And my mind did wander alot this week as well........
Ever since the first time I heard the crosswalk signal sound for the visually impaired, I have been thinking.... and thought, "Wow!!" The visually impaired have it made, really!! Think about it, they have braille on the dollar bills, on the ATMs numerical keyboard, elevator buttons, etc., they even have different coin sizes, there is that crosswalk signal, audio books, etc., etc.... the list can go on. There is even a "zoom" programs for computers, which is a tool to magnify, capture, paint and write on screen. There is even a speech recognition program, etc, etc......
Folks in wheelchairs..... they have wheelchair accessible washrooms, doorways, low curbs, automatic doorbutton, there are even wheelchair accessible homes, Ability vans, etc... oh the list can go on....
I am thinking, what does the deaf have? Don't think, "Oh she is feeling sorry for herself", which I am not. I am just stating some facts. The list is pretty short compared to the ones I gave above. The population of Greater Moncton, my hometown, is 128,000 and we only have one full time interpreter, with just a few back-ups, and we have about 60 deaf people in our community.... only just one community interpreter. We don't pay for the interpreter, which is great. What else??..... we do have special alarm clocks, close captioned TV, flashing lights, Video Phone, TTY, etc., but these are used for our homes. We are lucky to have them, expensive products they are, yes, and we pay from our own pockets.....
You are probably thinking... What is Cheryl trying to say?
Compare the three paragraphs I wrote.... notice the first two paragraphs are about "things" out in town, around town, in buildings, workplace, out in public, etc.... and those things are paid by the town/city, companies, government, etc.... not a penny comes out of the visually impaired's pockets... and the person in the wheelchair's pockets as well.....
No problem to have a wheelchair accessible washroom in a workplace, and no problem to get a Zoom program for a couple of computers at work. In the past, I have asked for one simple thing at work and it was declined.... a pager or something I can have with me to warn me the fire alarm is going off. Instead I was assigned a fire buddy, for 8 years now. I don't feel comfortable with this at all, as we all work different shifts, different lunch hours, etc...
One time, the fire alarm went off and my TM was my buddy, she saw me as we "looked" at each other, so I assumed all was okay there, so I went outside with everybody. Then my TM comes to me nearly having a heart attack saying to me "where were you???" Gee......
At one of my other jobs approximately 18 years ago , I was up on the 4th floor, and the fire alarm went off and I didn't hear this one. Nobody came to get me and I was the second lone person on that floor. Luckily a person heard me working away on the computer and she came to get me..... Guess what, it was a REAL fire alarm, not a drill. I was none too pleased. Since then, I have always been nervous about fire alarms.
With my new CI, I have not heard the actual fire alarm yet, but I am sure I will hear it soon. Likely I will have a heart attack and jump off the chair!! :)) We'll see and I'll let you know when I do hear it :)
The deaf ask for a small measly thing and most of the time, they say it can't be done, where the town/city, buildings, workplaces goes to "bat" for folks with other disabilities. There might be a few handful of deaf that got lucky at their workplace, mostly they are government jobs. Um, something is wrong with this picture.....
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Sunday, 12 October 2008
New noise....
Hi all.... last weekend, Raymond and I went camping in Amherst, a nearby town, for the weekend. A great time had by all! Our trailers were parked by the water, so therefore it was a bit windy. Whilst inside the trailer on our first day, I could hear the wind slow down and pick up! Patty kept telling me the tree was going to fall on our trailer, ha ha.... funny lady she is.
That evening, it rained. We were all in one couple's trailer for chat and games. I could hear the rain pitter patter on the roof. It rained so hard at times and it let down at times, and then picked up again. I was able to tell my friends this, and they were amazed (they are all deaf), and they looked out the window to see the rain :) Rain is still my favourite sound of all! Just LOVE it....
On Saturday afternoon, all three couples had their quiet time, and went on our merry way. Raymond was in a dire need of a nap, so we went inside our trailer... he had a nap, I multi-tasked - watched TV, read a book and surfed on the internet. All of sudden I heard a noise which I never heard before. I listened to it so intentively (is this a word??) and trying to figure out what it was. I turned off the TV and the noise was still around. I closed the lap-top... the noise was still there!! Ugh... I went over to the fan above the stove, it was off. I looked in the bathroom, the fan was off in there too! Gee.... so I went back to sit down in the dining room to listen again.
