7 and 0

No that is not the score of a game, nor a team's record. Seven and Zero are the results of Robby's CT Scan. The Doctor rates each ear on a scale of 1-10 in order to determine whether or not surgery to open the ear canal is a viable option. He looks at a lot of different factors regarding the formation of the inner ear. Obviously Robby's ears are vastly different. His right ear rates a 7, meaning he is a good candidate for surgery and the canal repair should improve his hearing, possibly to near normal levels. His right ear rated a zero, as the doctor's assistant told us his inner ear on the left is "abysmal": the bones are fused together etc.
What this all means is that Robby will have surgery to open his right ear canal and will have a BAHA hearing aid implanted on his left side. This is a 'bone anchored hearing aid'. As soon as we find a good site that describes the BAHA we will post a link. The nice thing about the BAHA is that even though it is on his left side, because it conducts sound through the bone, it will help the hearing in his right ear as well.
Robby's surgery is scheduled for November 1, 2007 in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Roberson will be performing the surgery. Robby will have the atresia surgery (canal opening) and the BAHA surgery at the same time. We will stay in Palo Alto for a week so Robby can have follow up visits. We will provide more details as we get closer to the date.