Today I worked from home. I had been hearing all week how we were going to get some "significant" snow. I admit I was skeptical. We started with rain, sleet, ice and ending as snow. Lots of it.
While working late this afternoon, I heard this rumbling noise. At first I thought it was a very hard rain (it was raining hard). Then I heard this rumbling, and it sounded like thunder. I realized the rumbling noise were thunder snow showers. Later, it began snowing about one to two inches an hour.
Thunder Snow Showers are pretty noisy. It was an amazing sound to hear, and it was hard to miss it. The snow has stopped, but it was a heavy, wet, sloppy snow. It will refreeze tonight. Many people are without power because of gusty winds. The lights kept flickering all day and I had a brown out or two for a few seconds. There was enough snow that I could not get a signal to watch the news this evening. I had to go out back with a broom and clear snow off the satellite dish.
I was glad I was home working and not out in this sloppy mess, trying to get home. I will shovel out in the morning. I guess I get to find out what shoveling wet heavy snow sounds like.Amazing what sounds I have heard since November 11th post-implant.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
More sounds - especially environmental sounds
This weekend while running errands, I heard the sirens, horns of a fire engine post-implant. The sounds were coming from my left (my left ear is implanted) and as I turned my head at the traffic light (which was red), I saw the fire engine and recognized the sounds coming from the fire engine. The sounds that I hear post-implant may be familiar or unfamiliar. The difference is, none of the sounds are necessarily amplified or "loud." While wearing hearing aids, I would have literally have had the fire engine riding my bumper in order for me to "hear" the horn honking and sirens.
Hearing with a cochlear implant is so different from hearing with a hearing aid or two. The other day I was doing laundry. I was watching television, and realized I could hear the environmental noise of the washing machine and the dryer in the laundry room area along with the television set in the basement. I haven't yet learned to "tune out" all environmental sounds. As I am typing this blog entry, I have to stop and listen to the regulator desk clock "ticking," as I have learned to "tune it out." I am learning to do that when the heat pump cuts on and off. I am aware of the sound; but my brain is processing it as "background noise."
Singing - particularly commercial jingles - the singing and the music are starting to "come together." Singing still sounds as if someone is singing with a scratchy throat, whether it is the radio, CD. TV or a video clip. Music is sounding more like music, in bits and pieces. I still do not recognize speech in its entirety if someone talks to me with my back turned. I cannot yet hear and understand an entire sentence without the aid of lipreading. I can hear words in bits and pieces with my back turned, just not the entire conversation. I still rely on my CapTel phone to "cue me in," when using the telephone. It has been 69 days since my cochlear implant was turned on.
I can measure the progress. I have consistently worn my sound processor daily since November 11th, for eight hours a day or slightly more. I can remember what sounded "wild and crazy," during my first 24 hours post implant. From hearing "voices underwater," to hearing speech and voices connect, in a little over two months, my noisy world, is sounding more and more familiar each and every day. My office door definitely squeaks when someone enters the room. Post-implant, I turn my head when the door squeaks, and no longer startle when someone comes in. I rarely collide with someone turning a corner in the hallway or when turning a corner of a grocery aisle. I hear people walking up and down the corridor of my office building with my office door closed. I hear environmental sounds of construction from my office window, and recognize the noises for what they are, instead of opening my office door in an attempt to localize the construction sounds.
So far, so good. Yes, just about everything has a sound post-implant. My cochlear implant and sound processor are functioning as they should. My job is to focus, listen, identify what I hear, and store more soundfavorings in my hearing memory, much like a data bank. There's a pattern to every sound.
Hearing with a cochlear implant is so different from hearing with a hearing aid or two. The other day I was doing laundry. I was watching television, and realized I could hear the environmental noise of the washing machine and the dryer in the laundry room area along with the television set in the basement. I haven't yet learned to "tune out" all environmental sounds. As I am typing this blog entry, I have to stop and listen to the regulator desk clock "ticking," as I have learned to "tune it out." I am learning to do that when the heat pump cuts on and off. I am aware of the sound; but my brain is processing it as "background noise."
Singing - particularly commercial jingles - the singing and the music are starting to "come together." Singing still sounds as if someone is singing with a scratchy throat, whether it is the radio, CD. TV or a video clip. Music is sounding more like music, in bits and pieces. I still do not recognize speech in its entirety if someone talks to me with my back turned. I cannot yet hear and understand an entire sentence without the aid of lipreading. I can hear words in bits and pieces with my back turned, just not the entire conversation. I still rely on my CapTel phone to "cue me in," when using the telephone. It has been 69 days since my cochlear implant was turned on.
