Since I got activated, I have been asked alot of questions by friends.... and it was interesting to learn that there is indeed a most common question. Want to know what it was?
"Do you sleep with your CI on?"
It is natural for people to be curious and I love answering their questions. But this one as thrown me for the loop, as I am thinking to some of these people..."Do you sleep with your glasses on?" :)
Two other popular questions are:
"Do you go swimming with your CI on?"
"Do you shower with your CI on?"
The answer to questions like that, is.... "no". The CI is a tool same as glasses, prothesis, etc., we take them off when needed to. CI is not waterproof, like full immersion in water. We can go out in the rain with them on... but they cannot be immersed in water. And plus sleeping with the CI, it will definitely fall off as you move around in your sleep, so therefore we don't sleep with them on. They are expensive enough as it is, so we need to take a good care of them. It is a nice advantage to be completely deaf during your sleep - nice and peacefully quiet. Even now, if I put my head back on a chair/couch just to relax and move my head in a certain way, the headpiece will fall off hanging from the processor.
Monday 25 August 2008
Wednesday 13 August 2008
August 12th Mapping Session
Visited Heather on August 12th at 2:30 p.m. and we discussed on how I did for the past couple of weeks. I have told her I am hearing alot of high pitched sounds and she reduced this for me. Boosted up the loudness of the processor and I am to follow the same steps again - switch #1, #2, #3 again until August 28th, which is my next appointment. That was it. My own appointment time took all of like 15 or 20 minutes.
Raymond had difficulty with the loop system and Heather changed the program on switch #2 and #3. Raymond is to try them at home to see how things go, and so far, he loves switch #3 which is "aux only with T-Coil", all background is cut off. Finally we got it! We have a loop system at home and tried it with the TV and as well as the stereo... he really LOVES it. Next is to try the church loop system this Sunday.
For the last two or three days, Raymond was hearing noises in his processor and it was discovered that his T-Mic was either dirty or had moisture inside it. Tried another one and it worked just fine. Lucky we have two T-Mics he can rotately use once in a while.
Most importantly of all, if you had humidity problems with your hearing aid, then it is likely you "may" have humidity problems with your CI. You should be putting your CI and T-Mic into the "Dri-Aid" nightly. That will help alot.
Raymond had difficulty with the loop system and Heather changed the program on switch #2 and #3. Raymond is to try them at home to see how things go, and so far, he loves switch #3 which is "aux only with T-Coil", all background is cut off. Finally we got it! We have a loop system at home and tried it with the TV and as well as the stereo... he really LOVES it. Next is to try the church loop system this Sunday.
For the last two or three days, Raymond was hearing noises in his processor and it was discovered that his T-Mic was either dirty or had moisture inside it. Tried another one and it worked just fine. Lucky we have two T-Mics he can rotately use once in a while.
Most importantly of all, if you had humidity problems with your hearing aid, then it is likely you "may" have humidity problems with your CI. You should be putting your CI and T-Mic into the "Dri-Aid" nightly. That will help alot.
There are several kinds of Dri-Aids, this picture above is just one of the examples.
Back to me, Heather made some changes to my processor after I explained what I was hearing too much of. It sounded great in the audiology office and it sounded great while Heather and Raymond was talking.
As I left the office, it still sounded great. Watched TV for a while, no problems at all. Today, oh, it is a different story. Maybe I explained the sound to Heather in the wrong way. Maybe I should have not said "high pitched" sounds, instead I should have said, "loud noises that really echo". I find it a real challenge to describe these sounds and getting the point across.
Today, the noises really comes to me really high, even the vehicles driving by my house. I don't know....needless to say, I am a little frustrated today. Maybe that is part of the process and I will need to have patience and ride it out until my next appointment on August 28th.
With this changes to my processor, I am even more nervous in going back to work on Monday the 18th. More new sounds and more people around. We'll see how that goes.
We learned something new from Heather yesterday, is to keep checking the headpiece area of our head to ensure there are no rash or irritations. If there is, just simply get a piece of gauze and put your headpiece over it (over your implant). If there is a redness or worse than that, put polysporin on it, then gauze over it and then headpiece over it. If it is alot worse than that, go see your CI doctor.
