The decision has been made, the insurance has been approved and now the date has been set. Its January 15th, 2008-same time, same place, same doctor, same device. Only the ear is different. This time, its my left side-my “good ear” which was good only because it sounded better when I wore the hearing aid. Oh yea, the countdown clock on the right sidebar has been turned back on! I chose such a late date since it was when the running season at its slowest (who likes to race in a blizzard or through slush or on ice?) and it was the earliest Steph could get off so she could play nurse/maid/babysitter.
Going bi-lateral means becoming stereophonic. They say your right ear is more for conversations and your left ear is more for music. I have always thought that to be the case. When I was wearing my hearing aid, I would switch back and forth since the mold would irritate the ear. The right ear seemed to favor the highs while the left favored the lows. I have found this to be true with the CI. When I am listening to music, the lows (bass) was rather indiscernible; I felt it more than I heard it. By having my left ear implanted, I should once again hear the bass and perhaps, even better than when I wore my hearing aid.
I will also gain more of a sense of balanced hearing. I should be able to identify exactly where sound is coming from instead of having to crock my head to find it. And perhaps, speech recognition will be easier since I will be picking up more tones and pitches than now. Music should be even more enjoyable.
On the current front, I am going for testing and a remapping. I am not sure what kind of mapping I’ll go for but I think I want one of the slots to be set for the telephone where the background noise is cut out or reduced. I got my employer to install a phone so that if and when I get a chance, I can practice by listening to those 800 numbers where all they do is blabber about some subject or the weather.
Thats it for now…time to get this butt out of the chair and on the road. The next race…and our favorite…the Moonlight Run right here on our home course in Williamsville. Steph will be going for her fourth straight Amherst Triple Crown. Hopefully, the weather will cooperated and not be so humid!
January is a great time to go bilateral and recover from surgery. I’m glad I waited until after the holidays when things settled down. Glad you have a nurse available, too! 🙂
You know I’m thrilled for you!! Yaaaaaaayyy! 🙂
I don’t get a lot of high tones with my left ear. I am hopeful that what you say is accurate…that implanting the right ear will help with conversations. I’m honestly not too psyched one way or another about directionality…I’ve never had it, don’t know what I’m missing…might be fun to find out what it’s like 🙂
It’s just great news. As long as I still don’t have a surgery date, at least I can be excited about yours 🙂
WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I’m so happy for you! I’m actually clapping at my monitor. Weird, I know but its a special occasion! This is great great news!!
Now how are you going to keep yourself together until then? 🙂
Keeping myself together till surgery is a piece of cake. There isn’t once race I want to miss being laid up for 2 weeks. January/February are slow racing months.
Great news Sam. I haven’t had the guts to go for a seocnd one.. too much time, expense, discomfort. I’m managing fine as I am so I don’t see myself going bilateral for the time being – but very best of luck to you.