Has been awesome!
What wonderful sounds I am picking up. My third adjustment is this Friday.
I'm even enjoying listening to music. Wow!
So when will my brain switch the computer sounds into normal?
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
New over the past 36 hours
The sound a broom makes when sweeping.
The backup sound on our Prius.
A particular song was on the radio. Forgive me I do not remember the name.. But there where sounds I've not heard before.
The second adjustment has opened a lot more sounds! Amazing!
The backup sound on our Prius.
A particular song was on the radio. Forgive me I do not remember the name.. But there where sounds I've not heard before.
The second adjustment has opened a lot more sounds! Amazing!
Friday, October 26, 2012
Adjustment day #2
Today was day number 2 for adjusting my 12 channels. It went smoothly. I was amazed at the difference between 2 weeks ago and now in regards to my tolerance and what channels I went louder on.
My audiologist said I'm doing fabulous and progressing so nicely.
After the reprogramming, she took me to the booth to test the processor and my implanted ear. The test on the processor was to give a good base on which to test sounds, understanding going forward.
When she said she was going to test my implanted ear, I immediately stated why - it's dead. To my complete and utter surprise - I have some residual hearing left. It's not what it was, but there is some - it's crazy!
On to more noises over the next two weeks!!
My audiologist said I'm doing fabulous and progressing so nicely.
After the reprogramming, she took me to the booth to test the processor and my implanted ear. The test on the processor was to give a good base on which to test sounds, understanding going forward.
When she said she was going to test my implanted ear, I immediately stated why - it's dead. To my complete and utter surprise - I have some residual hearing left. It's not what it was, but there is some - it's crazy!
On to more noises over the next two weeks!!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Frustration day
It's hard to explain.
Yes, I am hearing new things but I feel that conversations are actually harder! Focusing is much harder.
I've read numerous times that people hated their implants before things become better. I'm not hating it. I'm just frustrated! And crying today.
A snippet from:
http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/hearing/communication/cochlear.php
Enjoying Music: Some people with cochlear implants enjoy the sounds of certain instruments, such as guitar or piano, as well as certain voices.
Yes, I am hearing new things but I feel that conversations are actually harder! Focusing is much harder.
I've read numerous times that people hated their implants before things become better. I'm not hating it. I'm just frustrated! And crying today.
A snippet from:
http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/hearing/communication/cochlear.php
The
Benefits of Using Cochlear Implants
The use of a cochlear
implant can also provide a number of benefits. Adults;
for example, many times receive an immediate hearing benefit and continue to
improve over a period of around three months after their initial tuning
sessions. After this period of time, their performance continues to improve,
although at a slower rate. The performances of people who use cochlear implants
can continue to improve over a period of several years. Other benefits can include the
following.
Most people are able
to perceive soft, medium, and loud sounds: People who use cochlear
implants have reported the ability to perceive a variety of different sounds,
such as ringing telephones, slamming doors, barking dogs, the sounds of
engines, the sound of a light switch turning on or off, rustling leaves, a
whistling tea kettle and more.
Many people can
understand speech without lip-reading: Even when this is not possible, using a cochlear
implant helps people with lip-reading.
Many people can make
phone calls: A
number of people find they can make phone calls and understand familiar voices
over the phone. Some people can make phone calls and understand others they are
not familiar with.
Watching Television: A number of
people can watch television more easily, particularly when they are able to see
a person's face.
Enjoying Music: Some people with cochlear implants enjoy the sounds of certain instruments, such as guitar or piano, as well as certain voices.
People who are deaf
and are pondering whether or not to pursue surgery to receive a cochlear
implant have a number of different things to think about before they receive
one. There are risks involved, as well as benefits. It is important to research
cochlear implants, speak with a doctor, as well as an audiologist before making
the decision.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
I learned something new today! 1337
Leet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Very interesting!
Very interesting!
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 8 | ( | |) | 3 | |= | 6 | |-| | ! | _| | X | 1 | 44 | |\| | 0 | |* | 0_ | |2 | 5 | 7 | |_| | \/ | \/\/ | % | j | 2 | |
Please note this table is to be used as a guide and not a full translation tool. Leet is ever-changing and not all replacements will, or can, be included.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monday, October 22, 2012
NON I KNOW
**WARNING** graphic surgical images of a Cochlear Impant.
NON I KNOW why my head hurt so much! This is the closest I've come to finding something on the internet to my actual surgery.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/857242-overview
Once you open this page - click on the picture in order to view the surgery!
NON I KNOW why my head hurt so much! This is the closest I've come to finding something on the internet to my actual surgery.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/857242-overview
Once you open this page - click on the picture in order to view the surgery!