Tomorrow will be 6 weeks ago I had the surgery, and today is exactly 8 months ago Raymond had his second CI surgery. (Read earlier posts on why he had the second CI).
Soon, I think I will head over to the public library to see if they have any children's "Read-along" books with a CD so I could practice reading and listening at the same time. I am told this is a great exercise.
Until next time.....
Monday 11 August 2008
Pictures of Activation Day - July 29, 2008
Arrival at the audiologist's, Heather Maessen, office in Halifax (I am no small fry and who cares):
Heather getting my headpiece ready:
Heather getting my headpiece ready:
Putting the processor behind my ear:
Headpiece goes on:
Listening attentively to Heather's explanations:
Turning on the mapping program on computer:
Explains further what I will expect to hear:
Chatting away as usual to Raymond and Kim:
Hearing for the first time!:
Freaked over the sound of my voice:
The mapping on the computer:
The mapping on the computer:
Heather saying the "days of the week" behind a folder and I got 6 out of 8 correct!:
Me listening to Heather saying the days of the week:
Going through the Harmony kit which I was given:
Heather and me :)
Raymond and I with our wee purses for our batteries:
Raymond, Kimberly Carter - CEO of Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Foundation and myself:
Just outside at Gatsby's Pizza Pub on Spring Garden Road - can't even tell I am wearing the CI:
Time to celebrate, eh??:
Raymond:
Saturday 9 August 2008
Raymond's Update as of August 9, 2008
Raymond is doing extremely well with his CI. He is still learning new sounds, playing with the CD music, etc. He practices listening to music while reading the lyrics at the same time, and trying it later without the lyrics in front of him. Doing well in this area, still quite a ways to go, but coming along.
Raymond has a cell phone and it is Bluetooth enabled. He discovered he can have a neckloop that is Bluetooth capatible with his cell phone. He ordered one yesterday and hopes to have it by next week.
http://www.alds.com/maxit-bluetooth-inductive-loopset-p-206.html
For the hard of hearing, there is a variety of "Assistive" technologies; for example: FM, Infrared, Loop System etc. Bluetooth is the latest technology that is being incorporated into Assistive Listening Devices. In each case, you need like product to complete the transmission. Example: to use a FM Receiver, you need an FM Transmitter. This applies to Bluetooth products. To use a Bluetooth MaxIT Neckloop, you require Bluetooth enabled products.
A MaxIT will work with:
Any standard Bluetooth enabled Mobile Phone.
Any standard Bluetooth enabled computer.
Any standard Bluetooth enabled cordless phone
etc, etc.
There are other Bluetooth neckloops:
http://www.harriscomm.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=bluetooth
http://www.weitbrecht.com/product/Artone-bluetooth-neckloop-telecoil-tcoil-cellphone-headset.html
As you google this, I am sure you will find something that would be capatible with your cell phone or whatever you want it for.
Once he gets the neckloop, I will fill you in on how he made out with it. There is a 30 day policy on the item, if he does not like it, he can return it no problem. So that is one good thing.
Until next time....
Raymond has a cell phone and it is Bluetooth enabled. He discovered he can have a neckloop that is Bluetooth capatible with his cell phone. He ordered one yesterday and hopes to have it by next week.
http://www.alds.com/maxit-bluetooth-inductive-loopset-p-206.html
For the hard of hearing, there is a variety of "Assistive" technologies; for example: FM, Infrared, Loop System etc. Bluetooth is the latest technology that is being incorporated into Assistive Listening Devices. In each case, you need like product to complete the transmission. Example: to use a FM Receiver, you need an FM Transmitter. This applies to Bluetooth products. To use a Bluetooth MaxIT Neckloop, you require Bluetooth enabled products.
A MaxIT will work with:
Any standard Bluetooth enabled Mobile Phone.
Any standard Bluetooth enabled computer.
Any standard Bluetooth enabled cordless phone
etc, etc.
