Rush Limbaugh's Cochlear Implant Surgery a Success

Drudge Report ^ | 12/20/2001 | Matt Drudge

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Marine, please don't do that. These things are a lifesaver. Like any electronic device, they do malfunction and/or need reprogramming (a very simple half-hour non-surgical procedure), but the sound is nothing like what you describe in your little joke. And Pokey, you'd be surprised how "natural" the sound can be. I can pick lyrics out of songs, bop to my beloved early-'60s Brasilian jazz collection, recognize accents and even voices I hadn't heard for years before my implant, and even call into The Godfather's show, make it past his screeners, and drop a little joke into my commentary to the delight of millions.

[facedown]

A bumper for the Maha Rushie!

[gumbo]

Thank God! I was so sad Rush couldn't listen to music anymore. This is wonderful news.

This is wonderful news, but I believe Rush said on his program a couple of weeks ago that the implants do not transmit music well. He did say he could remember a lot of music very well, so he may still be able to enjoy what he can hear.

[altura]

Don't go listening to those sickos. It can't be good for you!

BTW, I'm glad the usual Rush bashers have stayed off of this happy thread.

so far, anyway.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Thanks for your nice comments. Music is wonderful. But, I tend to prefer simpler music like combos and quartets. Don't like it when too much is going on. Maybe that has to do with the finite number of electrodes in the implant (22 in my case, 24 in Rush's probably-- due to eleven years of advances). But, I had the same preference before my implant, so maybe not.

I like Mannheim Steamroller... so Rush'll has a good chance to be in aural heaven in a few weeks when his implant is turned on. Late January, that'd be.

[Rightly Biased]

Way to go RUSH I can't wait till your back. Answered Prayers here in Free Republic.

[MeekOneGOP]

Bump!

[altura]

So, Right, you can enjoy music?

That is so interesting. How would you describe the difference, or do we have to wait for El Rushbo to describe it?

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

By the way, speech is a closed-loop system. That's why many deaf people have "deaf accents", heavy on the lateral lisps and sort of gutteral yet whiny. Mary Matalin has a dose of that. It's amazing that Rush sounds so good with no hearing. What a pro.

My own speech took a huge leap within days of activation of my implant.

Gotta tell ya, I am simply elated at Rush's great news. Big grins here in LeftCoast-land.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Um, Mary Matalin... is she the deaf actress or, y'know, Serpenthead's wife? I meant the deaf actress.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

GOOD NEWS PING!

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

No real difference. I hear better with the implant than I did for many years prior to losing my hearing. Stuff sounds great, that's all! Unfortunately, most of what I hear on the radio sounds AWFUL... but that has nothing to do with the implant!

[chouli]

He can always claim the battery went dead.

[litany_of_lies]

Great news for Rush fans and conservatives. Marginal news for liberals.

Now for some luv from the Democrat Underground:

"I guess this means we're stuck with the Fat Pig? Well, I guess we can keep our fingers crossed in hopes of some kind of throat disease. He couldn't stay on the air with one of those outer voice boxes, could he?"

Written compassionately, of course.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

O'Reilly...you can stop circling now

And the prize goes to Vic! :-))

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Gritty]

This is really GREAT news!

Rush has been a class act through this entire ordeal.

[merry10]

actually, one doesn't know if the surgery is successful several months post implant. He has to get mapped and get the processor turned on. then you know if it works.

[Steven W.]

God Bless(ed) Rush!

[jwalsh07]

Good luck RUSH!