I can measure the progress. I have consistently worn my sound processor daily since November 11th, for eight hours a day or slightly more. I can remember what sounded "wild and crazy," during my first 24 hours post implant. From hearing "voices underwater," to hearing speech and voices connect, in a little over two months, my noisy world, is sounding more and more familiar each and every day. My office door definitely squeaks when someone enters the room. Post-implant, I turn my head when the door squeaks, and no longer startle when someone comes in. I rarely collide with someone turning a corner in the hallway or when turning a corner of a grocery aisle. I hear people walking up and down the corridor of my office building with my office door closed. I hear environmental sounds of construction from my office window, and recognize the noises for what they are, instead of opening my office door in an attempt to localize the construction sounds.
So far, so good. Yes, just about everything has a sound post-implant. My cochlear implant and sound processor are functioning as they should. My job is to focus, listen, identify what I hear, and store more soundfavorings in my hearing memory, much like a data bank. There's a pattern to every sound.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Hearing People and the Telephone
There are some hearing folks who are surprised that I cannot yet use the telephone completely unaided with my cochlear implant. While I have come a long way since Activation Day, I still rely on my CapTel phone. It has not been quite two months since the cochlear implant was activated or turned on. I learned that just again today, when someone asked to speak with me on the telephone.
The Director of my office recently asked me if getting used to the cochlear implant was a small or big adjustment. I said it was definitely a big adjustment. I don't think hearing people realize that a cochlear implant is nothing like a hearing aid.
I don't always have a perfect hearing experience day with my cochlear implant. There are days when I am having an "off" day with my cochlear implant, whether it is not recognizing an individual sound, I am tired of the noise, or I have forgotten to turn the volume control to the appropriate setting. People tell me that I can always take off the sound processor, and to me, that is defeating the purpose of the cochlear implant.
I faithfully wear my sound processor each and every day, eight hours a day or more. While I would love to be able to understand speech and singing perfectly tomorrow, I know adjusting to the cochlear implant will take months to a year to two years. I have faith that my efforts and patience will be worth it.
The Director of my office recently asked me if getting used to the cochlear implant was a small or big adjustment. I said it was definitely a big adjustment. I don't think hearing people realize that a cochlear implant is nothing like a hearing aid.
I don't always have a perfect hearing experience day with my cochlear implant. There are days when I am having an "off" day with my cochlear implant, whether it is not recognizing an individual sound, I am tired of the noise, or I have forgotten to turn the volume control to the appropriate setting. People tell me that I can always take off the sound processor, and to me, that is defeating the purpose of the cochlear implant.
I faithfully wear my sound processor each and every day, eight hours a day or more. While I would love to be able to understand speech and singing perfectly tomorrow, I know adjusting to the cochlear implant will take months to a year to two years. I have faith that my efforts and patience will be worth it.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
One Month "Tweaking" Appointment
I was at the Cochlear Clinic bright and early this morning. I ran into two women in the waiting room area who had been implanted with the same implant as myself. One had been implanted for a year, the other one, I think, two years. Both women became deaf later in life. I was the only deaf woman in the waiting room who has been deaf most of her life. A man came over to us and said he lost his hearing in 20 minutes, just like that. How traumatic for him!
My CI Audiologist re-mapped the three programs on the sound processor and for the first time post-implant, sounds are more natural. Music isn't music yet, but neither is it noise. I can definitely hear different musical instruments with no difficulty. The CI Audiologist said to expect two weeks of getting used to the new mappings. I told her of people asking me if I can "hear" on the telephone yet. We both laughed. The two women in the waiting room told me it took them six to seven months before they could fully understand speech with their cochlear implant. We will see what happens in May!
I had my hearing tested again. With the Cochlear Implant, I've gone from the absolute bottom of the audiogram to the middle! The implant and the sound processor are functioning as they should. That's progress. I go back in two months.
My CI Audiologist re-mapped the three programs on the sound processor and for the first time post-implant, sounds are more natural. Music isn't music yet, but neither is it noise. I can definitely hear different musical instruments with no difficulty. The CI Audiologist said to expect two weeks of getting used to the new mappings. I told her of people asking me if I can "hear" on the telephone yet. We both laughed. The two women in the waiting room told me it took them six to seven months before they could fully understand speech with their cochlear implant. We will see what happens in May!
I had my hearing tested again. With the Cochlear Implant, I've gone from the absolute bottom of the audiogram to the middle! The implant and the sound processor are functioning as they should. That's progress. I go back in two months.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Year's Reflections
As I mentioned in an earlier posting, over the Christmas holidays, I had some quality conversations with my nieces and nephews.
I understood my six year old nephew when he instructed me to microwave his chocolate drink for exactly "one minute and twenty-four seconds" to make him hot chocolate. I did so, and told him to let me know if his drink was too hot. He said okay.
