This will be the diary of a CI. I have been asked by a number of people to document what I experienced as a way to prepare others who might want to have the same surgery. So here goes!........................
My hearing loss was a progressive sensorineural bilateral one that started in childhood and was serious by college age and then profound by age 30 or so. While I was able to get by on hearing aids, I was updating to new technology every few years and finally had started to be dependent on the use of a boot and FM mic for just about everything.
I always knew there was the prospect of a CI out there in front of me, but I put it off as long as possible. At this point, age 60 seems to be as long as it is intelligent to wait. I no longer have the time frame to just wait on more and better CI technology - not if I want to enjoy the years of hearing through it.
I go to the SHHH national conventions almost every year and have looked at the CI booths there and asked all the questions - and gotten a lot of information that way. I compared the different types of CI's for advantages and possible negatives. Finally have decided on the Nucleus from Cochlear Corp.
The surgery date was at the end of October --just in time to make me something a freak for Halloween. It worked. I had friend go with me for the surgery. I joked that having her with me ensured that I didn't chicken out, but the truth is I was determined to do this. I was also convinced that I would sail thru the surgery and feel fine in no time at all. Now that didn't quite happen.
I was in surgery for two hours and had the usual preparations for it. I was given an antibiotic in the IV to prevent infections. The problem of that day started when I didn't awaken very well from the anesthetic - was groggy and very, very dizzy. I remember awakening several times during the afternoon and seeing my friend sitting there with her book. My legs were shaking badly in reaction to the anesthetic. I didn't go home until later in the evening. An EMT was called near my home, to meet us at the driveway and help me into the house. Ok, he carried me! I was still dizzy and nauseated, and not at all steady on my feet.
However a supply of pills made me sleep thru the night, and the next day my friend brought me a walker. I used it for two days, then graduated to a hiking stick for a couple of days and then put that aside also. Was a little tipsy for most of the first week. But still was able to walk around the block 6 days after surgery.
The main aftereffects of the surgery, aside from the dizzies, were loss of appetite, soreness on the incision, altered taste and smell, and an enormously sore jaw that made it difficult to chew anything. The first few days I just sipped.
Friends were sweet and brought all kinds of soft things to eat and visited with me. I had sort of prepared myself for the problem of having to spend 6 weeks in silence. For the last 29 years I have used only one ear with a hearing aid. My other ear had become too sensitive and the sound - DarthVaderish - at the end of long tunnel. After discussion with my doctor and much thought on it, I decided he was right and that we should implant my best ear. There is the possibility that the auditory nerve has atrophied in all that time and if I am going to go through all this, I do want results! But it did mean a gamble of sorts. And for 6 weeks, total silence.
Since I do know Sign language, that was an out for me with some friends who Sign. Most do not tho and we resorted to writing notes.
After two weeks I was able to drive myself to the doctor's office for the first checkup. He looked at it and said it appeared that the incision might be infected and put me on two weeks of an antibiotic. He used the strongest dose possible. I have some trouble with taking antibiotics - digestive - and had to eat a lot of yogurt with it. A nurse took out the staples that had been holding the incision closed. Mostly it was painless because the area was numb yet, but at the bottom where I can still feel, it hurt a bit.
The incision itself is just behind the ear, but not in the hairline. I questioned why he does this and he says that the incisions were more likely to infect when they were inside the hairline, so now they don't do it that way. Ok. But now it is right under your glasses. Hope it heals soon.
As I did not write this part while I was experiencing it, I am looking back and trying to think of other things to add here. There were some odd sensations in the first couple of weeks. A burning in the ear canal. Sudden feeling of shifting in the sinuses, with several seconds of the room spinning. Shooting pains maybe once a day - lasted just a few seconds. Difficulty getting my glasses situated without pressing on the incision. Ear lobe is numb around the top and back to the incision. And the whole thing itchy at times.
Washing hair is a biggy. You arent supposed to get it wet for at least two weeks, or until the doctor says it's ok. Right now I am at almost 4 weeks and still can't get the incision wet. So I cover the incision with a folded washcloth covered with a plastic shower cap, and suds up the rest of the hair. Then shower off. Quickly. It's awkward but it works.
I had planned to start this diary on the day of hookup. But friends telling me the recovery is of interest also prompt me to start now before I forget some it. My next appointment is Monday.
Went back to the doctor for the second check-up at four weeks. He put me on still another 2 weeks of an antibiotic "just to play safe" and also something for a yeast infection on the skin - red itchy spots. But he said I was fine and would be ok for hook-up in another two weeks. I think that will be Dec. 5th.
I did ask him why I got the shakes after surgery and he had absolutely no idea and had not had anyone else do that. So I guess we have to chalk that one up to my own peculiar nervous system! There are still two scabs on the incision and I have to wait till they fall off on their own before being able to get the incision wet.
It's only eleven days till the 5th. Will be counting minutes soon. - posted by Mary Lee @ 12:12 PM
This was the big day! I was too nervous to eat. My appt was at 1 PM. I showed up a half hour early. My audiologist is a professor at U of L and had 3 students there to watch. One even got practice at programming part of it.
She started with a check of the electrodes to be sure they were all functioning. This is the part I had been worried about - that they would turn the thing on and............nothing. She told me not to worry if I didnt hear anything during this test, but that she would ask me later IF I had heard anything during it. (I didn't)
Then she set the lowest level of sound that I could barely hear for each tone. This was difficult because I have some tinnitus - which has been worse at times recently since surgery but is toning down now. I had to really concentrate to pick out a sound at all and may be able to hear them softer if I could just pick them out of the haze of tinnitus.
Then she had me listen to a set of 3 tones and tell her if they were all the same loudness. They all seemed so soft that trying to distinguish loudness them was nearly impossible so I judged them all the same. One set tho stood out in that the 2nd and 3rd tones just seemed different - tho it didnt seem to be volume but quality. We discussed this and decided it was a qualitative difference.
Then she had me set the highest level I was comfortable with. For each tone she started with the softest, with each succeeding tone getting louder. She only went on to the next if I told her to continue --until we got to a point that was too much. I seemed to have to overshoot it and then back down to find the spot that was right. Still on the highest frequencies, I think I held back because they seemed strident. I haven't heard those sounds in 40-50 years. So those levels will rise later I'm sure.
After both the low settings and the high, she did a sweep of all the tones to double check.
Then the big moment! She turned my mic on. Her voice sounded like Donald Duck. Cartoonish. Not nice. But she kept talking and talking and said this would go away. But I could understand her anyway and so just concentrated on what she was saying. After a few minutes, she paused and asked if she still sounded cartoonish? And it didn't. Donald Duck had gone away already.
I felt that she didnt sound terribly loud at all. I may really want more volume by next time. With that in mind she gave me a second program for now that is just the first one but with a little more volume.
