Cochlear implant patients share success stories

Residents from all across the South Valley came together at Sierra View District Hospital on Friday evening to share their stories about something they have in common: cochlear and bone anchored hearing aid implants.

These implants are for people who are deaf or hearing-impaired. Cochlear implants are for patients who have lost hearing in both ears, whereas BAHA implants are for patients who have lost hearing in one ear, according to Dr. Mark Reader, who performs the surgeries.

“I thought [the night] was great. That was the first time the group was together,” Reader said. “The ones who have had theirs longer can encourage the ones who are just getting started.”

Reader has been performing cochlear and BAHA implants for four years.

Sierra View District Hospital is currently the only facility that performs cochlear and BAHA implants between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, Reader said.

“It’s wonderful that this region has somebody this talented,” BAHA patient Patrick Lozano said. “Dr. Reader is the best-mannered, friendliest, confident doctor you’ll find.”

Lozano lives in Visalia and is a former Porterville resident, where he used to work in law enforcement. He said he lost his hearing in one ear because of a side effect from the measles — a side effect that took 12 years to occur.

“It just happened out of the blue,” he said. “I had perfect hearing the night before.”

Lozano had gone two years before he got the surgery. He got his BAHA implant in November 2007. He said the surgery was life-changing and encourages anyone who is in need to have the surgery.

“If you’ve got the insurance and the only thing holding you back is fear, don’t be afraid,” Reader said.

Karen Kirkpatrick from Fresno is a cochlear implant patient who has had her implant for about a year.

“I had really bad distortion and regular hearing aids would just bring out the distortion even more,” she said.

According to her husband Patrick, she was once at 30 percent hearing.

“If it wasn’t for the surgery, she would have had to forfeit her teaching career,” Patrick Kirkpatrick said. “She said the last time she checked, she was at 70 percent hearing since the surgery.”

“It just keeps on getting better,” Karen Kirkpatrick said.

Gloria Gamez is a cochlear implant patient who became deaf after a diabetic coma. She said the implant has really worked for her.

“I can hear my granddaughter now and I wasn’t able to hear her before,” she said.

For more information about cochlear and BAHA implants call Dr. Reader's office at 791-1779 or visit his Web site at www.drreader.com.

-- Contact Ebony Bailey at 784-5000 or ebailey@portervillerecorder.com.