My 2 month milestone ! - a crow squawking!

A week or so after my tune in I emailed the CI centre and asked them to see me - something was making a fuzzy noise, I really wanted to throw the processor off at this stage - Helen came back to me with a date for me to see her - such a relief! We did some work with some of the electrodes and few other technicalities to improve the way I was hearing sounds.

 

The electrodes

They also changed my little microphone as at times it was cutting out a bit .Again much improved things - especially when we turned of a few electrodes. I felt so much better - I knew things would never be clear yet as it was still early on in the listening journey but it wasn't annoying me as much now - we had a funny moment actually as Helen was looking up the songs i had been listening to especially my 'twinkle twinkle little star!' on laptop to see if the buzzy fuzzy noise was still there and coming back to the software to alter things. She was so kind and patient with me yet i kept saying to her -here we go again !! - it really helps her and me work together on trying to work out what the trigger was. 

Sometimes its very hard to explain to Audiologists how the noise is, so that's why they ask you to take notes - or explain the type of thing that sets it of. Mine was all day traffic, being on a bus and some television scenes of music! Some voices were distorted as well, Male voices were much harder to identify than female voices. It can also be difficult in the soundproof rooms they use to identify the trigger - so Helen does this fantastic 5 minutes - making noises like clapping - banging on drums and ringing bells to see if i am comfortable - this is so important to me and probably  to every Cochlear Implant wearer.

In my earlier days iwas given a folder the pack included a long list of words to use for describing sounds and noises - this proved very helpful as its not always easy to describe if you've never heard properly before.

Some examples are shown below:


On the 16th November - i reached my 2 month milestone

I began to reflect back on noises Ive heard - and It made me wonder how an earth i coped with my hearing aids. No wonder i was tired and no wonder I was feeling so low confident. Don't get me wrong things are far from perfect now - Ive still got a long long way  to go yet, but I really am pleased with my progress. OK I've had set backs and difficulties - but its still so new to me and my poor brain hasn't heard very well for 35 years of my life! So now its had a wake up call and has to identify something new - SOUND and LOTS OF IT!!!!

Been listening to some old music tunes as well -  some old songs i was familiar from my teens -some days appeared to be much clearer than Ive ever heard before - so my family probably thought I was a bit mad when i began to rock my head up and down along with the beats!
I'm thankful we also have access to you tube on the Internet  - so i can download songs alongside the lyrics - its really helped me to  follow the words so i know I'm in rythmn with the moment, in the past I just followed the beat by using my hands or bear feet to feel the vibrations - who knows maybe soon I shall be able to listen without the lyrics showing but for now its been a great site to use for my listening therapy. Again my audio lead has been a godsend - i can link up and listen via my laptop - you can also plug it into a CD player, Television, Ipod and some many other things to enable you to listen 1 to 1 - just like headphones do for hearing folk.

Music Appreciation: Rocking your head up and down along with  the beats!!!

I had a special moment - a few days after my seeing Helen, I got of the bus and heard this loud roar- and the more i heard it the more it became clearer. I was sure  it was so near or above me. So i stopped in my tracks - and continued to look around me, side to side and above me - again I heard it but couldn't see it - i looked down disappointed that i didn't or wasn't able to identify it. Usually my husband would be with me and be able to help me identify it  - but suddenly a crow flew down in front of me to pick up some breadcrumbs and there it was the crow the noise I had been hearing - 'A Crow squawking!' I had tears in my eyes - I've never heard a Crow before and for the first time in my life I had heard one! WOW

I was on top of the world when I got home and so excited - most people who saw me in the street probably thought I was some mad woman - but to me, it was a precious momentum. I was beginning to fall in love with my Cochlear Implant!

HOW THE KINDLE WORKS WITH CI - STEP BY STEP GUIDE

Since my last blog - ive had quite alot of interest in my Kindle so i thought i'd update you how it works. Ive only been using it a few weeks and speech is getting much clearer to understand. Please bear in mind i only do an hour a day at moment - due to only being switched on since 16th Sept this year - I dont want to overload my brain!

