Now Hear This

Learning to hear again with Lowry Allen

Words from Dr. Ross


I saw Dr. Ross Tonini, a speech pathologist and audiologist with a private practice, who is also on the staff of Texas Children’s Hospital. He’s the man pictured in the link.

I went to him on the advice of my surgeon, who suggested a second opinion when I reported no improvement after three months with my implant.

Dr. Ross, as most people call him, is about 50, balding, talkative, pleasant, charming, and has a bit of childlike enthusiasm for what he does. He believes he can help me improve my understanding of speech, and I am encouraged.

He tested me with words and sentences, giving me the general context (“I’m going to give you sentences of things you might hear late at night”).

Can he really help? Only time will tell. He assures me of two things only: 1. I will get homework. (I’m not sure yet what that will entail.) 2. He is trying to get in with my insurance provider.

In the meantime, I’m paying out of my own pocket — money well spent if he can effect any kind of improvement, no matter how small.

He thinks these lessons are key to understanding more speech, that actually hearing all conversation with sharp clarity is pretty much a pipe dream.

That made me feel better. I think I had my hopes up too high before, and that sharp clarity was what I was anticipating. But no one with an implant actually used those words to describe the quality of their improvement.

So, in the meantime, I’m showing improvement anyway, as I said in my most recent blog, and I’m getting more help.

Things are definitely looking up.

Categories: General
Lowry Allen

3 Responses

  1. Angela says:

    If anyone can help you, Ross can. I worked along side Dr. Tonini at one time and he a dedicated miracle worker. Truly. Best of luck to you!

  2. Tricia Piazza says:

    Ross is amazing! You have gone to the best of the best. My daughter is a patient of Ross’s. She received her first implant a year and a half ago. She had her second implant activated yesterday. I know it can be a long difficult road, but well worth it. Good luck!

  3. Jesse Pettey says:

    Lowry, I recently met you as you were leaving Dr. Ross Tonini’s office. I certainly appreciate what you have and are experiencing with your cochlear implant. I was implanted 3 1/2 years ago and went through a long agonizing period when I could not understand speech. I have since learned by talking with many persons with the implant that, except for a few, this is is a common experience. Our brain requires time to lear to interpet the strange sounds it hears from the implant. Each person is different and requires different amount of times to learn. I must be a slow learner for I have struggled for over 3 years but I am improving under the guidance of Dr. Ross Tonini. Keep optimistic – so long as you work at it, it will continue to improve. It helps to be in contact with those who have experienced what you have gone through. If you will, please contact me at