I understood my ten year old nephew when he complained of a headache; his dad gave him ibuprofen. I told my nephew that it would take time for the medicine to work, as he continued to complain of a headache. His mother ended up taking him to the doctor that evening when he did not improve. My nephew was appropriately treated and felt better the next morning.
These were conversations I would have otherwise missed with my BTE hearing aids.
My nieces were a bit more talkative as I engaged them in conversation. My eight year old niece was surprisingly knowledgeable of the problems of the world and had a lot to say. Her mother affectionately describes her as a chatterbox. My fraternal twin twelve year old nieces also talked with me. One is a budding veterinarian in training - their mother is a veterinarian. one twelve year old niece frequently accompanies her mother to work on evenings and Saturdays. My other twelve year old niece wants to be a lawyer and has aspirations of being on the U.S. Supreme Court one day. We talked about what lawyers do. I explained that I work with attorneys in my job, and further explained to my niece that my supervisor is an attorney.
I also talked with my brother in law about his work, and we commiserated a bit on the state of the economy. I asked my younger sister, who is a veterinarian in private practice, how that was going. We talked of the economy and how we each knew people who had either suffered a loss in income and or jobs. My own salary is now frozen for two years. I am grateful to be gainfully employed.
I continue to adjust to the cochlear implant and the sound processor. Slowly and surely, words and sound are more connected. Music is still challenging as far as singing and the clarity of music. I can pick out instrumentation with no problem.
I have my one-month appointment on Tuesday with my CI Audiologist for another mapping session. We will see how that goes. As the New Year begins, I continue to be grateful for the cochlear implant and the gift of hearing it brings to me each day.
I understood my six year old nephew when he instructed me to microwave his chocolate drink for exactly "one minute and twenty-four seconds" to make him hot chocolate. I did so, and told him to let me know if his drink was too hot. He said okay.
I understood my ten year old nephew when he complained of a headache; his dad gave him ibuprofen. I told my nephew that it would take time for the medicine to work, as he continued to complain of a headache. His mother ended up taking him to the doctor that evening when he did not improve. My nephew was appropriately treated and felt better the next morning.
These were conversations I would have otherwise missed with my BTE hearing aids.
My nieces were a bit more talkative as I engaged them in conversation. My eight year old niece was surprisingly knowledgeable of the problems of the world and had a lot to say. Her mother affectionately describes her as a chatterbox. My fraternal twin twelve year old nieces also talked with me. One is a budding veterinarian in training - their mother is a veterinarian. one twelve year old niece frequently accompanies her mother to work on evenings and Saturdays. My other twelve year old niece wants to be a lawyer and has aspirations of being on the U.S. Supreme Court one day. We talked about what lawyers do. I explained that I work with attorneys in my job, and further explained to my niece that my supervisor is an attorney.
I also talked with my brother in law about his work, and we commiserated a bit on the state of the economy. I asked my younger sister, who is a veterinarian in private practice, how that was going. We talked of the economy and how we each knew people who had either suffered a loss in income and or jobs. My own salary is now frozen for two years. I am grateful to be gainfully employed.
I continue to adjust to the cochlear implant and the sound processor. Slowly and surely, words and sound are more connected. Music is still challenging as far as singing and the clarity of music. I can pick out instrumentation with no problem.
I have my one-month appointment on Tuesday with my CI Audiologist for another mapping session. We will see how that goes. As the New Year begins, I continue to be grateful for the cochlear implant and the gift of hearing it brings to me each day.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Music and a White Christmas
I made the four-hour trek to my younger sister's house for Christmas. I did well with the drive post-implant. I am with my younger sister, my brother in law and several of my nieces and nephews.
One of my nieces sang and played,"I'm Yours," by Jason Mraz for me on her guitar for me. It sounded like music to me for the first time post-implant. We all went to church Christmas Eve. I met the family of two little girls who had been implanted with cochlear implants. They were visiting family in the area. I also met the 18 year old niece of a pastor at the church where I was visiting. She had been implanted since age 7. She is in college now and was visiting her aunt and uncle over the holidays. All three girls do well with their implants.
Listening to the singing at church, I was able to recognize lyrics here and there. I would recognize the familiar Christmas hymns first before recognizing lyrics. Music with several instruments playing at once still doesn't quite sound like music, but I can pick out the keyboards, guitar. Church was noisy. I had a bit of trouble following conversations, but I am not straining to listen. The cochlear implant and sound processor are doing their job.
It started snowing last night. We are experiencing blizzard conditions, and I may not be able to get home tomorrow. We will see what the roads are like.