I leaned back against the chair and crossed my arms. I looked over at Raymond's way and listened again.... it came to my realization that the noise was in sync with Raymond's breathing (his tummy rising up and down).... oh wow.... the noise was his 'snoring'!!!!! Wow, is it ever loud!!
When I hear something new, I always ask Raymond what it is, so this way, I would recognize it the next time I hear it again. With this noise on the go, I didn't have the heart to wake him up just to ask him, so discovered this one on my own. Felt good!
This afternoon, a week later, Raymond had a nap on the couch and I recognized his snoring right away. I am amazed on how loud it is!!! It is like a rough motor at times! Fourteen and half years we have been together, and I am just learning this now :)
Things are going very well. Only two things that are hellish for me are work and church. I cannot wait for the background block be placed on my on one of my CI switches. I really need this for work - big time. My appointment is on October 23rd, so I am practically counting down the sleeps......
That evening, it rained. We were all in one couple's trailer for chat and games. I could hear the rain pitter patter on the roof. It rained so hard at times and it let down at times, and then picked up again. I was able to tell my friends this, and they were amazed (they are all deaf), and they looked out the window to see the rain :) Rain is still my favourite sound of all! Just LOVE it....
On Saturday afternoon, all three couples had their quiet time, and went on our merry way. Raymond was in a dire need of a nap, so we went inside our trailer... he had a nap, I multi-tasked - watched TV, read a book and surfed on the internet. All of sudden I heard a noise which I never heard before. I listened to it so intentively (is this a word??) and trying to figure out what it was. I turned off the TV and the noise was still around. I closed the lap-top... the noise was still there!! Ugh... I went over to the fan above the stove, it was off. I looked in the bathroom, the fan was off in there too! Gee.... so I went back to sit down in the dining room to listen again.
I leaned back against the chair and crossed my arms. I looked over at Raymond's way and listened again.... it came to my realization that the noise was in sync with Raymond's breathing (his tummy rising up and down).... oh wow.... the noise was his 'snoring'!!!!! Wow, is it ever loud!!
When I hear something new, I always ask Raymond what it is, so this way, I would recognize it the next time I hear it again. With this noise on the go, I didn't have the heart to wake him up just to ask him, so discovered this one on my own. Felt good!
This afternoon, a week later, Raymond had a nap on the couch and I recognized his snoring right away. I am amazed on how loud it is!!! It is like a rough motor at times! Fourteen and half years we have been together, and I am just learning this now :)
Things are going very well. Only two things that are hellish for me are work and church. I cannot wait for the background block be placed on my on one of my CI switches. I really need this for work - big time. My appointment is on October 23rd, so I am practically counting down the sleeps......
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Thanksgiving for hearing new sounds...
It is thanksgiving time, and there are many that we are thankful - and for the sounds of life around us.
We are thankful for the engineers and their leadership to invent and improve the cochlear implants we wear today.
We are thankful for the amazing doctors who put the implants in our heads and become a part of hearing world.
We are thankful that we have friends and family that supports us during our cochlear implant journey.
(copied and pasted from another website....)
We are thankful for the engineers and their leadership to invent and improve the cochlear implants we wear today.
We are thankful for the amazing doctors who put the implants in our heads and become a part of hearing world.
We are thankful that we have friends and family that supports us during our cochlear implant journey.
(copied and pasted from another website....)
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Rest Periods
When I first got my CI implant activated on July 29th and went back two weeks later for a mapping/adjustment, the audiologist, Heather Maessen said that anytime I felt overwhelmed with the CI, I can take it off for a little bit. We are allowed to take a small rest from it.
My work's noise level is very overwhelming so I take off my CI everyday during my 15 minute break. Sometimes just once during the shift, I would take it off just to chill out, but always put it back on like about 5 minutes later, it is never off long. This is only once in a while.
If you don't do this, you will only tire yourself out more and get yourself overwhelmed even more. Rest your ears once in a while. CI is an HUGE adjustment, I shall tell you.
Raymond does this alot too, and I am sure many other CI users do this as well.
My work's noise level is very overwhelming so I take off my CI everyday during my 15 minute break. Sometimes just once during the shift, I would take it off just to chill out, but always put it back on like about 5 minutes later, it is never off long. This is only once in a while.
If you don't do this, you will only tire yourself out more and get yourself overwhelmed even more. Rest your ears once in a while. CI is an HUGE adjustment, I shall tell you.
Raymond does this alot too, and I am sure many other CI users do this as well.