Then she went through the bag of goodies from Cochlear. We get cords to hook up to things like the TV/stereo, Walkman etc. We get two things for keeping the processor dry: a large Dry and Store for at home, and a small one for travel. Also extra parts for everything. And a set of jackets for the processor in different colors.
So that was it. I was launched out into the world to LISTEN. This was uptown in Louisville, so I drove out to the eastside and stopped at a friend's house. I had sung Christms carols to myself all the way out there. Found I could sing softly and hear myself. I used to have to really bellow in the car.
My friend was very easy to listen to now - but again didnt seem very loud. That surprises me that I can understand things that are soft. Her voice has eluded me for years, tho I heard it somewhat thru the ImpacT hearing aid. But she has a lovely smooth clear voice. Amazing. And then I went on to another friend's house. Again I can understand her and she seems very soft. I'm still lipreading tho and aware of it. But for the first day, it is much easier and going well.
The world is full of high pitched sounds I didn't know were there. The car is a riot of sound. Some things I had heard before partially - but not the high frequency component, so they seem different. A water faucet is mind-blowing. And to think I have been walking out of the house and leaving those on all day at times!
I watched tv tonite and the people on it actually had voices. I was still reading captions tho. Every now and then I was aware of picking up a few words without the captions.
There is a cable to hook up to the tv with but I dont see a place to plug it in. Will check out the tv tomorrow in daylight.
I did try playing the piano a bit. I don't expect that to sound good, frankly. This isn't programmed well enough yet to get into music. But again the quality of the sound is startling. I can hear the high notes and could sort of follow a one key melody.
My incision is still sore where the glasses and now the processor sit on it. Must find something to put on the skin to keep it from hurting during the day.
So that is Day One. More than I expected. Very good beginning.
Today I almost didn't want to put the CI on and start listening. It had been a bit draining by last night. But once it was on, I sort of forgot about it. I did have to start the day on a low volume level and gradually did turn it up. There isn't a lot of difference in the volume dial range.
Went out to some stores and was surprised at the voices all around me. Felt rather like I was eavesdropping and wanted to look at every person I heard speak. I gather that isn't polite. One or two stared back at me. I didn't understand what they were saying really, but was fascinated at being able to hear the voice at all. And then Walmart had an announcement on the PA. Again I don't know what it said but it sounded more like a voice than I've ever heard on a PA.
I've noticed the quality of more sounds as different. Anything metallic makes a BOINK sound when I put it down in the kitchen.
I made new seat covers for the dining room chairs and had to use a stapling gun. Very loud. At first I thought maybe I should turn off the CI and then didn't like the silence again, so turned it back on.
My biggest problem of the day was self-inflicted. I put a bandaid on the back of my ear because it is still sore. This made the processor hang wrong and fell off twice. Finally figured that out tonite.
Admittedly I'm thinking in terms of hearing music, even tho I've told everyone I will be happy just to be able to hear speech accurately. Which is true, but I would love to be able to hear music. I had just said that the piano did not sound good last yesterday. So tonight I tried it again and just a scale actually sounded right. The notes ascended, and the next octave kept right on ascending! The high notes sound high now, and the low notes low. Far from perfect, but distinctly different. So I played few carols, and some with the treble played an octave above where they are written, just to enjoy hearing those really high notes. Cool.
'Im listening to a cacophony of sounds at times and not recognizing them because am not always thinking about hearing. If I think about what I'm listening to, I can usually identify the sounds.
Day three. Tonite I am on the P2 program which is the same as P1 except more volume. I changed to this to listen to the tv and found it much better. The voices were loud and clear. Well not terribly loud but I could actually hear the timbre of the voices and this is something I have no memory of ever hearing on a tv. Nice.
Earlier today I went to a bookstore to get some books on CD to practice listening. I tried to get some info from one clerk and could not make out what she said and then later at the checkout had the same reaction. And then I realized I had the volume down really low. Im sure that didnt help any. As you can see Im not big on patience. I want results NOW.
Played the piano again tonite for awhile. Noticed that the octave above high C is actually the best for clarity and distinguishing the difference in tones. Strange. I want to play everything up there.
Did not use the dratted bandaid today, so the processor stayed put and hung straight. It is a little sore now tho.
I did listen to one chapter of a book - it is Grisham's Bleachers. I could not understand a word of this (Grisham is reading it himself) without the book in my hand. As he went along he got faster and faster. He must be a horror to talk to - for a HOH person. I dont think I will push this listening to the book until I have another mapping. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:33 PM
Not much to say today. I have a lot of tinnitus though. Have had more than usual since the surgery, but the strange part is that a lot of it is on the unimplanted side. Or maybe I just never noticed it there before. When Im listening to anything tho, the implant side makes a roar that seems to be coinciding syllable for syllble with what I am listening to, and louder for loud sounds. Worse today than yesterday.
Am still on the same batteries from Friday. They say the average battery life is 3 days. And it depends on the programming strategy being used - mine is ACE - and the loudness of the what you are listening to. So maybe mine will last a while longer till it gets more complex. Cochlear gives you a one year supply of batteries. You use 3 at a time. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:35 PM
Had lunch with another friend today. Again her voice surprised me in that it is much lower in pitch than I expected it to be. Strange how hearing aids did not give me very accurate information on voices over the years. I understood her quite well most of the time. Her husband was another matter. I have always had trouble lipreading/hearing him.
We had a nice long chat for a couple of hours and it was much more relaxing than it used to be for both of us. She also has a new CI. Her dog had a high squeaky toy that he chewed on and squeaked repeatedly. It is starting to seem normal to hear these high sounds again.
I tried the direct connect microphone for a few minutes. It does work well and I can see where in a noisy situation it might help.
The other new sound I heard today was the squeak from a wood floor. I had heard that before and it was really bad thru the hearing aid. Now it is just this small sound. Much better. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:52 PM
Knitting needles click as you knit. The car has a beepbeepbeep if you try to get out without turning off the headlights. And canned laughter on TV shows is irritating. Im learning how to pronounce a lot of words from TV tho. Amazing thing to admit at the age of 60! My batteries ran out about 3 PM today so that means they lasted 4 days and I wore them all day every day. Talked to another friend for awhile this afternoon. She has a much lower voice than I expected, or felt she had from listening to her with hearing aids. I was expecting most people to sound higher. That isn't what is happening. They are all different. I finally understood something a clerk in a store said today, but she had to say it twice. That was Target. I got a bascart at the front door and then had to abandon the cart a few minutes later because I could not stand another moment of that rattling squeak! Wheeling it all the way back to the front of the store to put it back was out of the question. And then every time someone else came past with a cart, I had to listen to their's. - posted by Mary Lee @ 12:07 AM
Had a holiday party with the Derbytown SHHH group tonite. There were 4 CI's there now. I had a bad time in the noise. I put the mic on for awhile and then accidently caught the cord on something and it knocked the processor off onto the floor, so I put the mic away.