What company did I select
There are so many reasons why I selected Med-El over the other two companies (Cochlear and AB). What is important in your search is that you are comfortable with the company, equipment and options available. There isn't one that fit my every want/need - I picked the one that was best for me at this moment.
http://www.medel.com/us/
http://www.medel.com/us/
Saturday, October 20, 2012
SURGERY DAY - 9/17/2012
SURGERY DAY - 9/17/2012
(picture taken the day after - I think...)
My procedure lasted 4 hours, my recovery lasted a bit longer. My former no issues with anesthesia didn't quite work out this time. Noted!
The devise in the picture (device sounds better than cup) :) was a pressure bandage and also provided much needed protection. It was kept on for 2 days and afterwards as I needed it.
After the two days I was permitted to removed it. There was quite a bit of swelling, actually A LOT of swelling on that side for a couple days. Cheek, under eye.. of course I had a lovely black eye for a while.
Because everyone heals differently I wasn't sure how to judge time off from work. I tried going back a week from my surgery. For me, it was too soon.
My surgeon did a fabulous job on the incision - very clean and the stitches precise.
(picture taken the day after - I think...)
My procedure lasted 4 hours, my recovery lasted a bit longer. My former no issues with anesthesia didn't quite work out this time. Noted!
The devise in the picture (device sounds better than cup) :) was a pressure bandage and also provided much needed protection. It was kept on for 2 days and afterwards as I needed it.
After the two days I was permitted to removed it. There was quite a bit of swelling, actually A LOT of swelling on that side for a couple days. Cheek, under eye.. of course I had a lovely black eye for a while.
Because everyone heals differently I wasn't sure how to judge time off from work. I tried going back a week from my surgery. For me, it was too soon.
My surgeon did a fabulous job on the incision - very clean and the stitches precise.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Cochlear Implant Surgery x-ray video
The Cochlear Implant Help Times
MED-EL Cochlear Implant Surgery X-ray Video
http://youtu.be/bDx12M5u4uY
CLICK BELOW
http://youtu.be/bDx12M5u4uY
Oh no you don't!!
These are the words that I heard from my wife last night. Our Little One was having a bit of a melt down (those without kids=crying a lot). So we put her in her crib and proceeded to spend time around her but essentially ignoring her. So we sorted clothes on the floor and spent time spot treating them. We were just talking and having a bit of fun, mean while LO was still crying, snot coming out of every. Of course she kept wanting us to pay attention to her.
me: I'm actually considering removing my ear right now. (with a grin on my face)
w: Oh no you don't - you aren't allowed to just take that off - you have to hear everything just like the rest of us now. (also a smile on her face)
3 minutes later - teasing of course - I reached up and detached my coil and of course I was caught!!
What a fun time we had last night over this!
me: I'm actually considering removing my ear right now. (with a grin on my face)
w: Oh no you don't - you aren't allowed to just take that off - you have to hear everything just like the rest of us now. (also a smile on her face)
3 minutes later - teasing of course - I reached up and detached my coil and of course I was caught!!
What a fun time we had last night over this!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Google Voice for mobile
A Hard of Hearing/Deaf person awesome helper or for anyone for that matter!!
Link here: http://www.google.com/mobile/voice/
I personally love:
Link here: http://www.google.com/mobile/voice/
I personally love:
Voicemail transcription
Voicemails are automatically transcribed to text so you can read them like email.
I've not tested any of the other features.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
What does a cochlear implant sound like?
What does Karen hear?
Does she hear 100%
normal like I do?
These are questions I hear from people. It is very difficult to explain that while I can "hear" now (I'm on day 6 at current) I do not hear as you do. It is actually very hard to say exactly. Beep, clicks, etc...
I came across an excellent set of Cochlear Implant Simulation Demos that do a great job of explaining. The demos give examples of what CI users hear on 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 Channel Implants.
Click below to navigate to the site:
http://www.hei.org/research/shannon/simulations/
Decrease_Channels contains the original sentence first and then progressively degrades the spectral resolution. The order is: original, 32 channels, 16, 8, 4, 2, and 1 channel. Since the content of the sentence is known, it is possible to understand the sentences down to 4 and even 2 spectral channels. Most cochlear implant listeners are in the 4 to 8 channel range.
Increase_Channels presents the demonstration in the reverse order - starting from poor quality, so that the content of the sentence is not understood at first. As the number of channels is increased from 1 to 2 to 4 you will start to understand the words in the sentence at 4 channels. From 4 to 8 to 32 channels the words are clearer and the sound has better quality. Finally, the original sentence is played.
