Not much has been happening over the past couple of weeks CI-wise. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to reflect on the past and what the CI has meant to me, thus far. To refreshen, the implant date was Jan. 12th and the activation date was Feb. 6th.
It is without a doubt the CI has made my life much easier and open. Easier as in not having to strain to lip read others as my hearing aids were slowly becoming useless and, open as in not having to shy away from conversations. The CI has given me a sense of confidence in knowing that a conversation or meeting is not going to be alot of “what” or “can you repeat what you said” or relying on others.
It has been a lot of work and a large amount of effort. Some of which is required on my part but for which I have not been following through on such as practicing. There is only so much time in a day. I am suppose to have speech therapy twice a week but this has been cut back to once a week. Have a I been procrastinating? Maybe. Am I determined? Always! Conversations with those around me, family and co-workers have definitely improved. So even though I have not been practicing as much as I should, the improvement is there; its just taking a little longer.
I recently upgraded the software to Fidelity 120 (see Upgrade). Sounds are becoming more clearer and crisper and each day brings a subtle yet sub-conscious improvement. Even the spoken word is becoming more distinguishable as I am able to differentiate between like sounds such as “sh” / “ch”. The only thing is to be careful not to start the day out at too high a volume which might provoke facial twitching…a no-no.
The telephone remains a mystery but the expectations are for that to happen sometime at the end of this year, possible next year. After all, the brain is a complex structure. No one understands it enough to be able to accurately predict when I will be able to use the phone, unassisted. With that, low expectations – high hopes.
Am I pleased? Definitely! Am I happy with the results? Well yes…but I want better (patience prevails). Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY! And to elaborate, I am going for a evaluation at the end of the month to do the other ear sometime at the end of this year.
Have a wonderful week and happy CIing!
Hello, Sam! Thanks for stopping by my blog and letting me know everything with the hair will be OK. 🙂
I am glad you too are only happy with your CI. That’s so much hope for people like Billy and me who are yet to start the journey!
May I link to your blog?
Feel free to link my blog. Your blog is absolutely awesome. I am going to link it in mine. Good luck with the surgery and don’t stop blogging!
As you very well know, it takes time… but you really are doing great, just keep up the positive attitude
It sounds like you’re making great progress. I, too, am what feels like light-years away from phone usage, but that’s where text messaging has been valuable for me (plus I have teenagers to make the important calls for me!) 🙂
The first day I had the 120 programming I was reluctant to use it, falling back on my beloved HiRes P. Somehow or other, though, I know not when, my processor got switched to the 120 programming, and it wasn’t uncomfortable enough that I noticed it….hooray! It’s just been a week…I will adjust!
Have a great week! 🙂
Thanks Sam,
That will be cool, hearing crickets at night, can’t even imagine that:)
Are you running this weekend, I’m sure you are:) Good luck!
Sounds like you are doing good as far as your CI, I’m glad for you. My wife says I need to make sure I follow through on my rehab and practice stuff after I get turned on, I told her about your post and how you mentioned that you haven’t (shame on you 🙂 all the time. She said that’s me, because I also have a tendency of putting things off, not a tendency, I do for sure, bad habit, but I promised this time I will do it!
Have a great weekend! Now that the Sabres are out, go Sens!
Billy
There is a cricket actually living in the entrance to our garage. Pretty noisy fellow 🙂
Re rehab and practice – your wife is obviously right, but really I think that the greatest practice you can use is just listening normally. Encourage your family to tell you if they hear a sound that they identify. I spent weeks bugging Mandy (my wife) for a description of sounds I heard but couldn’t identify!