Sometimes however I did understand someone talking to me inspite of the noise. Just not consistent. And when I did understand, it was a strange sensation. The noise of the room was still there, but this person's voice was just clear and THERE. And yet other folks had to say things 3 times to me.
Tomorrow is my second mapping. Am looking forward to this. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:45 PM
Today was my second mapping. Was much better this time at concentrating on setting the low tones. And I told my audi that it was not terribly accurate the first time, so she checked me by using from 1-5 tones on each one and I had to tell her how many. This worked better. My low tones increased a little, not much. But my tolerance for loud tones changed a lot more. When she presented 3 tones in succession and asked if they were all the same loudness, this time I could clearly distinguish that they went right up the scale! Last week they all seemed the same frequency. So this mapping is considerably different. Also she changed something I dont really understand - adding "maxima" to the speech sounds. Somehow this gives more variation to the speech sounds? Something like that. So now I have two programs.
Went to another friend's house afterward and talked to her for a couple of hours. I had talked to her a week before and her voice now sounds lower than it did last week. I do well on one to one!
Tonite I understood a few words on the TV here and there. Some news announcers got thru to me for a sentence or two until I lost them. ( This I was doing without captions for a time.)
I still have this roaring that seems to accompany any loud sounds I hear. The roar stays louder than whatever Im listening to. If there is nothing to listen to, it gets quiet. I dont like the roar. For a while tonite I forgot about it tho. Then when I do think about it, it is there.
This mapping makes all sounds much more immediate. It is somewhat louder too, but it is more than that. Environment sounds are clearer. And as I left the parking the garage I distinctly understood the man to say, "How are you ma'am?.....that will be 50 cents." Neat, huh? - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:45 PM
I haven't posted anything for awhile - and the feeling was "if I cant say anything good......." but that's the whole point here. To say the bad with the good and keep an accurate diary. Friday I got the second program. It was stronger and somewhat different that the other one. I already was hearing this strange thumpthumpthump along with speech. With the new program it has become bangbangbang. Very irritating. Almost intolerable with tv.
When I talk to people it is there, and yet I do understand them. Today I spent the afternoon with a friend. When she walked in the door and started talking, the banging sound was overpowering at first. My first thought was "Oh no, I cant DO this." I switched back to program one. Not much better for the bangs. After about ten minutes I put program two back on and just endured. It did become inconsequential. When I started really listening to what she was saying I would forget to listen to the quality of the sound. I could understand quite well. But she is hearing impaired like me and knows exactly how to talk to be understood. She was working at it.
The other day when they caught Saddam, I watched a lot of tv. At first for content and then I realized that as I got caught up in what they were saying the banging sound integrated into the speech sometimes. It depended on the reporter and how clear they were, I think. So I kept on watching and ignoring the captions and just trying to understand it. I did latch onto some of the speakers and get part of what they were saying.
Realize please that this is a tv situation that previously had NO SOUND for me. So understanding something is progress. I think. But that extraneous sound gets to me at times.
At some point that evening while the tv was on and I was knitting, I realized I was listening to the national anthem. I looked up and saw the Bush's at a theater for a Christmas program and everyone singing the anthem.
I must say too that my house is acoustically inferior. This friend who was here today was harder to follow in my house than in hers. The high ceiling here is not great.
I have to live with this mapping till the 29th. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:30 PM
Some good CI moments today. Went thru the bank drive-thru in the second lane from the window and had to understand what the teller said as she took my order for new checks. Some of it was guesswork. But I did hear and understand her question about the telephone number. And then tonite I had 3 people in for dinner. I could talk to all 3 around the table and understand them. One woman had to repeat now and then but on the whole I heard her. And her husband has been on my incorrigible list for people who can NOT be understood. And tonite he was understandable. So that is a plus. At times I did forget about the quality of the sound that aggravates me. The echo or bang or whatever it is, is always there.
Before they left, she sat down at the piano and played Winter Wonderland and I could follow it! I didnt know what she was going to play and there it was. Then she played Silver Bells and tho I knew what it was, I couldnt get a handle on it. Not sure why. I play both of them myself, not nearly as well as she does! Nice to hear it tho ---I must practice.
Another sound came from the oven. I didnt know it made a beep - 3 beeps actually - when the preheat function is done. I usually have to keep one eye on the little light. And there it was - beepbeepbeep. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:48 PM
Tonite on tv the Kroger commercail was playing the Twelve Days of Christmas without captioning and I recognized it and understood it! That was essentially my CI moment for the day. Stayed home in the rain/sleet/snow and sewed. Got a real workout last night with all the listening to 3 friends. Needed a break. I did try listening to a CD today for awhile. Not good. It was the musical South Pacific. Some songs I hear sort of, some I don't at all. Dull day. The only other reportable happening for the evening was that my signal system went off, flashing and telling me that the phone was ringing, and the phone was NOT ringing. Never did figure that one out. Something set it off.
No, I forgot something else. While steaming something, I realized I could hear the steam coming out of the iron. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:47 PM
It's been awhile since I've updated this. Meanwhile this past week I went out to California to visit my son for Christmas. I was expecting to have quite a bit of trouble with the airport and walking thru the scanner with the CI, but nothing happened at all. I did turn it off because people say it might deprogram it if left on.
There is both good and bad to report in terms of what I was able to hear. The good first? On the first airplane going west - a small one - I was able to understand most of what was said on the PA about safety details and when not to have your computer, cell phone etc turned on. I didnt understand every word of these, but enough that I knew what they were telling us to do. That was a nice feeling. But on the second larger plane of that day, I could not understand one word of it. I did notice that the second one spoke very quickly as compared to the speaker on the first plane!
Coming home I was too tired to even care what they were saying. But at the airport before boarding, I bought a magazine in one of these little stores near the boarding gate. It was rather noisy and as I was rooting thru my change purse for money, I distinctly understood the clerk to ask, "Do you want a bag?" and I was so surprised that I heard that because I wasn't even looking at her.
I could understand my son and his girlfriend when we were in quiet places and one to one. One day she and I shopped and went to lunch at a place that wasn't terribly noisy. Not all than many people in the place. We had a nice leisurely chat and I could understand her well. However the three of us went out to dinner on Christmas Eve and I could not follow a thing. The restaurant was very noisy and the kids tended to talk to each other more than me. When they did direct conversation at me and I could get a handle on what the topic was, I was ok for a short time. Otherwise, I felt generally like an extra piece of furniture.
I am keeping the new program on all the time now. And dialing the sensitivity up rather high - over 4. I feel that I am tolerating more sound, but have not gotten used to that extra thumpathumpa or thunder or whatever it is that sounds in the background of all speech sounds. Sometimes I forget about it and other times it is just aggravating.
