Some people who have a cochlear implant choose to get a Medical ID bracelet. These have often been recommended to people with CIs in the past – mainly due to the potential risks involved in having an MRI or surgical diathermy without the correct precautions.
These days it’s more a case of personal choice as there are other ways you can alert people to your CI and your deafness. For example, you can often input personal medical information into the lock screen of your smartphone or carry an ID card in your wallet or purse as identification. These can help in the event of an unplanned situation where you need to communicate to people that you are deaf and use a cochlear implant to hear.
If you decide to get a medical ID bracelet or keychain you can choose from a few different options depending on how much you want to spend and the look that you want.
Medic Alert – Available through your GP or at www.medicalert.co.nz
My Identity – www.myidentity.co.nz
Mediband – www.mediband.com/nz/
If you want more information, please contact SCIP and ask to speak to one of the rehabilitationists.