I have had quality conversation with three of my nieces, and can converse with the entire family without too much trouble. As the ages of my nieces and nephews vary from age 13 to age 6, the conversations vary. I can understand my six year old nephew a lot better than I did when I was wearing two behind the ear hearing aids.
I think I am progressing post-implant quite nicely. My younger sister's house with five of my nieces and nephews, is indeed noisy. They all have techie toys, Wii games, remote controlled cars, so I hear all kinds of beeps, clicks, whirring noises, and even bickering among the kids. Merry Christmas!
One of my nieces sang and played,"I'm Yours," by Jason Mraz for me on her guitar for me. It sounded like music to me for the first time post-implant. We all went to church Christmas Eve. I met the family of two little girls who had been implanted with cochlear implants. They were visiting family in the area. I also met the 18 year old niece of a pastor at the church where I was visiting. She had been implanted since age 7. She is in college now and was visiting her aunt and uncle over the holidays. All three girls do well with their implants.
Listening to the singing at church, I was able to recognize lyrics here and there. I would recognize the familiar Christmas hymns first before recognizing lyrics. Music with several instruments playing at once still doesn't quite sound like music, but I can pick out the keyboards, guitar. Church was noisy. I had a bit of trouble following conversations, but I am not straining to listen. The cochlear implant and sound processor are doing their job.
It started snowing last night. We are experiencing blizzard conditions, and I may not be able to get home tomorrow. We will see what the roads are like.
I have had quality conversation with three of my nieces, and can converse with the entire family without too much trouble. As the ages of my nieces and nephews vary from age 13 to age 6, the conversations vary. I can understand my six year old nephew a lot better than I did when I was wearing two behind the ear hearing aids.
I think I am progressing post-implant quite nicely. My younger sister's house with five of my nieces and nephews, is indeed noisy. They all have techie toys, Wii games, remote controlled cars, so I hear all kinds of beeps, clicks, whirring noises, and even bickering among the kids. Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
More Sounds, Bone Chilling Cold and some Christmas Enchantment
I can now hear feedback from the subway train operator's public announcement system, shrill braking from buses, trains and trucks. A very high "EEEEEEEE" sound. It has been bitterly cold and windy. I definitely hear the wind. I hear snatches of words and sentences without visual cues. A tiny victory: actually hearing the message to press "five" from the phone menu for renewing prescriptions when dialing my internist's office. It has been one month and three days since the cochlear implant was turned on.
Voices are sounding more "human." A package from a beloved aunt and uncle arrived recently. I opened it, and it was a beautiful glass snow globe which plays "Have yourself a Little Merry Christmas," and I recognized the tune.
My world is still noisy. I can now hear the hinges of my office door squeak as it opens. I can hear someone talking over the speaker phone in the next office, although I cannot understand any of the conversation. I can hear a co-worker pop gum in her mouth while she chews gum. I hear environmental noises outside, and hear people walk up and down the corridor with my door closed. I can hear a person's radio playing Christmas music in the main office when I go upstairs.
I think the reason I am sleeping so soundly at night is because my brain is tired from processing all the new sounds and noise. My brain is finally matching up sound with what it hears. Speech is sounding less disconnected and more connected.
Still, when I think back of my Activation Day, November 11th, when people's voices sounded underwater, my wild and crazy first week of sound, and now, sounds are starting to make sense to me. I am tired, but I am not wiped out or exhausted. What a huge difference from "hearing " with a cochlear implant and "hearing" with hearing aids. The implant and the sound processor continue to do its job.
Technology is so amazing, and hearing with a cochlear implant is such a gift.
Voices are sounding more "human." A package from a beloved aunt and uncle arrived recently. I opened it, and it was a beautiful glass snow globe which plays "Have yourself a Little Merry Christmas," and I recognized the tune.
My world is still noisy. I can now hear the hinges of my office door squeak as it opens. I can hear someone talking over the speaker phone in the next office, although I cannot understand any of the conversation. I can hear a co-worker pop gum in her mouth while she chews gum. I hear environmental noises outside, and hear people walk up and down the corridor with my door closed. I can hear a person's radio playing Christmas music in the main office when I go upstairs.
I think the reason I am sleeping so soundly at night is because my brain is tired from processing all the new sounds and noise. My brain is finally matching up sound with what it hears. Speech is sounding less disconnected and more connected.
Still, when I think back of my Activation Day, November 11th, when people's voices sounded underwater, my wild and crazy first week of sound, and now, sounds are starting to make sense to me. I am tired, but I am not wiped out or exhausted. What a huge difference from "hearing " with a cochlear implant and "hearing" with hearing aids. The implant and the sound processor continue to do its job.
Technology is so amazing, and hearing with a cochlear implant is such a gift.
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