Today was my one year activation anniversary. My one year anniversary, when I first heard with a cochlear implant for the first time. I returned to the cochlear clinic for my one year "tweaking" session. I had my hearing tested with the cochlear implant and I am right where I should be. The implant is doing everything it is supposed to be. I had my non-implanted ear tested and I am definitely a candidate for a second cochlear implant, this time in my right ear.
I went ahead and filled out the paperwork. The next step will be scheduling the date for the surgery. I am excited about getting my right ear implanted. I want to hear more. I want what I call "surround sound."
What a year it has been! I have literally had to learn to hear all over again. The technology of the cochlear implant is just phenomenal. I have heard birds, crickets and tree frogs.
Every night when I remove the sound processor and recharge the battery, I am stunned at how deaf I am. I am still a deaf person with a cochlear implant, and I am amazed at how my world has changed. Life-changing doesn't even begin to describe it.
Yet every morning I attach a freshly charged battery to my sound processor, put the processor on and I hear again. I've gone from hearing people talk as if they are talking underwater to pretty much understandable speech. When I listen to music, the singing still sounds like some one is singing with a scratchy voice. And I haven't collided with anyone coming around a grocery aisle, because I can hear the wheels of the cart as it is coming around.
I don't miss straining to hear. I don't miss ill-fitting hearing aids and feedback from the ear molds.
Hearing is such a gift.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Dogs and Squeaky toys
As I mentioned in my last blog, I recently spent some time with my older sister on the West Coast. While visiting with my cousins, I met a so-called "weiner dog," a delightful dog named Mozart. He just loved to shower kisses on everyone, was a great lap dog, and loves squeaky toys. He was just precious.
I thought back to when my mother was still living about seven years ago, she had adopted a darling golden retriever named Ben. Ben was younger then, and loved squeaky toys, even though he was about three at the time. As I couldn't hear squeaky toys, my mother would say, "squeak," every time Ben came in the room with a squeaky toy. I would give Ben a squeaky toy as a gift for Christmas when he was younger.
Now, in 2011, one cochlear implant later, I smiled, knowing I could hear Mozart's squeaky toys every time he carried a toy to my sister, or to one of my cousins. It was a bittersweet moment - I can't call either one of my parents on the telephone and tell them about what new sound I've heard lately.
My father has been with the Angels a long time - 25 years ago, and my mother, joined the Angels nearly six years ago.
Ben is still with us - my older sister took Ben to live with her and her son after our mother died. He no longer plays with squeaky toys, and moves slowly, aging with arthritis, but he is still a sweet dog. I hadn't seen him since my mother died, but I think Ben remembered me, because he came up the stairs and slept by my bed that first night. Ben is probably around ten now. He likes to nap outside in the Indian Summer, his arthritic joints bathed in sunshine.
My parents would be just delighted. I know my sisters, friends are all delighted at how far I have come in my hearing journey. In two months it will be Christmas. I had not been activated long last Christmas, so it will be interesting to see what Christmas sounds I hear, nearly one year later.
Hearing is such a gift.
I thought back to when my mother was still living about seven years ago, she had adopted a darling golden retriever named Ben. Ben was younger then, and loved squeaky toys, even though he was about three at the time. As I couldn't hear squeaky toys, my mother would say, "squeak," every time Ben came in the room with a squeaky toy. I would give Ben a squeaky toy as a gift for Christmas when he was younger.
Now, in 2011, one cochlear implant later, I smiled, knowing I could hear Mozart's squeaky toys every time he carried a toy to my sister, or to one of my cousins. It was a bittersweet moment - I can't call either one of my parents on the telephone and tell them about what new sound I've heard lately.
My father has been with the Angels a long time - 25 years ago, and my mother, joined the Angels nearly six years ago.
Ben is still with us - my older sister took Ben to live with her and her son after our mother died. He no longer plays with squeaky toys, and moves slowly, aging with arthritis, but he is still a sweet dog. I hadn't seen him since my mother died, but I think Ben remembered me, because he came up the stairs and slept by my bed that first night. Ben is probably around ten now. He likes to nap outside in the Indian Summer, his arthritic joints bathed in sunshine.
