An Early Valentine's Present

Today I returned to the Cochlear Center for my one year mapping of my right ear cochlear implant. It is hard to believe I have two cochlear implants.  I have been hearing out of both ears for a year now.

As I am hearing out of both ears, I was in a better position to communicate to my audiologist my likes and dislikes and what I hoped to achieve through "tweaking" the cochlear implant programs.

I wore digital behind the ear hearing aids in both ears for ten years prior to being implanted with cochlear implants.  In spite of the latest digital technology, one of the things I always hated about digital hearing aids vs. analog hearing aids, was that sounds always sounded quieter or "tampered down."  A perfect example is hearing a fire engine or police car siren.  With digital aids, the computer technology would automatically lessen the loudness of the siren.  That always sounded weird.

My particular cochlear implant has a t-mic, a technology patented by the manufacturer.  I had tried several mixes 50/50, 50/70, and so forth and felt that voices and sound quality needed more.  I didn't necessarily need more loudness of sound (a very common mistake of  ex-hearing aid users), but I wanted to hear more SOUND.  

I told my audiologist, I wanted to increase the t-mic to 100%.  After testing my hearing and going through tones, words, sentences, my audiologist had a better idea of what was needed.

She had the doctoral audiology student do the tweaking.  We switched out headpieces, t-mics, to test that the CI processor was working properly.  Then she switched the t-mic to 100%.

I was definitely hearing more sound.  It wasn't loud or sharp.  My audiologist did clapping to see if I had any facial twitches or reacted uncomfortably to sound.  I was fine.

I also had the audiologist remove the t-coil program as I wasn't using it at all and have no need for it.

As I drove home on the interstate, I heard more sound.  What I realized what I was hearing, I was nearly in tears. I could hear the 18-wheeler trucks idling, shifting gears.  I could hear my tires going ta-click over the asphalt. I could hear the rumble of motorcycles.  I could hear wind.  All this through rolled up windows and a "quiet" car.

I recognized a hearing memory.  With the t-mic at 100%, I am hearing what I remember hearing with analog hearing aids, but more sound, not volume.  I am hearing at all frequencies. I am hearing more middle frequencies, and higher frequencies.

Ever watch a movie in Dolby Surround Sound, or watch a movie on a Home Theater System?  THAT is what I am hearing with cochlear implant processors with a 100% t-mic setting.  Sounds are ENHANCED.

I think I hit the Mother Lode with this mapping.  I was so hungry for more SOUND.

Voices are not scratchy anymore.  AMEN to that!  I go back in six months.  I have a feeling I am going to progress by leaps and bounds.

What a precious early Valentine's Day present!

So here's to hearing more sound in Dolby Surround Sound, Stereo, and High Definition!