Music1 presents a clip of a very familiar popular song, with a single male singer. First you will hear the song with 4 channels, then 8, 16, and 32 channels. Finally you will hear the original music clip. Notice that you may understand the words of the song at 4 or 8 channels, even though you may not recognize the melody. Even at 16 and 32 channels the melody is not very good quality.
Music2 presents the opening lines of a very popular and familiar piece of instrumental music. As with previous demo, the number of channels increases from 4 to 8 to 16 to 32. The original music clip is played at the end. Note that you will probably not recognize it even with 32 channels. However if you listen to the sequence repeatedly you will notice that some melodic information is available with 16 and 32 channels, although the quality is still poor compared to the original.
I found these links on this page this page of the House Ear Institute's website.
Their website is an excellent source of information.
These are questions I hear from people. It is very difficult to explain that while I can "hear" now (I'm on day 6 at current) I do not hear as you do. It is actually very hard to say exactly. Beep, clicks, etc...
I came across an excellent set of Cochlear Implant Simulation Demos that do a great job of explaining. The demos give examples of what CI users hear on 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 Channel Implants.
Click below to navigate to the site:
http://www.hei.org/research/shannon/simulations/
Decrease_Channels contains the original sentence first and then progressively degrades the spectral resolution. The order is: original, 32 channels, 16, 8, 4, 2, and 1 channel. Since the content of the sentence is known, it is possible to understand the sentences down to 4 and even 2 spectral channels. Most cochlear implant listeners are in the 4 to 8 channel range.
Increase_Channels presents the demonstration in the reverse order - starting from poor quality, so that the content of the sentence is not understood at first. As the number of channels is increased from 1 to 2 to 4 you will start to understand the words in the sentence at 4 channels. From 4 to 8 to 32 channels the words are clearer and the sound has better quality. Finally, the original sentence is played.
Music1 presents a clip of a very familiar popular song, with a single male singer. First you will hear the song with 4 channels, then 8, 16, and 32 channels. Finally you will hear the original music clip. Notice that you may understand the words of the song at 4 or 8 channels, even though you may not recognize the melody. Even at 16 and 32 channels the melody is not very good quality.
Music2 presents the opening lines of a very popular and familiar piece of instrumental music. As with previous demo, the number of channels increases from 4 to 8 to 16 to 32. The original music clip is played at the end. Note that you will probably not recognize it even with 32 channels. However if you listen to the sequence repeatedly you will notice that some melodic information is available with 16 and 32 channels, although the quality is still poor compared to the original.
I found these links on this page this page of the House Ear Institute's website.
Their website is an excellent source of information.
Fire alarm
The first time in ages I was able to "hear" the sound of the fire alarm at work. Of course this was a new sound to me and I didn't know at first what it was-YAY I do now!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Music
While driving to an appointment tonight I did a little experimenting with what music would actually sound like with my new attachment. I could actually hear the note ranges come through. This is a first and makes me very hopeful with each passing day!
Cochlear Implant's - How they work, How they hear, How it works, etc
Cochlear Implant: It's not like glasses that you put on and you see. You can't put on implants and hear. So much rehabilitation, communication, speech, and so much more are involved.
Chick here for the video!
http://vimeo.com/41789627
What does the world sound like to people with cochlear implants? Michael Dorman, an ASU professor of Speech and Hearing Science, shares the sounds of implants and talks about his research into making them work better. Cochlear implants help people who are deaf or hearing impaired who cannot benefit from a standard hearing aid. This video was produced and edited by Alexander D. Chapin and the cochlear implant illustration was rendered by Mai-Li Le, Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development. Note: video contains open captions for the hearing impaired.
Shared from: http://vimeo.com/channels/chel177
Chick here for the video!
http://vimeo.com/41789627
What does the world sound like to people with cochlear implants? Michael Dorman, an ASU professor of Speech and Hearing Science, shares the sounds of implants and talks about his research into making them work better. Cochlear implants help people who are deaf or hearing impaired who cannot benefit from a standard hearing aid. This video was produced and edited by Alexander D. Chapin and the cochlear implant illustration was rendered by Mai-Li Le, Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development. Note: video contains open captions for the hearing impaired.