Last night I watched the Sound of Music on TV. Usually I just skip over musicals on tv because I can't hear the music. But I thought - why not just try it for a bit and see? To my surprise I could hear the melodies in this - largely because I already know the music but somehow it was much different than listening to it thru a hearing aid. Wish I could explain that. The melody is there now. I stuck with it for 3 hours and really enjoyed it.
Tonite I had dinner at a friend's house. Her adult children were there. The women were understandable and the men were not. That has been the pattern with this group for some time. But there was a difference. I could hear all the men's voices now but could not follow what they were saying.
To end on a high note, yesterday I had lunch with 8 hearing impaired friends - that is notable because these are people who do make an effort to be understood by all involved. We had a loop around the table also for those who wanted to use their t-switches. I tried the t-switch for a few minutes and while it was crystal clear, the mics were sitting on the table amid plates and the clatter of silverware. It was deadly. So I switched back to just the CI and was fine. I felt I was understanding what everyone was saying and only rarely had to ask anyone to repeat. This was a situation I have been in many times and in the past I would have been passing my FM mic around frantically to talk to each person. But I didnt have to do that yesterday and everyone got thru to me. Nice feeling. Now if I could just convince the rest of the world that talking distinctly and looking at me was essential to their well-being, I wouldn't have quite so much trouble with family and general public.
Tuesday is my third mapping. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:47 PM
My audiologist has the flu. So I did not have another mapping today. My next appointment will be Jan 9. A bit of a wait now. I did try to use the phone today with not much luck. First the audi's office called and I grabbed the phone and listened without thinking to put on the t-switch. I understood little of this but did notice she said my audi's last name correctly - something I just recently learned to do. So I heard that. Then I told her I had to call her back on relay so I would be sure what she said. Later on this afternoon I called another friend who has a CI also, knowing she would be patient with me. And she does know how to talk to me, but I couldn't understand her either. There was enough volume on both just the mic and t-switch settings. I must be patient. I must be patient. I must be patient............. - posted by Mary Lee @ 8:30 PM
Not a lot to say these days. Have a head cold. A while back - ok, the first week after activation - I tried listening to a book on CD along with reading the book to see if I could practice understanding it. It was John Grisham's Bleachers. I did only the first chapter and felt he was the worst reader I had ever listened to and further I couldnt understand him at all. Someone suggested that I try again, so I did. Actually the suggestion was to try again after the next mapping, but since when am I patient? So I re-listened to the first chapter tonight and lo and behold, I would not longer flunk the man in reading expression! It sounded human. Especially the dialogue had some reality to it. I tried looking away from the book and seeing if I could follow and mostly I could not. Though a couple of times I did catch a word or a phrase that way. Not much, but it's something. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:39 PM
Two things to report tonight. I finished reading/listening to a book, Grisham's Bleachers. I had originally thought it was too hard to listen to and sounded awful. I went back to it this week and tried again. Big surprise! It sounded much different. His voice is more realistic and has a normal timbre and cadence. And so I got interested in the story and forgot really about the sound. Also I tried just looking up at times to see if any of it would sink in without the print in front of me. Every now and then it did - it's a really odd feeling to understand something I didn't SEE. It gives me a little shock when that happens and then I don't understand the next part. After I finished it, I went back and turned on the first chapter without the book. All I got was an occassional word here and there. Like maybe one word out of every sentence.
The piano. I have two programs now and feel that the new program is not good with the piano - or at least not as good as the first one. She did add something to this one and I've forgotten what she said. I must remember to take notes on these things in the future. The high sounds are better on program one. Also program two seems to cut off each sound abruptly in a very unmelodic way.
My cat's voice is coming thru now. I can hear the differences in her little meows.
About the book again - when I get to the end of a CD, there is a clicking sound that goes on for several minutes. The first time I heard it, it worried me because I thought it was in the processor - or worse, my head. But when I turn off the Bose, it stops. I must find out if that is normal and I'm just sensitive to soft clicking.
I talked to someone in a small shop yesterday and afterward it dawned on me that I had understood him perfectly. I actually forgot while there that listening was supposed to be a problem. How nice. - posted by Mary Lee @ 12:03 AM
The 3rd mapping was today, 5 weeks since hook-up. This one changed the pulse rate and she started over with the levels for each electrode. Most of the thresholds were almost impossible to distinguish thru my normal tinnitus. I had to really concentrate. In the end, her voice sounded distinctly different from the previous program and she switched back and forth and let me compare before we quit for the day. The funny part was that when I took my processor back and put it on, it was set for the old program and I went out wearing that, went to a book store, looked at books, got a cappacino, went home. sat down and turned on the TV news. Then discovered it was on the wrong program. I had been wondering why it didn't seem a whole lot different! Sigh.
I really have been just home alone tonight, so can just report on the tv. Which did sound rather clear and I was understanding a lot more of what announcers and characters were saying. I don't think I was just imagining that. I even heard the melodies for two songs that popped up - "All the Way" and "Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" - that's the commercial for something.
Another oddity. I have had since the beginning is this sensation of an accompanying sound, a sort of thumpa thumpa going along syllable for syllable in the OTHER ear. Sometimes I'm not so bothered by it and other times it gets in the way. This is Saturday. Thursday night out of the blue, the sound had moved and was in the implanted ear. Last night it was a phantom again in the dead ear. But tonight after I put the new program on, it moved back to the implanted ear. My audiologist said this is an unusual experience that she will check out with Cochlear. When it is in the implanted ear, it does blend better. I am starting to think this is something that I'm just not integrating as well at times.
The big difference in this program is the pulse rate - and as I understand that it is the rate of the electric signal being sent to the electrodes. Some people like it fast, others slower.
I bought two kiddies books with CDs to listen to along with the book. Will do one tomorrow. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:58 PM
Last night we had an SHHH meeting and it my first meeting as such since the hook-up. It went well. Rather small room and 30 people made it crowded. I sat across the room from the people speaking. I could understand the president quite well. Some of the other who spoke were not easy for me to follow. I had to look at the captioning and then back at the speaker to get back on track. And one speaker with a soft voice I missed completely and read it. I was concentrating hard to do this. Whille I felt I was also lipreading the pres, I did understand another person off to my left who spoke and I couldn't lipread her at that angle.
Had some trouble understanding one person I talked to after the meeting, while everyone milled around and chatted. Most of the others were ok. I feel I am starting to get a little better in noise - or this new mapping is helping.
I don't really see a lot of difference in the new map - hard to pinpoint the difference. But Im understanding better. After the meeting in a really noisy restaurant, I did understand the waitress standing about 6 feet away ask me what salad dressing I wanted. Granted it was predictable, but I knew what she said.