My parents would be just delighted. I know my sisters, friends are all delighted at how far I have come in my hearing journey. In two months it will be Christmas. I had not been activated long last Christmas, so it will be interesting to see what Christmas sounds I hear, nearly one year later.
Hearing is such a gift.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
An Anniversary, A Poignant Visit and Reflections
Yesterday it was one year ago that I had cochlear implant surgery and my left ear implanted.
What a year it has been! I just spent six days on the West Coast - visiting my older sister and meeting two paternal first cousins for the first time. I also gave a talk at a meeting at my sister's home about what my year with a cochlear implant has been like.
I am still hearing new sounds, a year later. My older sister has an Apple Mac laptop, and when she would send an e-mail from her laptop, it made a "whooshing" sound. I also met some delightful people from the business community at my sister's home. Many greeted me as one would an old friend. My sister has talked about me and so many of her friends feel they know me. I could not have felt more loved or welcome.
My paternal grandmother gave birth to a son who my two sisters and I did not know was my father's half brother. My older sister and I were delighted to meet our paternal first cousins, as we thought most of the family on that side of the family had long since died. We told our stories and pored through pictures. My older sister, our cousins and I were able to identify shared family photographs and there was no mistaking the family resemblance. It was an emotional, joyous visit, meeting other extended family members, and getting to know each other. I wish my younger sister had been able to make the journey, but I know there will be other opportunities.
We paid a visit to a veteran's cemetery to pay our respects to a cousins' son who died in the First Gulf War. As there were no remains, there is just a marker. We all brought flowers. Our older cousin said her son had been a real family man and he would have been so happy we found each other.
I know this - my life has been enriched by this visit and hearing journey. I met an audiologist who gave a presentation of the particular implant I chose. My sister remarked later that she could tell the audiologist had a heart and passion for her work. I told my older sister that the entire cochlear implant community network had that same heart and passion for how life changing, enriching a cochlear implant can be.
I could not have envisioned what this hearing journey, the sound flavorings, would be like for me. It has been a wonderful blessing and I have made so many new friends. I am making plans to have my right ear implanted in the near future and look forward to what I call surround sound.
Last night before I left for the airport to return home, I had an interesting experience. A gentleman introduced himself and said that I could have been "helped" by a behind the ear hearing aid he had brought with him. He fitted it inside my right ear with a in the canal earmold. The ear mold wasn't custom made to my ear, but I could hear noises and amplification. What I didn't tell him, was that the gain in hearing with that behind the ear hearing aid was probably one-quarter of what I was hearing with the cochlear implant sound processor. The cochlear implant sound processor I wear far exceeded the fidelity, quality of sound of the behind the ear hearing aid I tried on for him.
That experience gave me a glimpse of what binaural cochlear implantation will be like: having a miniature bose stereo sound processor in each ear. The only way I can describe it is like this - an analogy I have used before - I am hearing in technicolor, high definition - HD. The quality of the cochlear implant sound processor far exceeds what amplification of a hearing aid is like.
I am still a deaf person with a cochlear implant. It isn't brain surgery. The technology of this cochlear implant has truly enriched my life. I am looking forward to having my right ear implanted and experiencing more sound flavorings.
Hearing is such a gift.
What a year it has been! I just spent six days on the West Coast - visiting my older sister and meeting two paternal first cousins for the first time. I also gave a talk at a meeting at my sister's home about what my year with a cochlear implant has been like.
I am still hearing new sounds, a year later. My older sister has an Apple Mac laptop, and when she would send an e-mail from her laptop, it made a "whooshing" sound. I also met some delightful people from the business community at my sister's home. Many greeted me as one would an old friend. My sister has talked about me and so many of her friends feel they know me. I could not have felt more loved or welcome.
