping to upgrade to the newer processor, which is called the Freedom.

"I forgot my Freedom."

Bizarre and silly.

Any suggestions??

4 comments:

El Donaldo said...

Hearing Aid.

I still hate saying that. "Hearing Aid" Never did like to say it. But if you want to say you forgot your CI, then "hearing aid" is a good shortcut since virtually everyone knows what a hearing aids function is. They can also figure out that though you may have heard them just fine the day before with your CI, you're not hearing them today. Hearing people still don't understand what a CI really is, and I think some of them actually don't make the connection between CIs and hearing. That's when you find yourself explaining for the umptysquillionth time what a CI is.

Aaron said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Aaron said...

http://deafjoke.tv/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/423728629_941fd6c2fa.jpg


Love this hearing aid!

elizabeth said...

Great blog! I hope you'll consider adding it to the aggregator at Deaf Village (www.deafvillage.com) -- we'd love to have you as part of our community!