Saturday, 20 September 2008
September 20, 2008 - Update - Cheryl
This blog is so far behind, and I am afraid I may not remember everything I have heard to share with you, so I will try my best whilst I write this. This has been quite the month with some high and lows with my CI. My work colleagues can tell you if they could :)
I had my mapping session with Cathy on August 28th, and she balanced out the volume and tones of the 4 groupings. The volume is a bit higher than the mapping session I had before and do now hear more pitches, etc., of voices. There's no soft sounds just yet and I am anxiously waiting for this part. I hope it won't be too far into the future. Right now, everything is still loud to me, but I am hearing alot more things now than before, they are alot more distinct and clearer. Like I can identify the sounds better than before. It is still work in progress.
Cathy got me into the sound booth and was pleased to learn that I am almost where I should be. She gave me sheet of paper where there were 4 words in each section. She would cover her mouth and say a word in that 4 word section. I got 23 out of 25..... only two wrong. I was quite pleased with this because my hearing is different now than it was when I had my hearing aid, so I wasn't too sure before. Now I am sure :)
I don't need to go back to see Cathy again until October - likely the latter part of October, so this gives me nearly two months to work on the CI processor switches she has set up for me. The switch 1 is my old program, switch 2 is the new program, and finally, switch 3 is the same as switch 2 but louder.
Cathy has advised me that she would like for me to stay on switch 2 to get used to it. Up to today, September 20th, I am still on switch 2 and 12 o'clock. I can't seem to get it higher because if i do, it is so loud. I really don't know why. It seems like I have struck a "stand still" time, .......nothing is moving or nothing is happening in order for it to improve....hopefully it will break through one of these days. Cathy says, "have patience, it takes time."
The MOST difficult thing I am going through is the noise level at work. It is so ungodawful! I returned back to work on August 18th on an "ease back into work" transition of working 4 hours a day and up to today, I am still not used to the noise level. I work in a call centre so there are constant noises in the building. There is white noise above supposedly to help you "tune" out noise... ha ha... that ain't helping me at all. There is constant talking in the background, people coughing, sneezing, and laughing. Even worse, across from my pod, there is a private office and the lady who works in there is so loud. She gets alot of visitors so I hear them chatting away in there and her laugh is piercing!! (don't worry, she doesn't know me, so I am safe to say this in here :)
Two weeks ago, I tried two days of 6 hour shifts and I couldn't handle it, so reverted back to the 4 hour shift. Then went on vacation for 9 days. Returned back to work today, and did 6 hours today. I have not heard back from my case manager if I should stay on the 4 hours or not, so hope to hear from him for sure on Monday. If not, then I will ask my TM to call him for me to see what the next plan is.
When I returned back to work on August 18th, I was exhausted by the time I got home and had alot of naps daily. Now I try to avoid the naps, and instead I take off the CI just for a little break.
So in overall, work is still very difficult to get used to. Especially in a noisy group, etc. When I go back to see Cathy in October, I truly do HOPE that she will put in a background block on one of my switches so I can tolerate the work noise level. Keeping my fingers crossed and keep your fingers crossed for me please :)
The following are what I have heard for the last while:
- Beeping of the crosswalk. One day, Raymond and I drove down Main Street - downtown Moncton and stopped at the stop lights. I heard a beeping sound and asked Raymond what that beeping was... he smiled at me and said, "It's the crosswalk!" I NEVER knew it actually made noise. Boy, I was really amazed. I am 42 years old and I am just learning this NOW... geez.... This was about 2 weeks ago, and I am still in awe about this :)
- Cell phone ringing. I was in Chapters on the other night browsing around for a book and I was in deep concentration reading a book.... and all of sudden I heard a cell phone ringing! The person answered it on the second ring. I had this goofy smile on my face when I heard this. It was amazing!
- Bird communication. One day, I was sitting at the kitchen table and our patio door was open. A blue jay came to our bird feeder and started "calling" out to others. Did this twice so I looked over and sure enough it did it again. Two other blue jays came along.... so the first bird was calling out to them telling them, "Fresh food here!!! Come on down!!" ha ha....
- Raymond on phone. I was in the living room reading a book and Raymond was on the phone in the sun room....for those who has never seen my home, the kitchen separates the living room and sun room. When Raymond talks to a family member, he tends to be loud talking to them as they do to him as well....so I listened into his phone conversation and heard, "Yeah" a few times, "Okay" a few times, "Not a problem" and "Okay bye bye" and then heard him walking through the kitchen to see me... could hear his foot steps. Wicked!!!
