Two Weeks Into Hearing

I continue to marvel at being able to hear.  Granted it is not yet "natural sounding" through my implant.  But words are clearly understandable.  I wear a hearing aid in my non-implant ear that is programmed to my implant processor. That means I am bi-modal.  I hear everything with both ears, but by different modes--hearing aid and implant.  People who have an implant in both ears are bi-lateral.

Because of the hearing aid, I continue to hear natural in that ear, but the new way in the implant ear.  This makes understanding much easier for me.  When I am practicing listening I remove the hearing aid in order to help the implant ear work more.  It surprises me that I have to concentrate so intensely or my mind wanders and tries to go into multi-tasking thinking about other things.  We take lots of things for granted, hearing included.

Being in a crowd is something I've avoided because of the noise.  I have attended three worship services.  At the first one, the preacher wore my mini-mic and all his words went directly to my ears.  Great--but it was a small service so not too much noise.  The next was at a large gathering.  To my great wonder I understood nearly every word.  I had clipped on the mic to see if that helped.  Not sure since I was pretty far toward the back.  When I got in the car to go home, I discovered I has lost the mic.  Panic!!  I found it on the floor where it had gotten knocked off in the crowd.  Won't do that a gain!  So thankful nobody stepped on it.  Today I sat near the back and was able to understand most of the preacher's words.  When I first got there, I could barely hear and it was very distressing.  I turned up the volume on both devices but it didn't help.  Finally I put a new battery in the hearing aid.  Not sure how I missed the alert that it was going out.  Immediately I could hear everything.

I have made a decision.  The question to me has been "will you have the other ear implanted?"  At first I said, I'm thinking about it.  However, I have realized that if I do, I will not have ANY hearing without the processors being in place.  As it is, I can hear to a degree with my hearing aid.  I'm not ready to give that up.  Unless I lose all hearing in that ear, I won't have another implant.

How blessed I am to be able to hear and understand--perfect or not.

First Full Day of Hearing

Today was a day of discovering. Discovering just how noisy everything is. Nothing is silent. When I comb my hair, when I walk, when I do anything it makes loud sound. With an implant the brain has to get used to all the sounds coming through my implant rather than the normal way it receives sound.  Per my audiologist, my brain will begin to filter this out and I won’t notice them.

I wore both the hearing aid and implant processor all day and practiced some word recognition of words spoken in the program. I’m not up to 100% yet, but close.

Today I paired my mini microphone with the processor.  Bill clipped it on and it sends his words directly to my ears.  It can be used up to 22’ away from me.  What a treat that is.....until he went into the kitchen and started putting a snack together. It sounded like clanging and banging. I quickly retrieved my mic. I have a few other accessories to try later.

Activation Day At Last

My activation was scheduled for after lunch, so since we’re 45 minutes away we had a leasurely lunch in town before the appointment. My granddaughter, Leslie, went with us to video the activation. I determined that the “a picture is worth 1000 words” would be better than trying to relate what actually happened.

  I felt like my brain was saying “What is that?” when we got started.  Because it sounded mechanical it took a few seconds to realize I was hearing words. As the words became more pronounced I couldn’t determine who was speaking because the voice sounded male with no differentiation. I laughed to realize I was hearing myself sometimes.

I received all of the accessories that came with the implant, but was only paired with my iPhone for now. Words are sounding much more normal now.  I feel incredibly blessed for this experience.
I’m a bit tired from all the concentration so I’ll be happy to take the processor off for a while.

Ready To Go

My month of waiting is over.  Actually the month since the implant seemed to pass quickly, but time does seem to speed by as you age.

Tomorrow I'll go to the Audiologist in College Station to have the processor put on and activated.  I've watched numerous videos of an activation so I know what to expect.  There will be a lot for me to remember about the implant capabilities  and how to use each of the components.  As I understand it, she will not do a lot of things tomorrow, but set the volume (loudness and softness) see what I'm hearing, do a little tweaking and tell me what to do for practice until I see her again.  I've borrowed audiobooks and the print books, downloaded audio Bible.  I usually study with NKJV but could not find that in audio, so I'll use ESV.  There are several recommended software programs for practice.  When I asked people in the cochlear implant support group on Facebook, everybody had their favorite way to practice.  I'm sure I will too.  Whatever is most helpful to me.  Bill has promised to read to me as well.   I don't know how I'll stand all the audio as I hate being read to. LOL!!