There are other Bluetooth neckloops:
http://www.harriscomm.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=bluetooth
http://www.weitbrecht.com/product/Artone-bluetooth-neckloop-telecoil-tcoil-cellphone-headset.html
As you google this, I am sure you will find something that would be capatible with your cell phone or whatever you want it for.
Once he gets the neckloop, I will fill you in on how he made out with it. There is a 30 day policy on the item, if he does not like it, he can return it no problem. So that is one good thing.
Until next time....
Cheryl's Nine Day Post-Activation Update....
I am sitting out here on the screened patio with the rain pitter-pattering the roof, it is so cool!! I heard it before but right now it is with more clarity...I love it!!! Right now, I don't regret a bit that I had the surgery as I know I will improve in a few months.
Since activation day, I have been hearing so many sounds, some of them I recognize from the past when I heard "well" with my hearing aid. But this time around, it is different. It is so much louder, clearer, etc., it is hard to describe it. I am actually having a ball with this, but at the same time it is very overwhelming.
As of day 9, I am on switch #2 and the volume control is nearly at 4 o'clock. So likely later tonight or tomorrow, I will turn the control back to the 12 o'clock position and flip it to switch #3. I think I am progressing very well and up to par. Knock on wood...
Over the long weekend, we went to a friend's cottage in Pugwash, NS, a place we really enjoy staying annually. It is right on the basin, so it was a very relaxing time. Here are a few things I have heard for the first time ever:
- heavy dog breathing -> a large beautiful black lab has lung problems and he was sitting next to me and breathing heavily. I looked at Raymond, pointing at the dog and said, "What's that noise???" Too cool. It made me realize that I have never heard the clarity of my late dog, Lucky, breathing like that as he did breathe loudly at times as folks said.
- next door neighbor of cottage was chatting away and I could hear her from a distance, I was like, "whoa!"
- cottage is 106 years old, and the floor squeaked each time a person walked across it.
- wind blowing
- our trailer, we have a propane stove - heard fast boiling of water with clarity. As well, the boiling of a kettle and the warning it was done!
- hearing folks take a deep sigh or deep breath
Before, with my hearing aid, I could hear the rain pitter pattering the trailer roof, but the sound was always very dull to me. One evening, it rained so hard and to my excitement, I could hear the rain on the trailer roof alot more than I could before, really an awesome sound!
In the town of Pugwash, we did a little bit of sight-seeing, visiting a gift shop and art gallery. After I went through the gallery, I went outside to sit on a bench with Lois and watched the action on the street. I could hear something from a distance but was not sure what it was. Lois is completely deaf, so she was unable to assist me to find out what the sound was. I kept hearing it over and over, and I wanted so bad to know what it was... I knew it was coming from "that-a-way". Concentrated for a bit and looked in that direction.... BINGO.... it was a wind-chimer on a tree, wooha!! I was soooo excited!!! Raymond came along and confirmed it for me and turns out I was correct :)
(I am hearing BIRDS from my patio now! Never heard this before. Man, I am happy! :)
Raymond's "annoying" sound is the ticking of a clock run by a battery. I can't hear this just yet, but I put my head near it one day, just to see if I could hear it, and I could. Listened to it for a few minutes, and I could see how it can be annoying. I told Raymond he needs to learn to tune it out. He seems not able to tune out this one for some reason.
Back home, here are two other things I have never heard before - one is the back-up beeping warning on the truck. It beeps as you get closer to an object when you back up the truck, 4 beeps to begin with means you are 4 feet away, 3 beeps means 3 feet and so forth. Lastly, a long beep means now is the time to stop. I LOVE this!!!!
Second is the water filling up the back tank of a toilet after it flushes... wow! And the sink making a funny noise while water is going down the drain once the tap is off... I have always called this the "fish is burping", don't ask me why.
Dave came here for the weekend and he is seeing me for the first time with the processor on and he is loving every minute of it.... looking at me everytime he does something, sigh...I really hate the crinkle of a bag of chips, oh!! No wonder his nickname is "Chip", as known by all of his friends and co-workers. lol...
Here are the things I hate so far:
- crinkling of the newspaper - oh, this is the worst!!!