My paternal grandmother gave birth to a son who my two sisters and I did not know was my father's half brother. My older sister and I were delighted to meet our paternal first cousins, as we thought most of the family on that side of the family had long since died. We told our stories and pored through pictures. My older sister, our cousins and I were able to identify shared family photographs and there was no mistaking the family resemblance. It was an emotional, joyous visit, meeting other extended family members, and getting to know each other. I wish my younger sister had been able to make the journey, but I know there will be other opportunities.
We paid a visit to a veteran's cemetery to pay our respects to a cousins' son who died in the First Gulf War. As there were no remains, there is just a marker. We all brought flowers. Our older cousin said her son had been a real family man and he would have been so happy we found each other.
I know this - my life has been enriched by this visit and hearing journey. I met an audiologist who gave a presentation of the particular implant I chose. My sister remarked later that she could tell the audiologist had a heart and passion for her work. I told my older sister that the entire cochlear implant community network had that same heart and passion for how life changing, enriching a cochlear implant can be.
I could not have envisioned what this hearing journey, the sound flavorings, would be like for me. It has been a wonderful blessing and I have made so many new friends. I am making plans to have my right ear implanted in the near future and look forward to what I call surround sound.
Last night before I left for the airport to return home, I had an interesting experience. A gentleman introduced himself and said that I could have been "helped" by a behind the ear hearing aid he had brought with him. He fitted it inside my right ear with a in the canal earmold. The ear mold wasn't custom made to my ear, but I could hear noises and amplification. What I didn't tell him, was that the gain in hearing with that behind the ear hearing aid was probably one-quarter of what I was hearing with the cochlear implant sound processor. The cochlear implant sound processor I wear far exceeded the fidelity, quality of sound of the behind the ear hearing aid I tried on for him.
That experience gave me a glimpse of what binaural cochlear implantation will be like: having a miniature bose stereo sound processor in each ear. The only way I can describe it is like this - an analogy I have used before - I am hearing in technicolor, high definition - HD. The quality of the cochlear implant sound processor far exceeds what amplification of a hearing aid is like.
I am still a deaf person with a cochlear implant. It isn't brain surgery. The technology of this cochlear implant has truly enriched my life. I am looking forward to having my right ear implanted and experiencing more sound flavorings.
Hearing is such a gift.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
A birthday, an island, abundant sunshine and tree frogs
A good friend and I took a long weekend which had been planned and celebrated my birthday by leaving the country for a few days. We desperately needed a break from work and needed to recharge our batteries. We had never been to this small country before and were delighted with the weather, scenic views, abundant sunshine, great food, great drinks. We celebrated with a bottle of champagne on my birthday. We spent hours touring this country.
I had no issues with my cochlear implant or going through security. Another milestone. I was glad that I could travel with my sound processor, my travel case containing the rechargeable battery charger with the interchangeable plugs without issues. I had a few challenging moments in noisy restaurants but nothing like my hearing aid days. I'm progressing nicely, I think. My confidence in using the sound processor is getting better. I'm not afraid to experiment with the settings and try different things.
I heard what I thought were birds chirping. My friend said the chirping was actually tree frogs going, "Beep"! and replicated the sound for me. After my friend did that, I focused on the sound and listened. The tree frogs sounded just like my friend described to me.
It was a fun long weekend, with lots of laughter, good times, and much needed relaxation. We spent our last night relaxing in the hotel pools - first a chlorinated pool and then a saltwater pool. I liked the saltwater pool best. The water was warm in the evening, and really relaxing. I reluctantly returned to work on Tuesday.
Hearing is such a gift.
I had no issues with my cochlear implant or going through security. Another milestone. I was glad that I could travel with my sound processor, my travel case containing the rechargeable battery charger with the interchangeable plugs without issues. I had a few challenging moments in noisy restaurants but nothing like my hearing aid days. I'm progressing nicely, I think. My confidence in using the sound processor is getting better. I'm not afraid to experiment with the settings and try different things.
I heard what I thought were birds chirping. My friend said the chirping was actually tree frogs going, "Beep"! and replicated the sound for me. After my friend did that, I focused on the sound and listened. The tree frogs sounded just like my friend described to me.