Last week when I had the mapping, an audiology student sat in on part of it. He asked me a question that I didn't exactly answer and still bothers me. He wanted me to compare the CI to listening with a hearing aid, and how was it different. It brought me to a stop. It really is "apples and oranges". The hearing aid tries to make use of what hearing is left and amplify it. The CI puts all these sounds back---but learning to use them is another matter.
Also the new map was in a range of battery use that was supposed to be high. But they lasted 4 days again. Same as before.
Another strange thing I've noticed is that when I change the sensitivity dial, it takes maybe 10 seconds for the full change to set in. A hearing aid changes instantly. So sometimes I dial up or down and don't immediately sense a change and so dial some more and then it is too much! Have learned to dial tiny amounts, slowly, and wait. - posted by Mary Lee @ 12:08 AM
This CI is the most amazing thing. I was in a meeting this morning a the KCDHH in the conference room. Just nine people but we were spread around the room - in a u-shaped grouping of tables. I could understand everyone! I have sat in that room countless times for meetings and struggled with both the FM mic and finally with captioning to make it possible. Today I just listened. I was working hard, yes, but it was possible. In fact I may be working too hard. For awhile when a lady holding a really cute baby was talking, I found myself looking at the baby - and understanding her grandma. So I wasn't lipreading it. My faith in my ability to listen without lipreading, is not strong.
I did flip back to the old program to evaluate the difference but didn't stay with it long. It made me aware of listening to the sound, instead of what was being said. After a couple of minutes, I switched back the new program and forgot about it.
There was an interpretor in the room for two deaf people. I could have looked at the deaf person signing when she spoke for herself, but found myself having trouble switching gears to thinking about Sign. So I just looked at the interp when she vocalized for her. - posted by Mary Lee @ 2:07 PM
Something really new to report! Yesterday I got a Sony Walkman and can hear music on it. There have been reports on the CI email list about how to hook up to the Walkman. I had been watching for that because it was something I had always hoped would work for me. So I figured why not try? To be honest I didn't have very high expectations for it tho because I have tried listening to some things thru my Bose and it wasn't good at all. I also got 6 new CDs, tho 4 of them are oldies that are remastered, or however they put that. The two new ones are Josh Groban and Harry Connick. The sound is very clear on them to the point of being able to understand the words of the songs. Not all the words, but maybe 1/3 let's say. On music I once knew, it's best and I can follow the tunes as well as the words. On the new music am not so sure. It sounds good, but I have an idea if I tried to sing what I think I'm hearing, the tune would be different.
The hook-up to the processor is easy. Just have to remember to turn the processor OFF, hook up, and then turn it back on. At first I didn't do that and thought it didn't work. Had to get the book out and read the how-to. So I listened for hours - just couldnt put it down. The oldies were mostly Frank Sinatra and Andy Williams - they aren't as clear as the new digital recordings.
This whole thing is just too cool! I would get a CI just to be able to listen to some music. Another thing tho - at the moment I have only 2 speech programs on my processor. Earlier I had found that the very first unsophisticated program was the best for the piano, so my audi saved it, but had to put it aside for now to start on comparing speech programs. So I expect the music will sound even better when I can listen to it thru a program that is better for music. - posted by Mary Lee @ 10:31 AM
Yesterday I went to a reception and meeting at the Governor's Mansion. It was a mix of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people. I was just a guest but went to have a chance to practice in a different setting. And being in the mansion was fun and a plus! The reception was a fairly quiet as compared to a room full of hearing people but there was still a buzz of conversation going on. I could understand people one to one there. At one point tho I did something strange. Understand that the room was a tad more quiet than one would expect from a reception because of the deaf people involved. I was talking to a hearing person and she had to tell me to shush because there was a speaker across the room who had started talking to the group. So I misjudged the sound level in the room.
Later in the meeting room, I sat off to the side. Most of the speakers were not facing me, so I didn't do a lot of direct listening. Any time anyone was in my line of sight tho, I just concentrated on them and listened. I was following most but not all of what they said. This was at a distance of maybe 25 feet at least. I did notice that I couldn't follow one lady that I know I understand normally - but I was viewing her face from the side at that distance.
Later I went to dinner with two friends in a very noisy restaurant. Actually the din didnt seem as apparent to me now as it used to be there. The friend next to me was clear as a bell, but the one across the table was not. And he is the same person I could understand perfectly clearly across a meeting room last week! So I think it was the noise factor affecting his voice. I got bits and snatches of what he was saying but not every word. I switched back and forth all day trying different programs and the Whisper switch. At one point in the meeting the Whisper switch did bring in one speaker's voice at that distance. I tried the same thing at the dinner table tho and it did not clear the noise factor. - posted by Mary Lee @ 10:19 AM
Friday I had my 4th mapping. It involved some confusion- caused by me. She was asking me which program was better and I felt that I had them mixed up. Later I realized I didn't at all but had thought of the two as being the "top" program, and the "bottom" one, rather than 1 and 2. On the processor, the 2 is on top. I was thinking it was the other way around. They were both ACE and I was to decide between the speeds - 900 and 1200. I really felt they were alike but maybe I understood a tad better with the 1200. Now I have the 1200 and a new 720.
Again it doesnt sound a whole lot different. But I am understanding some things better. I think. Am reading/listening to The DaVinci Code and realized today that I can look away from the book and understand whole lines at a time. I get lost only when he hits a word I miss and then that throws me off for awhile.
While at the audiologist's office, a student working with her showed me his lg cell phone. He is HOH and has found it the best for him. He had me try it - I talked to my audiologist in another room - and it was startlingly clear. But she is very good at talking to hearing impaired people on the phone! The lg cell phone doesn't have any static from interference from the antenna.
One difference too in this book Im listening to is that I am using a direct connection to the processor. The last two books I read were on CDs and I used the BOSE radio for it. - posted by Mary Lee @ 12:10 AM
Haven't posted here in a week. Nothing much to say till today. And even now....! I went to a meeting today and it was so-so. Beforehand tho, 5 of us went out for brunch. Me in the middle on one side of a booth and two across the table. We ate and sat there for an hour and a half and I understood all of it. I did try changing the programs back and forth and even using the whisper switch. Not a lot of difference, yet I kept going back to the new 720 each time.
Later in the meeting tho, it wasn't that clear to me. We were in the conference room at the Commission. I was in that same room with 8 other people a few weeks ago and did fine. Didn't miss a word. Today there were 20 of us, sitting around in a u-shaped group. I was at the bottom of the U on the right. I could see everyone, but people off to each side of me were viewed in profile. I had some trouble following these. People facing me were a bit better. I just felt fuzzy about it all day. Had trouble getting ahold of a train of thought and staying with it. Maybe I was just fuzzy today! And the topic was less than wildly fascinating. I didn't see a lot of difference between the programs again. But was leaning toward the 1200. The whisper setting did not help in this setting. In the end I felt neither program was giving me 100% of the conversation. I kept having to look at the captions to get myself back on topic.