I'm blessed that the implant is available for me.  Much improvement has taken place in the years since they became available. 

Just Waiting...Maybe Not So Patiently

The phrase usually says "waiting patiently".  I'm waiting anxiously!!  I'll be activated in 1 week and 1 day.  I have had nagging concerns that the healing would not be progressed enough, but everything seems to be fine, very little tenderness in the surgical site.  I can feel where the implant is.  Its just a slight bump above the rest of my scalp.

I've prepared myself and told Bill that its altogether possible that I will not recognize words on the day I'm activated.  If not I won't be concerned bacause that is not unusual.  It will be a special treat if I do understand words.  Lots of ways to practice.  I'll use an audio Bible, and Bill will read to me as well.  I'll follow the words with the printed text.

Everybody that I've been around has been very patient with my one ear hearing.  Sadly that ear struggles to hear well. 

Surgery Followup Day

Today I went back to the surgeon for a follow up visit and have the stitches removed. Ouch!
Thankfully everything looks good and I can resume my normal activities.
I put my hearing aid in the implanted ear to determine if I had any residual hearing after the implant.  That happens sometimes with an implant, but not in my case.  I’m surprised that my non implant ear, which I’m hearing with now, is as bad as it is. I really thought my hearing in that ear was better. But even with the new hearing aid I don’t hear well at all except through the iphone.

So my Activation Date is Dec. 18.  I tried to get it set earlier but he waits til a month after implant. I’m just anxious to get started hearing again.  I know it will take a lot of practice listening and I’m ready to get started.

I’ll just have to wait 15 more days. Meanwhile it’s time to get ready for the Christmas season.

This Could Get Boring

I’m not a “sit still” person. I’m sure that’s why I could never learn to knit or crochet...or why my quilts take years to finish. Thankfully I’m getting my strength back, but I’m really trying to not over-do it.  Yesterday was a week after implant. I have an appointment to have the stitches removed on Wednesday.  Yea!!!
I am so blessed to be feeling great and healing well. I do not hear well with just one hearing aid, but I can hear conversation close up.  The TV is on, Bill hears it fine, but I only hear sounds without understanding.  Anything I can stream from my iPhone goes directly into my hearing aid, so that’s good.
Thanksgiving was enjoyable but small. I’m not quite ready to try to hear in a crowd.

Day 4&5 of Implant

I woke on Tuesday feeling great and that has continued.  Last night I slept in a bed with plenty of pillows.  Much better that a recliner.  This morning I was able to begin small chores, which is great because this sitting still is boring.

My next big thing will be having the stitches removed on the 28th.  After that I'll just be waitng for Activation of the cochlear processor to see what I can and cannot hear. The surgery site has to be healed before that can happen....so about 3 weeks.  

My real work will begin with learning to recognize sounds as words, music, etc.  For some people it is quick and for others it takes more time.  Whatever it takes for me  to hear again will be worth it.

Day 1&2 After Surgery

Because  I’ve done extensive research on cochlear implant I haven’t been surprised about my experiences. I know they are normal. I had enough pain that I took the pain prescription.  Yesterday was the most uncomfortable with weakness and mild nausea. I’m able to sleep in my recliner.

Nov. 16. Implant Day Finally Arrived

We. left for the hospital at 5:00 am.  From 5:45 to 7:30 did all the admission and pre-op procedures, my husband prayed with me, met all surgery team and finally went to O.R.  I’ve never had a bad experience with anaesthesia so I was happy to get a nap.  I woke with some pain but overall it was not bad. My bandage was covered by a shallow bowl or cup attached to a band around my head. Thankfully it can come off in 24 hrs, it is not comfortable to lie down in.  Hence I slept in a recliner.
We were home by 1:30. I am taking pain pills but not having naseau or dizziness. No complaints so far.  Blessed am I.

Practicing Lopsided Hearing

For a few weeks following my cochlear implant I will only be able to hear in the non implant ear.  I'm practicing that by only wearing a hearing aid in the other ear.   Thankful for hearing aids at this point!
I wonder what all I've missed hearing today.