It was a fun long weekend, with lots of laughter, good times, and much needed relaxation. We spent our last night relaxing in the hotel pools - first a chlorinated pool and then a saltwater pool. I liked the saltwater pool best. The water was warm in the evening, and really relaxing. I reluctantly returned to work on Tuesday.
Hearing is such a gift.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A Vineyard, Wine tasting and some "unplugged" music!
Last Saturday I went with some friends to a local vineyard for some wine tasting and good music. This was the first time I had been to a "live" music performance post-cochlear implant involving two professional musical artists. We brought picnic food and had ourselves a good time! All work and no play had made me cranky and I just absolutely had to get out of the house and have some fun!
I set my cochlear sound processor on "quiet." The music was definitely loud by my definition because I could feel the music of the electric guitar on the floor, through the speakers, and up my back. "Loudness" with a cochlear implant and a sound processor isn't painfully loud, just noisy. Still, I could tell when the music got cranked up a bit. When one musician invited a woman from the audience to sing a song along with him, she did, and both did a great job of it. For the first time post-cochlear implant, I heard most of the lyrics and their voices did NOT sound scratchy!!! I also had my picture taken with this musician and told him about my cochlear implant and that it was the first time I had heard his music with it. He was delighted.
What a breakthrough! I have had no difficulty picking out sounds of musical instruments from the beginning of activation day, but hearing and understanding lyrics has been a challenge without being prompted by captioning or reading the lyric sheet of a CD.
I now see what my online cochlear implanted veterans are talking about when suggesting turning UP the music or the volume control on the sound processor. It does make a difference in processing and understanding speech.
As for the wine? All of the wines were delicious. I was delighted. I also thought it was terrific to offer wine tastings with live entertainment. The vineyard hasn't been in business long, but I don't know of any other vineyard that offers live entertainment venues along with wine tasting. What a novel idea!
I am not yet completely deaf in my non-implanted ear, but I did notice the residual hearing is going fast. Both of my BTE hearing aids have died (they were nine years old). My one year
"earversary" (anniversary) will be October 12th. I will have my one year "tweaking" session in November at the Cochlear Implant Clinic. I am also going to have an audiogram of my right ear done and begin planning for cochlear implantation of my right ear sometime next year. A good friend told me that when I have my right ear implanted and activated, she will take me to a symphony. I think I'd like that.
I can't wait for what I call "surround sound"! It really will be like having a miniature BOSE stereo receiver in both of my ears!!!
I still like heavy metal music. I love feeling the thrumming of the bass guitars, the rhythm, the beat. I like a good guitar riff and a great drum solo anytime. I'm still a rock n' roll girl at heart...!
That doesn't mean I'm closed minded to listening to a live symphony or an opera. Not at all. I have already been to one live musical, which was "Wicked"! I would go see it again.
What an amazing 11 months it has been. It indeed has been sound flavorings anew, as well as hearing some new sounds. I'm still hungry for more.
Hearing with a cochlear implant is such a gift.
I set my cochlear sound processor on "quiet." The music was definitely loud by my definition because I could feel the music of the electric guitar on the floor, through the speakers, and up my back. "Loudness" with a cochlear implant and a sound processor isn't painfully loud, just noisy. Still, I could tell when the music got cranked up a bit. When one musician invited a woman from the audience to sing a song along with him, she did, and both did a great job of it. For the first time post-cochlear implant, I heard most of the lyrics and their voices did NOT sound scratchy!!! I also had my picture taken with this musician and told him about my cochlear implant and that it was the first time I had heard his music with it. He was delighted.
What a breakthrough! I have had no difficulty picking out sounds of musical instruments from the beginning of activation day, but hearing and understanding lyrics has been a challenge without being prompted by captioning or reading the lyric sheet of a CD.
I now see what my online cochlear implanted veterans are talking about when suggesting turning UP the music or the volume control on the sound processor. It does make a difference in processing and understanding speech.