- Unknown Noise. One evening, I was home alone and I could hear a noise constantly all evening and it was annoying, I shall tell you! I didn't recognize this one so I had to struggle to figure out what it was, I even listened around the house, nearly every room on the main floor, and soon learned it was from outside... but "what"???? Finally Raymond comes home shortly after 9 pm... and told him immediately - "Listen!!!".... so he listens and tells me what it is right off the bat... I felt soooo small! They are building a garage next door, so they were using the hammer all evening. LOL.....
- Cracking.... I hear the cracking of my neck and wrists all the time.
- Newspaper & Kitchen Noise. I still despise the sound of the newspaper, getting better each time though. Raymond is soooo noisy in the kitchen, so while he is in there, I actually take off my CI, I have no choice. He bangs things, does not put things down lightly, bangs the doors, etc... gosh...I cringe everytime he goes in there to make something or make a meal. His meals are lovely, so it is worth it anyways. :)
- Flooring. We have uniclic flooring in our house and they do squeak everytime I walk down the hallway. I never heard this before with my hearing aid. It is annoying but I am getting used to this now.
- My voice. Everybody tells me that my voice has nearly disappeared. I talk really low now, just above a whisper. The T-mic next to my ear is very close to my mouth, so to me, I sound very very loud, but to them it is like a whisper or a very low voice. This can give you a fair idea that sounds are indeed loud to me.
- Keys in truck. I am trying to "train" Raymond just to put the key in the ignition but don't turn it on until he puts the seatbelt on first. The beeping of the seatbelt warning is so ungodawful loud.
Up to now, my very favorite sound is the rain!! How I love this so much! I love the way it hits our screen room roof, the roof of the truck, the roof of the trailer, and even the roof of the house. It is an awesome sound!
As I read through this blog, I realize that I complain that certain things are so loud. It is supposed to be like that for the first while after your CI has been activated. This is the process for your brain to learn the sounds. It will get better within time and patience is virtue. I know it is not easy, and there are some days, I just want to whip off the CI and leave it off, but I love alot of the sounds I hear and have learned to hear. It will get better within the next few months after a period of adjustments and mapping, etc.
Learned today that I go back to see Cathy on October 23rd, so another trip to Halifax again :) Looking forward to this one.
Coming soon, Raymond's update....
Until next time.....
I had my mapping session with Cathy on August 28th, and she balanced out the volume and tones of the 4 groupings. The volume is a bit higher than the mapping session I had before and do now hear more pitches, etc., of voices. There's no soft sounds just yet and I am anxiously waiting for this part. I hope it won't be too far into the future. Right now, everything is still loud to me, but I am hearing alot more things now than before, they are alot more distinct and clearer. Like I can identify the sounds better than before. It is still work in progress.
Cathy got me into the sound booth and was pleased to learn that I am almost where I should be. She gave me sheet of paper where there were 4 words in each section. She would cover her mouth and say a word in that 4 word section. I got 23 out of 25..... only two wrong. I was quite pleased with this because my hearing is different now than it was when I had my hearing aid, so I wasn't too sure before. Now I am sure :)
I don't need to go back to see Cathy again until October - likely the latter part of October, so this gives me nearly two months to work on the CI processor switches she has set up for me. The switch 1 is my old program, switch 2 is the new program, and finally, switch 3 is the same as switch 2 but louder.
Cathy has advised me that she would like for me to stay on switch 2 to get used to it. Up to today, September 20th, I am still on switch 2 and 12 o'clock. I can't seem to get it higher because if i do, it is so loud. I really don't know why. It seems like I have struck a "stand still" time, .......nothing is moving or nothing is happening in order for it to improve....hopefully it will break through one of these days. Cathy says, "have patience, it takes time."
The MOST difficult thing I am going through is the noise level at work. It is so ungodawful! I returned back to work on August 18th on an "ease back into work" transition of working 4 hours a day and up to today, I am still not used to the noise level. I work in a call centre so there are constant noises in the building. There is white noise above supposedly to help you "tune" out noise... ha ha... that ain't helping me at all. There is constant talking in the background, people coughing, sneezing, and laughing. Even worse, across from my pod, there is a private office and the lady who works in there is so loud. She gets alot of visitors so I hear them chatting away in there and her laugh is piercing!! (don't worry, she doesn't know me, so I am safe to say this in here :)
Two weeks ago, I tried two days of 6 hour shifts and I couldn't handle it, so reverted back to the 4 hour shift. Then went on vacation for 9 days. Returned back to work today, and did 6 hours today. I have not heard back from my case manager if I should stay on the 4 hours or not, so hope to hear from him for sure on Monday. If not, then I will ask my TM to call him for me to see what the next plan is.