Compatible Hearing Aid

On Monday of this week I was fitted with the Resound hearing aid that will be compatible with my cochlear implant.  That means that any audio that streams into my implant ear will go to the other ear as well, giving me bilateral hearing.  It is controlled through an iphone app.  I can’t begin to describe how great it is to actually hear on my cell phone again.  I’ve relied on text for several years.  Even with speaker phone I haven’t been able to understand words.

What I Can Expect

I’ve seen all the parts that make up the implant.  I can choose to have the implant paired with several things.  I’ve chosen cell phone, laptop, and TV.  That means I can have any of those devices stream the audio into my ears, much like a listening device at church.  I will have a new hearing aid for my left ear that is compatible to the implant so whatever I’m listening to will be streamed to both ears.  An iphone app will be my remote control.

The very best feature for me is a microphone that will stream into my ears.  It can be placed quite a distance from me and I will still hear.  Think restaurant or classroom!!

Am I excited?  Absolutely.

I’ll continue to post as something happens, but for right now I’m just waiting.

Getting Ready

During the next two weeks I’ll be getting ready to take the time off for the surgery and healing period.  It is outpatient so it isn’t likely that I’ll be staying overnight.  I hope I’m scheduled early because I do not love the idea of waking without coffee.  I’ll be fully asleep for the procedure that takes a couple of hours.  When I wake, my head will be bandaged and I’ll probably have some discomfort.  I’ll rest the first few days.  I’ll be fully deaf in the implanted ear while it heals, which takes about 3-4 weeks.  However I’ll have a hearing aid in the other ear.  Thanksgiving for us will be very quiet and laid back.  I’ll probably milk the healing time as much as I can get by with!!

I’ll go to the audiologist to be “activated” when healing is complete. The processer which will fit over my ear will be attached to the under -the- skin implant by a magnet.  I know from my research that the sounds I hear can sound like anything from words to growling.  I will have to re-learn to recognize  sounds through a rehabilitation process using computer software.  That’s why I chose the holiday time when I can stay at home and practice. 

The Big Decision

Several months ago I started the process again.  Back to the Audiologist, who confirmed that my word recognition was indeed low enough for insurance to pay for an implant.  My provider agreed that it will be covered as outpatient surgery.

I met with the ENT who will do the surgery, watched videos of the surgery on the internet, and scheduled the implant surgery.

Because I lead a Bible Study from Sept to May, I wanted to schedule the surgery for the holidays.  So our holidays will be very quiet.  I plan to have the surgery Nov. 16.

Gradually Losing Hearing

My hearing aids allowed me to function well enough, but I began to notice that I could not understand words I heard.  When I removed my aids I was in a world of silence.  That’s not all bad.  It’s great to close off all noise, but of course I needed to hear and understand.

I began to hear about Cochlear Implants, but I heard some negative comments so I didn’t pursue that at that time.  A couple of years ago, I met a new friend at church who had a Cochlear Implant for about five years.  She encouraged me to consider an implant and I did due to her success.  She has gotten an implant in her other ear since then.

The more I researched CI’s I really thought an implant would help me.  However, my insurance company said my word recognition was not low enough to qualify and they would not cover it. Bummer!!

I had to wait until I got another provider before I could continue trying.

What?? I Can't Hear You!

I'm starting this blog to keep a journal of my thoughts and concerns about my hearing loss.

When I was in my 40s, I detected a slight hearing loss in my right ear.  My family also noticed I was not hearing as well.  The way I noticed it was while being on hold on the phone I moved the handset from my right to left ear.  Surprisingly there was music in the left ear.  I moved it back and there was NO music.  Clearly a problem.  Not too long after that I got a hearing aid for the right ear.  What a great improvement!!

I never minded if people knew I wore a hearing aid, but I quickly learned that most people are not kind and understanding about a person with a hearing loss. It seems to be a great joke when someone can't hear. My husband has always been supportive about my hearing loss, which I greatly appreciate.

After a few years, I needed a hearing aid for my left ear also and was able to get "in the ear" aids.  I functioned well for a while, but by my 60's I needed more help.  I have a great audiologist who fitted me with over the ear hearing aids.  That's what I have now.

In the next blog I'll discuss my next move to hear better.