As for the wine? All of the wines were delicious. I was delighted. I also thought it was terrific to offer wine tastings with live entertainment. The vineyard hasn't been in business long, but I don't know of any other vineyard that offers live entertainment venues along with wine tasting. What a novel idea!
I am not yet completely deaf in my non-implanted ear, but I did notice the residual hearing is going fast. Both of my BTE hearing aids have died (they were nine years old). My one year
"earversary" (anniversary) will be October 12th. I will have my one year "tweaking" session in November at the Cochlear Implant Clinic. I am also going to have an audiogram of my right ear done and begin planning for cochlear implantation of my right ear sometime next year. A good friend told me that when I have my right ear implanted and activated, she will take me to a symphony. I think I'd like that.
I can't wait for what I call "surround sound"! It really will be like having a miniature BOSE stereo receiver in both of my ears!!!
I still like heavy metal music. I love feeling the thrumming of the bass guitars, the rhythm, the beat. I like a good guitar riff and a great drum solo anytime. I'm still a rock n' roll girl at heart...!
That doesn't mean I'm closed minded to listening to a live symphony or an opera. Not at all. I have already been to one live musical, which was "Wicked"! I would go see it again.
What an amazing 11 months it has been. It indeed has been sound flavorings anew, as well as hearing some new sounds. I'm still hungry for more.
Hearing with a cochlear implant is such a gift.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
A loss, a journey, a family gathering, and some surprises
A much beloved Uncle by marriage passed away August 29th. He had battled multiple myeloma for nearly two and a half years, and was 83 years old when he died. My two sisters, a nephew, and I flew out separately down South last Thursday to remember and honor him. This was my first trip on an airplane post cochlear implant. I walked through the metal detectors at the airport and no alarms blared or flashed. I carried my cochlear implant travel case with my battery charger and electric cord with interchangeable plugs and placed that travel case to be screened through the x-ray machine. Nobody asked for my medical implant ID card. I admit this was a source of anxiety for me despite being reassured by cochlear implant veterans that flying shouldn't be an issue with a cochlear implant. To my relief, it wasn't, and that was one less thing to worry about.
After landing at my destination, I picked up my rental SUV and drove the 40 minutes to my Aunt's house. She was glad to see me and we visited a while before I left for my cousin's house to change clothes and get ready for the visitation. I last saw my Aunt and Uncle last July, 2010. I had visited my aunt and uncle for a weekend last summer to celebrate my Aunt's 80th birthday - a surprise visit on my part.
Thinking I knew where the funeral home was, I had neglected to look for landmarks - and drove right past it. I stopped at a convenience store and asked for directions to the funeral home, knowing I had missed it.
The convenience store clerk immediately recognized I was deaf and simultaneously signed and spoke to me. So much for passing as a hearing person with a cochlear implant. Not happening! I am still a deaf person with a cochlear implant!
That should satisfy the Deafies who think I am no longer "Deaf" because I have a cochlear implant. The Hearing World still views me as deaf, and I didn't even identify myself to the convenience store clerk as a deaf person. Go Figure.
Once at the funeral home, there was a long line of people waiting to greet my Aunt and my cousins, their wives and my Uncle and Aunt's three grand children. I walked up and saw the mother in law of one of my cousins. We greeted each other and hugged. The gathering was a bit noisy, but I could pretty much follow the conversation and respond appropriately. I saw one of my now retired Freshman English Professors from the University, and we hugged and talked. I showed her my cochlear implant sound processor and explained how it worked and how life changing it has been for me. I saw old neighbors and friends and we talked. My younger sister came in, and we hugged.
Our older sister arrived that night with her son, in from the West Coast at 1:30 AM Friday morning. My cousin, his wife and my sisters stayed up talking until around 5 AM. Knowing there was a 11:00 AM memorial service at church, I gave up and turned into bed around 2 AM.
Friday morning we all got up, dressed and went to church. My Uncle and Aunt's three grandchildren spoke of what they remembered of their beloved Papa, and I had absolutely no trouble hearing them. I had no difficulty understanding the pastor's homily nor the singing of the choir. I heard the music for the first time post implant, and to my surprise, it didn't sound the way I "remembered" it. I had to remind myself that hearing aids had amplified sound of a piano, organ, other musical instrument, and what I was hearing was at "normal" volume.