Shared from: http://vimeo.com/channels/chel177
Part one of equipment
Part one of my equipment - This is a little dehumidifier that combines heat and circulating air to remove harmful moisture from my CI unit. At the end of each night, I put my CI in there (minus the rechargeable battery). Close the lid, push the button and walk away until morning!
| Zephyr Hearing Aid Dehumidifier |
Detailed Description of Dehumidifier
by Dry and Store
- Travel friendly, no power convertor required (electrical plug adapter not included)
- Powerful dehumidifier combines heat and circulating air to remove harmful moisture from hearing aids and BTE cochlear implant processors
- The Zephyr does not have the sanitizing ultraviolet bulb of the Dry and Store Global and Professional models (see Related Products below)
- 8 hour drying cycle
- Weight: 1.5 lbs
Size: 3.6" wide x 5.9" deep x 2.8" high - Replacement Dry Brik II available
Detailed Description of Bricks
- 3 replacement dessicant bricks for the Dry and Store Global, Professional, and Zephyr hearing aid dehumidifier
- Each brick contains a more aggressive sorbent with much greater moisture-absorbing capacity
- Each brick features a Timestrip® which visually shows when the desiccant brick should be replaced (usually around every 2 months)
Info from: http://hsdcstore.com/zephyrdehumidifier.aspx
Bricks also available here: http://www.amazon.com/Dry-Brik-II-Desiccant-Blocks-6-Pack/dp/B000U0XCZA/ref=pd_sim_hpc_1
Monday, October 15, 2012
It was difficult today
But I got through my first day in the office. The in a bubble feeling lasted all day. But tonight I started hearing new sounds. Not sure what sounds they were but something is registering. Hmmm very good indeed.
Netflix promises 100% captions by 2014
THIS IS A HUGE WIN FOR THE DEAF AND HoH COMMUNITY!!
(CNN) – In an agreement that the National Association for the Deaf (NAD) calls “a model for the streaming video industry,” Netflix has agreed to caption all of its shows by the year 2014.
Taken from: http://cochlearimplanthelp.com/2012/10/15/netflix-promises-100-captions-by-2014/
Read more:
Netflix and the National Association of the Deaf Reach Historic Agreement to Provide 100% Closed Captions in On-Demand
http://www.nad.org/news/2012/10/netflix-and-national-association-deaf-reach-historic-agreement-provide-100-closed-capti
(CNN) – In an agreement that the National Association for the Deaf (NAD) calls “a model for the streaming video industry,” Netflix has agreed to caption all of its shows by the year 2014.
Taken from: http://cochlearimplanthelp.com/2012/10/15/netflix-promises-100-captions-by-2014/
Read more:
Netflix and the National Association of the Deaf Reach Historic Agreement to Provide 100% Closed Captions in On-Demand
http://www.nad.org/news/2012/10/netflix-and-national-association-deaf-reach-historic-agreement-provide-100-closed-capti
First day of work
Lets see how this goes!
I am beginning to realize the full extent of my hearing loss. Now that I am using a CI, my left ear sounds are very skewed. I'm actually hearing if possible worse at the point.
After reading many posts about CI - I've read numerous times that most people hate the CI at the beginning. We will see how things progress!
I am beginning to realize the full extent of my hearing loss. Now that I am using a CI, my left ear sounds are very skewed. I'm actually hearing if possible worse at the point.
After reading many posts about CI - I've read numerous times that most people hate the CI at the beginning. We will see how things progress!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Day 2
After a four hour late morning nap. I got up and put my CI on. It became very apparent that for some reason my hearing in my left ear is feeling worse. Not sure About this just yet.
Avery and I took a very long walk around the neighborhood and part way up the hill I actually had to check my CI to seeing if it was on. It was. I would take that as I'm getting used to it a bit already.
Avery and I took a very long walk around the neighborhood and part way up the hill I actually had to check my CI to seeing if it was on. It was. I would take that as I'm getting used to it a bit already.
Day 1 - 10/12/12
Turn on day!!
New sounds, a lot of beeps... Overwhelming and exhausting.
The supplies that came with my unit were unexpected.
Interesting sound of the day. The toilet. Extra loud. Heard the digital thermostat beep for the first time.
New sounds, a lot of beeps... Overwhelming and exhausting.
The supplies that came with my unit were unexpected.
Interesting sound of the day. The toilet. Extra loud. Heard the digital thermostat beep for the first time.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
When did this start...
My hearing loss all started when I was 25 and had Pneumonia. I came out of it and noticed a marked difference in what I was hearing (or otherwise - no hearing) I immediately went to an audiologist. The hearing test outcomes were as if I were in a war - both sides had a significant change and were oddly even in the loss. Over the past 21 years it has progressively gotten worse (I was told this would happen) to where I've had to shift the types of jobs I've had. I was so very gradual and through that time I became very adapt to lip reading. So much so that many people did not know that I was hard of hearing.
I have normal to profound Progressive Sensorineural Hearing Loss - most of my mid and all of my high tones gone. My bass sounds are fabulous.
My right ear is now fitted with the CI, my left has 12% and is also eligible for CI.
I have normal to profound Progressive Sensorineural Hearing Loss - most of my mid and all of my high tones gone. My bass sounds are fabulous.
My right ear is now fitted with the CI, my left has 12% and is also eligible for CI.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)