Earlier last week I listened to more of the DaVinci book. I do an hour or two of this a day. I keep a finger at the spot in the book and look up and listen till I get lost. There are some really strange things going on with that recording tho. Every number is changed - different in the book and tape. Most names are changed slightly - use of a first or surname instead of vice versa as in the book. One name - the nun was different but I can't figure out what he was saying. Sometimes whole sentences are changed around or left out. My point here is that I hear what he is saying clearly and recognize that he isnt following the book! - posted by Mary Lee @ 7:14 PM
This gets more confusing all the time. Went to dinner and a movie with 4 friends. We sat in a very noisy restaurant that had background music piped in. We sat at a large circular table for six. At first I thought it would be impossible to know what anyone was saying but it really wasnt all that bad. I used the 720 and the Whisper setting for most of it. I was aware of the noise but got past it. The lady on my right was difficult to understand unless I turned my head completely sideways so my mic faced her. (It's on my left side.) And the man on my left was hard to understand at times, but he always is. The two across the table were quite clear.
The waitress stood on my right and I knew I missed what she said and asked her to repeat it and I still had no idea. That was before I put the Whisper on and the music was overpowering. At one point I did try the 1200 for a bit but decided it wasnt making a difference and just possibly might be worse. Still I wasnt completely sure. But the Whisper setting was crucial and did make a difference.
In the movie I used the 720, no Whisper. The dialogue was loud and clear. The previews were not captioned and I understand people who were facing the camera. The movie we were seeing tho was captioned so I dont really know how well I might have understood without the caps. I tried the 1200 about 3/4 the way thru, and forgot to turn it back off! I was almost home when I remembered it was still on. So I had stood in the lobby and talked to everyone and not even noticed it. Im starting to think there isnt a dime's worth of difference created by the speed. - posted by Mary Lee @ 10:18 PM
This is a true "CI moment". I got a cell phone today that I can hear on! I called a friend first because I knew she would be patient with me. Later I called my son and I could understand him much better than her. It has been 30+ years since I could understand anybody on the phone.
My thanks to the hard of hearing audiology student at my audiologist's office who showed me his cell phone last week and had me try it! I was skeptical but it was nice and clear. I have had cell phones and used them with a VCO attachment and a telephone relay. That works fine. My other cell phone that I had disconnected today was picked out bec it was compatible with the VCO. But when I tried it with my processor, there was static. So my new one today is an LG 4010.
One thing I discovered was that I have to turn off the backlight. At first with it on I called various 800 numbers and for some strange reason, it always screamed at me for exactly 10 seconds. Later it hit me why. So I turned off the backlight and the screaming stopped. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:40 PM
Forgot to post this. Tuesday night I went to an SHHH meeting. Not a big group this time because we were discussing business matters. About 12 people maybe, around a long conference table. Lots of give and take around the table! I sat in the middle and could understand all of it. Had been in that room a month ago and found it hard to understand some people at a distance, but this was fine this time. I used the 720 mostly. Tried to 1200 for a while and then switched it back. This time I got the distinct feeling I was understanding much better on the 720.
Later in a restaurant that had absolutely nothing to absorb sound, I had to use the Whisper switch to follow the conversation with 5 other people. One man has a booming deep voice and he echoed to the rafters! But I understood him fine at about 6 feet.
I asked on the Forum if anyone has this "shadow" sound that I still experience. Was a little surprised to get feedback on it. It seems it is not so unusual at all. It is a sort of thump that goes on constantly, not as an echo a split second later, but at exactly the same time as each syllable. Some people have said it all integrates later. Others said their audiologist programmed it out. It doesnt always interfere with understanding. But when I'm in a situation where I don't understand something, then I'm aware of the thumping or shadow sound and have to wonder if it weren't so pronounced that maybe I would understand better. It is especially bad with TV. Lately I've been using the Whisper setting with TV and that seems to help and might minimize the "shadow". - posted by Mary Lee @ 10:59 AM
Bear with me - this got wierd. Last Friday I had a mapping and came home with two programs I couldn't use. Monday it was straightened out and now all is well, but I had a strange weekend! It happened apparently because the new program this time was a very slow speed, 250, and I didn't like it right from the start. Sounded tinny and far away. Then in discussing the fact that programming was getting slow now because we use just the Esprit with it's two program capacity, instead of the BWP that holds 4, my audiologist decided to also give me a change from sensitivity control to volume on the dial. Made sense. I should have tried the old program before leaving. As luck would have it the programming did something we didnt expect in using a defualt setting that was too high. So my old program was VERY LOUD.
I didn't like the new one, so tried to use the old one, but it was so loud, I could hear a clock ticking across the room. tick....tick....tick....tick....tick....tick....tick.... I started to go crazy. In the mornings I sit in the dining room and read the paper, but the sound of the air going thru the grate was piercing!
Of course the obvious solution is to take it off. So I did as much as possible. But I appreciated that my audi was in great haste to change it on Monday. Whew! She changed the volume setting. And after spending some time checking out the new map to see if there was any way to improve that one, we sat and talked. It soon became obvious that I just couldn't deal with the volume setting on the dial, so she changed me back to the sensitivity. Much better. I have another mapping on Friday this week.
I finished listening to the Da Vinci Code with the book and just started back at the beginning without the book. Listened to the first 4 chapters tonite and was pleasantly surprised to discover that I can understand most of it.
Had lunch with a friend today and tried to listen with the slow 250 program. I just dont like the sound of it, but in a rather quiet room I could understand her. It has been 35 years now since I listened without a hearing aid. I'm not sure I even remember what natural hearing might sound like. I wonder if I am subconciously evaluating these programs and looking for hearing aid sound. - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:57 PM
Haven't posted for awhile, but all is well. Very well in fact. Last nite I discovered that my Walkman CD player has a setting for "TV". It carries a few stations and there is only one in this area that I am able to pick up. It is WHAS11, so I used it to watch and listen to the news last night, both local and national. Wow. I put the tv itself on mute and just used the Walkman for the sound. I could understand everyone who faced the camera perfectly and missed only a few words from people who were talking off camera. There was one person interviewed in the field that I could not get a handle on for some reason. But I forgave myself!
I dont have a spot on my TV to plug in a headphone, so need to check into how to do that. I seem to do much better with direct imput to the processor for anything electronic.
In talking to a friend I sometimes get reminded to put something in my blog before I forget it - and I usually do forget. One recently was a question about how I keep all these programs straight in my head and remember which ones did what, so I can end up picking the best. It really is quite easy. Each time you have a mapping, you discard one program and get a new one. You compare them for a week or two, and again discard one. So I really havent had to keep track of them. The only week there was any question in my mind about which to pick was between the 900 and 1200 speeds. I really didnt see a lot of difference between them. But the next week when I had the 1200 and the 720, then I could tell that the 720 was better.