After the service, we went downstairs for refreshments which the church family had prepared for us, and I mingled around. I had no difficulty in carrying on conversations. We said our good byes and I drove to my cousin's house, ditched the church clothes for bare feet, shorts and a shirt. Later, one of my friends from deaf school days came by and I showed her my cochlear implant sound processor and explained how it worked. She was delighted for me.
Later, sitting with my family, Aunt, cousins, second cousins, outside that evening, I could hear the fire in the fire pit, the logs snapping, crackling, popping. I heard the cascading waterfall of the pool. I had asked one of my cousins earlier if the chirping noise were birds. He said he didn't think so.
The next night, I heard the chirping again, and told my younger sister, who told me that the chirping noises were crickets! She said it was a relaxing sound, and I said I didn't know if it was relaxing, but I was glad she identified the chirping sound for me! I could understand snatches of the conversation as the evening got dark, but still missed some of what was said. I decided to just focus on listening as auditory training. Still, when I think what my journey has been like for nearly ten months, it has been simply amazing. From first hearing voices as sounding like people were talking underwater, to understanding speech to scratchy singing, that's pretty good!
I am not yet at the point where I can fully understand a phone conversation without the aid of captioning or use a cell phone. I can definitely hear a person talking on a cell phone from a distance, but I cannot fully comprehend speech a hundred percent. I haven't yet tried out a cell phone to see if I can understand the conversation.
I hear airport announcements at the airport, but cannot fully comprehend what is being said. I still have to ask for clarification if I do not understand something. I can understand the flight attendants announce the boarding when a person holds up that mike thing with a cord. I can even understand part of the safety drill being spoken several rows down from the flight attendant, and that's progress.
We all reluctantly said our good byes and returned home. We all returned to work. When I was leaving the subway station earlier this evening, I could hear a musical instrument over the noise of home bound commuters and the road noise. As I approached the exit, I realized I was hearing a small harp being played by a young woman. I paused and listened and could pick out high to low sounds from that harp.
What a unexpected treat!
After landing at my destination, I picked up my rental SUV and drove the 40 minutes to my Aunt's house. She was glad to see me and we visited a while before I left for my cousin's house to change clothes and get ready for the visitation. I last saw my Aunt and Uncle last July, 2010. I had visited my aunt and uncle for a weekend last summer to celebrate my Aunt's 80th birthday - a surprise visit on my part.
Thinking I knew where the funeral home was, I had neglected to look for landmarks - and drove right past it. I stopped at a convenience store and asked for directions to the funeral home, knowing I had missed it.
The convenience store clerk immediately recognized I was deaf and simultaneously signed and spoke to me. So much for passing as a hearing person with a cochlear implant. Not happening! I am still a deaf person with a cochlear implant!
That should satisfy the Deafies who think I am no longer "Deaf" because I have a cochlear implant. The Hearing World still views me as deaf, and I didn't even identify myself to the convenience store clerk as a deaf person. Go Figure.
Once at the funeral home, there was a long line of people waiting to greet my Aunt and my cousins, their wives and my Uncle and Aunt's three grand children. I walked up and saw the mother in law of one of my cousins. We greeted each other and hugged. The gathering was a bit noisy, but I could pretty much follow the conversation and respond appropriately. I saw one of my now retired Freshman English Professors from the University, and we hugged and talked. I showed her my cochlear implant sound processor and explained how it worked and how life changing it has been for me. I saw old neighbors and friends and we talked. My younger sister came in, and we hugged.
Our older sister arrived that night with her son, in from the West Coast at 1:30 AM Friday morning. My cousin, his wife and my sisters stayed up talking until around 5 AM. Knowing there was a 11:00 AM memorial service at church, I gave up and turned into bed around 2 AM.
