Raymond went for his second mapping session on January 25, 2008. This session was very short as the audiologist only just boosted the level up a bit - louder. All was going according to plan. However, one thing was noted that sounds were being cut off each time Raymond moved his head. It was noted the wire connected to the processor was very loose. The audiologist said she would order another new processor and it would be here for his next mapping session in two weeks.
The switch on processor is the same as the first time in January, start small at time and gradually increase the loudness as the weeks goes by until his next appointment. The volume control remains at 12 noon position, always.
Between January 25th to February 8th, Raymond still continued to hear new sounds and recognize them quickly later once he knew what they were. One thing he heard for the "first" time in his life was birds communicating to one another. We have a few bird feeders in front of our living room window and he went out one day to refill them. The chickadees were around the feeders and they flew away to nearby trees when Raymond arrived. He could hear their bird sounds from one tree to another, like they were communicating. This feeling gave him the goosebumps! Reason is he was never able to hear small bird sounds clearly before, and he was able to recognize where the sounds were coming from. This is an amazing feat for Raymond.
Sounds that were bothersome to Raymond in January after the activation date, has become like "nothing" to him. He is used to them now and has the ability to tune them out. One of them is newspaper :)
For Christmas, I gave Raymond two children's "Read-a-long" books with CD and he's been practicing listening to the CD and reading the story along at the same time. This really helps he finds. Another thing he has been doing is listening to CD music on our laptop and the lyrics pulled up from the Internet to read along. He listens and looks away and then looks back at the lyrics. Works for him and a good listening skill practice. Raymond has always been able to listen to music, so he is looking forward to hearing music again once he has re-learned the skills again.
On February 8, 2008, Raymond went for his third mapping session. The audiologist placed him in a booth to determine how close he was at their CI "expectation" level - and he is getting close or improving well. It came to 55%. The audiologist is very pleased with Raymond's progress.
Got his processor replaced with a new one. During this appointment, even after the processor was changed, the sounds were still being cut off. It is noted that the skin on his skull is thick, so the audiologist had to strengthen the radio frequency waves stronger to be able to go through to the implant. Sure enough, it worked since. Also, she changed the magnetic on the headpiece to a stronger strength.The switch on the processor now has been changed:
1) First switch is normal sounds all around. This time around, he can use the volume control.
2) Second switch is for removing background noises. For example, in a restaurant, crowds, in the malls, at an assembly, or even at a party, Raymond is able to turn the switch to number 2 and block out the background and hear only sounds around him. He really likes this one as it makes the conversation flow better.
3) Third switch is for T/M. This is the T for listening to the phone and for loop-system. This one needs to be worked on as it is not quite the same as it is on hearing aids. This will be discussed at the next mapping appointment. This is what is happening now, for example in church - the priest uses the microphone for the loop-system, and Raymond would use the T-switch to hear only the priest. But with the CI - the T switch is the T/M = T-coil & Microphone which allows Raymond to hear the priest directly but also hears the congregation as well. We repeat things after a priest says something, Raymond would only hear the priest say something but he would also hear the congregation repeat. He is not too pleased with this part.
Even at home, we have a loop-system, where we can put our hearing aids on to 'T' to hear only directly the TV, and nothing else. But with Raymond's CI, he is hearing the TV directly and also hears my voice as well when I talk to him. So that is something we will be discussing with the audiologist at our next appointment. Maybe that is normal, I am not sure. Will find out more later.
Since February 8th, which was the third mapping appointment, Raymond has been consistently working on his listening skills with the read-a-long books, CD music and the radio. The radio is now starting to become clearer and clearer. It is not clear clear yet, but still working on it. It takes time, as it can take up to 3 months to a year...depends on your skills.
One day, he was doing some work outside and decided to use the outdoor water hose for something. He forgot to turn it off and came into the house. He heard "something" running and it sounded like water to him. He checked the bathroom, nothing was running, so he figured I was doing the wash, so he checked, the washer was not running. He became scared as we had a flood in the basement in the past and he thought it was happening again. So he went downstairs to check it out. The noise became louder as he went into the room. Looked around, and then looked up.... the pipes that leads to the outside water tap, the water was running through the pipe to outside :) He forgot to turn it off and he was able to hear that from the main floor. Amazing, eh?
I have one pro and one con about Raymond's CI:
Pro: It is "wonderful" to be able to call his name and he can respond quickly. No more banging my feet on the floor or lightly hitting my hands on the table to get his attention (the deaf way for those who wonder why).
Con: Before the CI, when Raymond did not have his hearing aid on, he was still able to hear some things and I was able to call his name and he would respond. Now, with the CI, he is completely 100% deaf because of the electrodes damaging the remaining of the hairs in the cochlea. He can no longer hear me calling his name, or he can't hear the phone ring anymore. That is gone now. I keep forgetting that and when I call his name, he just keeps walking away or does not respond, argh!
I have to share something with you. Something happened to Raymond yesterday at a RV Show and it was so hilarious! I laughed myself to tears. At the RV show, he was looking at a flat TV that was hooked up on the outside trailer wall. He was impressed with it and was wondering how it was hooked up and bent over to look in the back of the TV. You know those handles by the door you grab on to when entering the trailer. This handle was a long extended one and it is aluminum/metal. While Raymond bent over to look at the back of the TV, the magnetic headpiece went "whoosh" and attached itself to the handle. Raymond knew something was wrong as he went completely deaf because the magnetic was taken off from the implant. The processor was still on his ear so you could see this wire and headpiece over on the handle. Man, it was quite the sight to see. I laughed so hard!! :)
In closing, overall, there is only one thing Raymond still has struggles with is the clarity of voices, etc.,... it is becoming clearer each time, but not clear-clear as I mentioned above. This will improve within time and with patience.
Next appointment is in April.