This time I have the 720 yet as my "good program" and am comparing it with SPEAK. This is apparently a program that has no other things to adjust on it. But it uses the 250 speed that I had tried last time and didnt like. It has a distant, almost tinny, sound to it. And some people are perfectly understandable thru it. But then my comprehension breaks down a little here and there and I switch back to the 720 and get absorbed in what is going on. So I think I will stick with the 720. The 720 seems very immediate, close up, and the quality of the sound is agreeable.
I went to a meeting at the Commission again in the usual conference room. Big room but only 6 people. Still I was able to understand everyone even across the room. I am more relaxed about it now. It gets easier and easier.
I am finding noisy restaurants easier to handle too. Amazes me really. But I'm using the Whisper setting to bring up the soft sounds and also cutting back a big on the sensitivity to block out some of the background chatter.
Was outside walking the other day and noticed the high-pitched birds for the first time. I had sort of heard birds for a few years thru the ImpacT which brought the high sounds down to a low level for me. The birds squawked. Now they cheep. - posted by Mary Lee @ 10:28 AM
There was a stage in the center of this and various country music acts going on. At one point I sat down there just to rest and to my surprise I could understand the lyrics. Then between the songs when the lead singer talked about the bank, I understood him too! - posted by Mary Lee @ 11:01 AM
Music is a whole different concern. Last night just before midnight I discovered I could hear instrumentals on a CD. (Did not sleep well!) Yesterday I had a mapping that gave me CIS with the purpose of giving me a way to hear the piano. Way back in the beginning of this I had one program that was rather good for that and I had been surprised at it. So yesterday I came home and sat down at the piano and plinked around on it. Not good. Not like the first program I had for this. Now Im not sure what that program was and hope my audi does know. The high notes now seem to be very staccato and not have a very melodic sound to them. Going back and forth between the two programs I have now - the other the ACE 720 - I honestly felt the ACE better for the piano. Somewhat dejected with that, I put the thought aside for a few hours.
Later I listened to an audio book for awhile and discovered that I can understand it even with the CIS but it has a strange quality to it, somewhat piercing in places. So then I tried some vocal CDs. Again somewhat different and the CIS very strident in places. But I did notice that in the instrumental parts I could really hear the violins. Aha! Went digging for the orchestra CDs stashed away somewhere from a previously useless attempt to hear them years ago. Well! It's not a good digital recording but I heard parts of the Moldau that I hadn't heard since college days. And parts of that were too soft.
Then I tried Herb Alpert - again an old CD - but I could hear the Lonely Bull! The strange part of this is that there seems to be extreme volume changes - the soft parts are too soft for me to pick up unless I dial up the volume. Then when it gets louder, Im blown away.
So Im going shopping for some new digital recordings of classical music. Or maybe band music. It gets so loud in places that I am wondering if it is possible to still have recruitment thru a CI. Must ask. And is it possible to damage the nerves yet with a lot of sound. - posted by Mary Lee @ 10:48 AM
A month is a long time to not post. Memory may not serve well. Will try. I had to have another program for the music because CIS was not right. While I could hear some things in the higher ranges, the quality and piercing parts were too much. So now have an ACE 900 with Maxima at 14 I think. That's better.
So with that in hand, am settled into 3 months of just getting used to it all. I go back to the audiologist sometime in June. At that time will have a speech test to see how I'm doing.
Am still discovering things about voices that I hadn't known before. Spent some time with a friend I have known for 20 years and didn't realize she has a strong accent. At first it made it hard to understand her, and then I got used to it. But was amazed that I had thought I was hearing something of her voice all those years, and apparently was just lipreading and picking up a little sound, but not enough to identify the accent.
Another friend seemed to have a rather high voice on the phone and even in person at first. And then after we talked for an hour or two, his voice went down. That reminds me a bit of the very first day when my audi sounded like Donald Duck for about ten minutes. Strange how the mind adapts.
Traveled in the car and found that I can use the microphone and cord to get my processor "away" from the left window. I hook up and stick the mic on my right collar or shoulder. The passenger then can talk to me without drowning in the road noise. It It also just makes the road noise more subdued.
Church is still a no-no. Music is overwhelming to the point of having to steel myself to even stay in the building. If I turn the sensitivity all the way down, I can stand the music -- almost. And then can't hear the priest at all. If I dial up to sort of hear him, I have to be ready to dial down FAST if anyone starts singing.
I'm hearing a lot of birds now. Have done yardwork and I walk a lot. The birds are wonderful to hear and fascinating. I have no idea which call is which bird. I wonder if the average hearie knows that?
I'm forcing myself to answer the phone and trying not to P A N I C!!! And yet that is still my first reaction when the phone rings. Most of the time the volume is too much because I'm not good yet at finding the right combination of sensitivity and phone volume dial setting on a split second. I take business calls this way and generally get the basic idea and ask questions to get a repeat of things I'm not sure about. Having the caller ID helps a lot also because I know usually who is calling.
Restaurants pose a challenge also. I can hear in these situations, but I'm not relaxed about it. I have to force myself to dial down on the sensitivity. After so many years of hearing aids, it goes against the grain to dial down when you don't hear something. But with the CI in noise, and a sensitivity dial, it works. - posted by Mary Lee @ 12:09 PM
Long time, no diary entry. About a week ago I went back for a recheck with my audiologist. At that time she did a test to see what my speech comprehension was. On sentences that I could not lipread, I got an 80%. These sentences were crystal clear and my audie noted that most of the time I also imitated the inflection of the speaker as well, when I repeated the sentence. I knew I was doing that and was enjoying that I could understand it so well. However there was at least one sentence that flew clear over my head with 0 comprehension. On isolated one-syllable words, I got a 46%, but on the separated phonemes of those words, a 66%. I felt I was missing the first consonant of each word. My biggest problem to date is the phone.
It has been four months since the last detailed post. A newly implanted friend reminded me that I haven't said anything here for a long time. It isn't because there is nothing new to report, but have so busy enjoying hearing things that I just haven't sat down and written about it. Almost don't know where to start.