When I returned back to work on August 18th, I was exhausted by the time I got home and had alot of naps daily. Now I try to avoid the naps, and instead I take off the CI just for a little break.
So in overall, work is still very difficult to get used to. Especially in a noisy group, etc. When I go back to see Cathy in October, I truly do HOPE that she will put in a background block on one of my switches so I can tolerate the work noise level. Keeping my fingers crossed and keep your fingers crossed for me please :)
The following are what I have heard for the last while:
- Beeping of the crosswalk. One day, Raymond and I drove down Main Street - downtown Moncton and stopped at the stop lights. I heard a beeping sound and asked Raymond what that beeping was... he smiled at me and said, "It's the crosswalk!" I NEVER knew it actually made noise. Boy, I was really amazed. I am 42 years old and I am just learning this NOW... geez.... This was about 2 weeks ago, and I am still in awe about this :)
- Cell phone ringing. I was in Chapters on the other night browsing around for a book and I was in deep concentration reading a book.... and all of sudden I heard a cell phone ringing! The person answered it on the second ring. I had this goofy smile on my face when I heard this. It was amazing!
- Bird communication. One day, I was sitting at the kitchen table and our patio door was open. A blue jay came to our bird feeder and started "calling" out to others. Did this twice so I looked over and sure enough it did it again. Two other blue jays came along.... so the first bird was calling out to them telling them, "Fresh food here!!! Come on down!!" ha ha....
- Raymond on phone. I was in the living room reading a book and Raymond was on the phone in the sun room....for those who has never seen my home, the kitchen separates the living room and sun room. When Raymond talks to a family member, he tends to be loud talking to them as they do to him as well....so I listened into his phone conversation and heard, "Yeah" a few times, "Okay" a few times, "Not a problem" and "Okay bye bye" and then heard him walking through the kitchen to see me... could hear his foot steps. Wicked!!!
- Unknown Noise. One evening, I was home alone and I could hear a noise constantly all evening and it was annoying, I shall tell you! I didn't recognize this one so I had to struggle to figure out what it was, I even listened around the house, nearly every room on the main floor, and soon learned it was from outside... but "what"???? Finally Raymond comes home shortly after 9 pm... and told him immediately - "Listen!!!".... so he listens and tells me what it is right off the bat... I felt soooo small! They are building a garage next door, so they were using the hammer all evening. LOL.....
- Cracking.... I hear the cracking of my neck and wrists all the time.
- Newspaper & Kitchen Noise. I still despise the sound of the newspaper, getting better each time though. Raymond is soooo noisy in the kitchen, so while he is in there, I actually take off my CI, I have no choice. He bangs things, does not put things down lightly, bangs the doors, etc... gosh...I cringe everytime he goes in there to make something or make a meal. His meals are lovely, so it is worth it anyways. :)
- Flooring. We have uniclic flooring in our house and they do squeak everytime I walk down the hallway. I never heard this before with my hearing aid. It is annoying but I am getting used to this now.
- My voice. Everybody tells me that my voice has nearly disappeared. I talk really low now, just above a whisper. The T-mic next to my ear is very close to my mouth, so to me, I sound very very loud, but to them it is like a whisper or a very low voice. This can give you a fair idea that sounds are indeed loud to me.
- Keys in truck. I am trying to "train" Raymond just to put the key in the ignition but don't turn it on until he puts the seatbelt on first. The beeping of the seatbelt warning is so ungodawful loud.
Up to now, my very favorite sound is the rain!! How I love this so much! I love the way it hits our screen room roof, the roof of the truck, the roof of the trailer, and even the roof of the house. It is an awesome sound!
As I read through this blog, I realize that I complain that certain things are so loud. It is supposed to be like that for the first while after your CI has been activated. This is the process for your brain to learn the sounds. It will get better within time and patience is virtue. I know it is not easy, and there are some days, I just want to whip off the CI and leave it off, but I love alot of the sounds I hear and have learned to hear. It will get better within the next few months after a period of adjustments and mapping, etc.
Learned today that I go back to see Cathy on October 23rd, so another trip to Halifax again :) Looking forward to this one.
Coming soon, Raymond's update....
Until next time.....
Monday, 25 August 2008
Most common questions....
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.
"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.
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.....
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