Friday morning we all got up, dressed and went to church. My Uncle and Aunt's three grandchildren spoke of what they remembered of their beloved Papa, and I had absolutely no trouble hearing them. I had no difficulty understanding the pastor's homily nor the singing of the choir. I heard the music for the first time post implant, and to my surprise, it didn't sound the way I "remembered" it. I had to remind myself that hearing aids had amplified sound of a piano, organ, other musical instrument, and what I was hearing was at "normal" volume.
After the service, we went downstairs for refreshments which the church family had prepared for us, and I mingled around. I had no difficulty in carrying on conversations. We said our good byes and I drove to my cousin's house, ditched the church clothes for bare feet, shorts and a shirt. Later, one of my friends from deaf school days came by and I showed her my cochlear implant sound processor and explained how it worked. She was delighted for me.
Later, sitting with my family, Aunt, cousins, second cousins, outside that evening, I could hear the fire in the fire pit, the logs snapping, crackling, popping. I heard the cascading waterfall of the pool. I had asked one of my cousins earlier if the chirping noise were birds. He said he didn't think so.
The next night, I heard the chirping again, and told my younger sister, who told me that the chirping noises were crickets! She said it was a relaxing sound, and I said I didn't know if it was relaxing, but I was glad she identified the chirping sound for me! I could understand snatches of the conversation as the evening got dark, but still missed some of what was said. I decided to just focus on listening as auditory training. Still, when I think what my journey has been like for nearly ten months, it has been simply amazing. From first hearing voices as sounding like people were talking underwater, to understanding speech to scratchy singing, that's pretty good!
I am not yet at the point where I can fully understand a phone conversation without the aid of captioning or use a cell phone. I can definitely hear a person talking on a cell phone from a distance, but I cannot fully comprehend speech a hundred percent. I haven't yet tried out a cell phone to see if I can understand the conversation.
I hear airport announcements at the airport, but cannot fully comprehend what is being said. I still have to ask for clarification if I do not understand something. I can understand the flight attendants announce the boarding when a person holds up that mike thing with a cord. I can even understand part of the safety drill being spoken several rows down from the flight attendant, and that's progress.
We all reluctantly said our good byes and returned home. We all returned to work. When I was leaving the subway station earlier this evening, I could hear a musical instrument over the noise of home bound commuters and the road noise. As I approached the exit, I realized I was hearing a small harp being played by a young woman. I paused and listened and could pick out high to low sounds from that harp.
What a unexpected treat!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Introductions
Someone recently raised the question on a social network page whether to identify oneself as a Cochlear Implant (CI) user or as a deaf person. Well, that intrigued me, so I gave the question some thought. I did introduce myself in college as being deaf and someone who spoke and lipread. I explained my limitations in the classroom. But in a social situation? No, I always say, "Hello, I'm Mindy," and leave it at that. I also have explained my limitations in the workplace.
As I have been deaf since I was a toddler, people figure out pretty quickly that I am deaf. I am a CI user who just happens to be deaf. For someone who was deafened later in life, as a teenager, adult or senior citizen who has what I call "hearing memory," there may be no need to identify yourself as a person who is deaf. Being deaf is an invisible disability. I agree with that.
I still am deaf when I take off my sound processor at night, or when I shower or bathe, or go to sleep.
I think it is a matter of personal choice whether one wants to identify himself or herself as a person with a hearing disability. I may do that if I am in a noisy situation.
Another reminder that I live in a hearing world.
Hearing is such a gift, noisy or not.
As I have been deaf since I was a toddler, people figure out pretty quickly that I am deaf. I am a CI user who just happens to be deaf. For someone who was deafened later in life, as a teenager, adult or senior citizen who has what I call "hearing memory," there may be no need to identify yourself as a person who is deaf. Being deaf is an invisible disability. I agree with that.
I still am deaf when I take off my sound processor at night, or when I shower or bathe, or go to sleep.
I think it is a matter of personal choice whether one wants to identify himself or herself as a person with a hearing disability. I may do that if I am in a noisy situation.
Another reminder that I live in a hearing world.
Hearing is such a gift, noisy or not.
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