The biggest difference now is that I am using the phone. This has been hard for me to get used to. I found a phone at the SHHH convention exhibit hall ( I tried all of them!) and do fairly well with it. It is a Clear Sounds landline phone that has both volume and tone dials. I dont really need the volume dial, but have found that the tone dial makes a difference. I can talk to several friends and understand most of what they say. I have to force myself to do business type calls and am feeling more relaxed about it. I rarely have any real trouble with these. Sometimes have to ask for a repeat, but then get it right. I can call places with menus and understand these -- usually. The cell phone is another matter. Again, at the convention I tried them all and found that the LG I have will work if and only if it is on Verizon or Sprint, because they have the CDMA technology that causes less interferance for us. However I am stuck in a two year contract with Cingular and their GSM service. I can use my LG with the regular processor mic, and it is so-so. But the t-coil I prefer to listen with doesn't work with it. Too much interferance. Also found another phone that was exceptionally clear -- the Nokia with the CHAMP on the back of it. It does cut the static and works well for me.
I have found that I can hear in movie theaters much better now. Most theaters use infrared listening systems and around here at least, the Williams Sound headphones. I tried one of these and found it rather useless for someone who wants to use the telecoil. There is no way to plug into it. However! At the Audex booth at the convention I found a Light Link infrared receiver that operates on the same wavelength as the theaters. It has a built-in loop to use with the telecoil. Or it can accept a direct line to the processor. So I use the one provided by Cochlear and simply plug the Light Link into my processor. Works beautifully. A couple of weeks ago I went to De-Lovely ( Cole Porter's story ) and really enjoyed both the music and understanding the dialogue.
At home I am using another Cochlear cord to the tv. I had been using this in conjunction with captions for some time. During the Democratic convention I turned off the captions and just listened and found I could understand every word of it! Hope is on the way...... So since then I have used the direct link to the processor all the time, without captions. I miss a few things in some movies but even then it isnt much. The more I listen, the better it gets. Every once in a while I do find a show that is unintelligible for me and resort to captions.
Restaurants are rather easy for me now. I can understand my date without problems. Noise seems to recede -- if I stop to think about the background noise, I realize it is still there, but it doesn't keep me from understanding what someone is saying.
I find I am understanding better without lipreading so much. Can understand in a darkened room or outside after sunset or in the car in the dark.
Music has been the greatest thrill for me. I didnt think I would ever be able to hear it this well. After taking a road trip in April and discovering that the car is the best place to listen to CD's, I have been listening every chance I get. At first I had to listen and really concentrate on the melodies to pick anything out at all. Now it is much easier. Last week one night I watched a KET show on the Boston Pops. Fantastic! I have some trouble describing this -- I could discern the individual instruments - like flutes - in a way that I hadn't too well earlier this spring. Have been to a few concerts too. These are not as clear as a CD in the car! But fantastic that I can hear them at all.
Some things still bother me. A party with about 15 ladies in a small high-celinged living room. They all taked at once. Very hard to understand much there.
While traveling in Wisconsin, I stopped at Taliesin and took a tour of Wright's house. I could understand the tour guide! Im sure he is the first tour guide I have ever understood.
August 19th, 2005
It is almost unbelievable that it has been over a year since I last posted to this! I'm still improving and changing. Have had at least one new mapping. I asked my audiologist to move my "music" program up to a faster speed. And now I use the previous music program for speech. I had gotten to where I was using it for everything anyway and not using the slower one at all. This new 1200 is also very powerful and doesnt have automatic sensitivity. Before my slower ones had cut out during music at times. This one doesnt cut out and is much clearer. It's like the diference between a fuzzy picture and another at high resolution.
During the winter we went to several concerts at the Kentucky Center and some smaller jazz concerts in smaller places. I really love jazz now and enjoyed hearing Monty Alexander at the Jazz Factory the most of all the things we went to. It was fantastic to be able to follow it.
Also went to some movies and have discovered that the infrared device I bought last summer doesn't make a difference. The theaters are already almost too loud and adding an amplifier doesnt improve it really. But I also noticed that the Baxter sound was not as good as the Stonybrook. In the Stonybrook I seem to understand most of the movie even without captions. It is mostly a matter of getting the right setting on the processor. I should go to movies more often.
This summer I am hearing bird calls better. I thought they were good last year, but this year I can hear the melodies they sing more clearly.
Went to the SHHH national convention in DC in June. For the opening session the speaker was in a large hall. They had it "looped" to use with t-coils. It was marvelous. I was seated in the middle about half way back and could just look at the speaker and understand every word -- and I was too far away to lipread. For the last day they changed the room to a another one that was not looped. I had to go out and get an FM to use. I hadn't used it during the convention. But with that I was able to follow the speakers in Research Symposium very easily. Until I got the FM I had been trying to read the captions and listen and with such a technical (regenerating haircell research) I couldn't read and process the info fast enough. With listening it is instantaneous.
It's been a good year. Still changing. My brain is still adapting and learning to use the new info being piped into it. Melodies are easier to follow and can actually listen to new music now and hear it to the point of being able to sing the tune. The phones. This was hard for me. I complained about the cell phones and was ready to give up. And somehow it just got better. I learned to hear on my cell without using the t-coil. I did start using one of the faster programs to do this. I got the CapTel phone and discovered that it is the best phone I own for listening, even without the captions. I use the t-coil tho. I can talk to most people on the cell phone and carry it all the time when Im out. I actually have 4 people on speed dials because I talk to them fairly frequently.
April 13, 2006
Again, It's been awhile! Went thru a gray period this past fall and winter. I think it became a matter of expecting so much that good-enough wasn't good enough. I kept expecting more of the speech program and wasn't getting it. Asked my audi to make a change at one point and ended up with less instead of more. ( She is accommodating and tolerates my eccentricities. ) In a nutshell, I have changed back somewhat and now have two ACE programs, 900 and 1200 speeds. Both have sensitivity dials and automatic sensitivity. Before, my music programs had not had automatic. Why this works, I don't know. But it does. The really odd part is that I use the 900 for music and the 1200 for speech. Am doing quite well with the speech now, after somewhat suffering thru a winter when those closest to me said everything twice. That has stopped now.
I am listening to recorded books, sans printed book now, to practice listening. On digital recordings (CDs) I follow well. Tapes are not so clear to me. Am getting a new book every week and listen for about an hour a day. At my audi's prompting am also finally using Whisper to pull in distant speakers at meetings. (If someone next to me decides to shuffle papers during this, there is the odd urge to strangle something, but otherwise it works!) Am so secure with my cell phone, that I got rid of my landline phone. It became just an extra bill, and I actually use the cell for everything. I have to admit that this isn't easy for me. I have to push myself yet to pick up the cell to make business calls - the old fear is hard to shake. And sometimes I do have to tell someone to slow down please. Strangely still, I don't use the t-coil at all. After all the hassles with trying to find a phone that is compatible with a t-coil, I now find that I don't need one! Recently I made extensive plans for a 3 week vacation this summer that innvolved calling a lot of hotels and transportation providers - many that didnt allow for web orders. I steeled myself and did it. The feeling of power that follows that sort of thing is utterly impossible to describe!
So..........2 + years later, I am still practicing, improving, and enjoying every minute of it.