- loud voices
- Bonnie's high pitched laughs, sorry lady as you read this....I said I would be honest on this blog. (Tobie/Laurie/Ginnie & Laura, I can see you laughing as I write this....)
- voices and noises from TV
- forks/knives scraping on the plates... this one is a challenge to get used to
(ohhhh, it is pouring so hard right now - listen!!! ;)
I am disappointed to learn that I can't wear my headpiece while wearing my motorcycle helmet. The headpiece falls off as I put on my helmet and I tried holding on to it while putting the helmet on, it is snug fitting, so forget it. I will have to put the processor and headpiece in a container and put it in the trunk, while I wear the helmet. I guess I have a big head :)
I have a habit of playing with my hair, combing it back with my fingers... and the wire connected to the headpiece and processor is in the way and I keep forgetting about it. The headpiece would flip off and hang down. Argh.... I am thinking..."Should I get a new short hairstyle or stick with what I have?" We'll see as time goes by.
Signal light of the truck, I am getting used to this one. Does not bother me as it did 9 days ago, so it is good to know I can have the ability to tune things out.
There is only ONE thing I miss about the hearing aid.... is the battery will die down gradually and you are aware of this as sounds are becoming lower and duller - knowing it is coming soon to die. With the CI, it is a completely different story - it is powerful all the way to the end and then poof, it is off without a warning! It can take me by a surprise sometimes... I am talking away or listening to someone and then all of sudden, I don't hear anything at all - 100% deaf. This is something I have to remember if I go to team meetings at work, is to have a spare battery with me.
I return back to work on August 18th, and kind of looking forward to it now. I am glad Dr. Morris requested for me to be off work for 6 weeks as I was not feeling well for majority of July and it took alot of time to get back to my old self. It was a big operation, as we CI users know. And as well, I am glad I did not go back to work once I got activated, oh my, where I work is pretty noisy and I would only just be so overwhelmed and frustrated for sure. I know I am still in my early stages and I know I still will be overwhelmed once I go back to work as the "work noise" is still unfamiliar to me and will need to re-learn them all over again. One thing I am terrified is to hear the fire alarm as I am told it is very loud. It was suggested to me previously that I have my team manager to let me know ahead of time when they have one of their practice fire drills. Good idea!
Second mapping is soon.... the audiologist will increase the volume of my processor and make some adjustments.
Since activation day, I have been hearing so many sounds, some of them I recognize from the past when I heard "well" with my hearing aid. But this time around, it is different. It is so much louder, clearer, etc., it is hard to describe it. I am actually having a ball with this, but at the same time it is very overwhelming.
As of day 9, I am on switch #2 and the volume control is nearly at 4 o'clock. So likely later tonight or tomorrow, I will turn the control back to the 12 o'clock position and flip it to switch #3. I think I am progressing very well and up to par. Knock on wood...
Over the long weekend, we went to a friend's cottage in Pugwash, NS, a place we really enjoy staying annually. It is right on the basin, so it was a very relaxing time. Here are a few things I have heard for the first time ever:
- heavy dog breathing -> a large beautiful black lab has lung problems and he was sitting next to me and breathing heavily. I looked at Raymond, pointing at the dog and said, "What's that noise???" Too cool. It made me realize that I have never heard the clarity of my late dog, Lucky, breathing like that as he did breathe loudly at times as folks said.
- next door neighbor of cottage was chatting away and I could hear her from a distance, I was like, "whoa!"
- cottage is 106 years old, and the floor squeaked each time a person walked across it.
- wind blowing
- our trailer, we have a propane stove - heard fast boiling of water with clarity. As well, the boiling of a kettle and the warning it was done!
- hearing folks take a deep sigh or deep breath
Before, with my hearing aid, I could hear the rain pitter pattering the trailer roof, but the sound was always very dull to me. One evening, it rained so hard and to my excitement, I could hear the rain on the trailer roof alot more than I could before, really an awesome sound!
In the town of Pugwash, we did a little bit of sight-seeing, visiting a gift shop and art gallery. After I went through the gallery, I went outside to sit on a bench with Lois and watched the action on the street. I could hear something from a distance but was not sure what it was. Lois is completely deaf, so she was unable to assist me to find out what the sound was. I kept hearing it over and over, and I wanted so bad to know what it was... I knew it was coming from "that-a-way". Concentrated for a bit and looked in that direction.... BINGO.... it was a wind-chimer on a tree, wooha!! I was soooo excited!!! Raymond came along and confirmed it for me and turns out I was correct :)
(I am hearing BIRDS from my patio now! Never heard this before. Man, I am happy! :)
Raymond's "annoying" sound is the ticking of a clock run by a battery. I can't hear this just yet, but I put my head near it one day, just to see if I could hear it, and I could. Listened to it for a few minutes, and I could see how it can be annoying. I told Raymond he needs to learn to tune it out. He seems not able to tune out this one for some reason.
Back home, here are two other things I have never heard before - one is the back-up beeping warning on the truck. It beeps as you get closer to an object when you back up the truck, 4 beeps to begin with means you are 4 feet away, 3 beeps means 3 feet and so forth. Lastly, a long beep means now is the time to stop. I LOVE this!!!!
Second is the water filling up the back tank of a toilet after it flushes... wow! And the sink making a funny noise while water is going down the drain once the tap is off... I have always called this the "fish is burping", don't ask me why.
Dave came here for the weekend and he is seeing me for the first time with the processor on and he is loving every minute of it.... looking at me everytime he does something, sigh...I really hate the crinkle of a bag of chips, oh!! No wonder his nickname is "Chip", as known by all of his friends and co-workers. lol...
Here are the things I hate so far:
- crinkling of the newspaper - oh, this is the worst!!!
- loud voices
- Bonnie's high pitched laughs, sorry lady as you read this....I said I would be honest on this blog. (Tobie/Laurie/Ginnie & Laura, I can see you laughing as I write this....)
- voices and noises from TV
- forks/knives scraping on the plates... this one is a challenge to get used to
(ohhhh, it is pouring so hard right now - listen!!! ;)
I am disappointed to learn that I can't wear my headpiece while wearing my motorcycle helmet. The headpiece falls off as I put on my helmet and I tried holding on to it while putting the helmet on, it is snug fitting, so forget it. I will have to put the processor and headpiece in a container and put it in the trunk, while I wear the helmet. I guess I have a big head :)
I have a habit of playing with my hair, combing it back with my fingers... and the wire connected to the headpiece and processor is in the way and I keep forgetting about it. The headpiece would flip off and hang down. Argh.... I am thinking..."Should I get a new short hairstyle or stick with what I have?" We'll see as time goes by.
Signal light of the truck, I am getting used to this one. Does not bother me as it did 9 days ago, so it is good to know I can have the ability to tune things out.
There is only ONE thing I miss about the hearing aid.... is the battery will die down gradually and you are aware of this as sounds are becoming lower and duller - knowing it is coming soon to die. With the CI, it is a completely different story - it is powerful all the way to the end and then poof, it is off without a warning! It can take me by a surprise sometimes... I am talking away or listening to someone and then all of sudden, I don't hear anything at all - 100% deaf. This is something I have to remember if I go to team meetings at work, is to have a spare battery with me.
I return back to work on August 18th, and kind of looking forward to it now. I am glad Dr. Morris requested for me to be off work for 6 weeks as I was not feeling well for majority of July and it took alot of time to get back to my old self. It was a big operation, as we CI users know. And as well, I am glad I did not go back to work once I got activated, oh my, where I work is pretty noisy and I would only just be so overwhelmed and frustrated for sure. I know I am still in my early stages and I know I still will be overwhelmed once I go back to work as the "work noise" is still unfamiliar to me and will need to re-learn them all over again. One thing I am terrified is to hear the fire alarm as I am told it is very loud. It was suggested to me previously that I have my team manager to let me know ahead of time when they have one of their practice fire drills. Good idea!
Second mapping is soon.... the audiologist will increase the volume of my processor and make some adjustments.
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