The Kindle i have is shown below in the link - its important to get the correct one the cheaper one on the market which is showing in the uk doesnt have the audio link, i dont know how many of you read  this so whereever you are in the world make sure you check it out. I went to my local shop to see it first before my decision.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Wireless-Reader-3G-Wifi-Graphite/dp/B002LVUWFE

I also acquired a new case, again it had to be purple to match my CI ( Cochlear Implant!)

Snazzy eh?

How to link up with my CI?

Most CI wearers have a audio lead which can be linked up with there CI, with the neurelec, you have to remove the 2nd micophone that is linked up via lead. The audio link is then placed into the same place as the wire. Some neurelec wearers say they hear only in one ear - but i can hear in both when i connect so i think its a case of the brain learning  to adapt to both sides.

My audio lead - Above

Audio lead hooked up to my CI ( and yes i know i dont have my purple one - its still in repair and will be back soon)- As above

I then added my audio lead to the Kindle before i turned it on - As below 

You will see the audio hole here

This is with the lead inserted- As above

My next step is to switch the kindle on !- As above

Once the Kindle is turned on, the page or book from where i prior read will show or you will have to select a book to read.- As above

                               I then need to press the Aa button - my finger points at this button - As above.

Once the Aa button has been pressed, a menu will show - as below

You will see the Text - to - Speech on this menu - well you need to scroll down and highlight it and press enter

Sorry abt the quality of the above photo - but if u cant read it it says in order 1, text to speech - turn off or pause, 2 Speech Rate - slower, default, faster and 3, Speaking Voice - Female or Male

You can scroll down and select accordingly press enter

And .... your set to go! Happy Kindle Reading!

A photo of me reading my kindle with my CI Audio lead attached - in my PJs sorry folks but i always read before going to bed - it helps me relax and helps settle my tinnitus!

Hope you found this helpful

Any more questions please feel free to ask

More auditory therapy and Kindle Listening !

Shortly after my tune in my second rehabilitation session began with a lovely lady called Anna Duncan, who is a hearing and speech therapist, i began by being nosey and asking lots of questions about herself - I'm terrible like that at times - but it comes with being deaf  - i don't hear much so i like to ask loads of questions - or if else fails I read about it ! - she was great and in turn asked me a bit about how i was coping. I explained I was feeling a bit low, but I think that was because of my broken processor, now it had been fixed i felt relieved as all sorts of thoughts were running through my head - why was it crackling? was it normal? and is this a sign the implant isn't working so well? Once again she told me all was ok and I had only been learning to listen for a short period of time and I agreed i needed to be patient! It did however feel much better when Helen had changed it and tweaked some of the settings!

We began a few exercises, she had a programme of pictures and words that she showed me on her laptop and used an old embroidery hoop that was covered in material to cover her face when talking. I had to work out what she was trying  to say without lipreading - a very hard thing to do and very tiring too. Her voice was quite clear and she spoke loudly for me. She also pointed at some of the words for me to speak so she could see what my speech was like. I'd been quite lucky as my parents taught me speech well so i knew that my pronunciation wasn't too bad. I do however struggle with my letter S and P's but that's normal for someone who has hearing difficulties. I think Anna was indeed impressed with my speech - i tell you now that didn't come smoothly - i had to really work on it as a child - I suppose i felt proud of her words. Not many people say that to me now days.

Some of the words we used were as below:

RAINBOW
ICECREAM
TEAPOT
FLASHLIGHT
BASEBALL

    -------

STARFISH
STOPSIGN
LIGHTBLUB
SEAHORSE
FOOTBALL



It felt good  for what i had achieved  out of this session, and identified that i still struggled to tell the differences in some words - i wasnt expecting miracles as i couldnt even hear sound prior to my implantation - for the month I had been activated we both agreed we had done very well. I however did need more work on my silent letters, as i was a prior hearing aid wearer -  I probably never ever heard them before there would be some more work to come . Ive also noticed recently that female voices were becoming much easier to recognise compared to male voices? and   I was beginning to learn not to shout when i spoke - Ive been doing this ever since i became profoundly deaf as i had no way of knowing the volume of my voice. Again very common with deafies who had my degree of deafness.

Anna gave me some tips and asked me to practice this at home.


My experience at Fratton park seeing my favourite football team play

I had a nice surprise a few days later - I'm an avid football fan for my home town 'Portsmouth' - and some fellow pals id be talking to through facebook for along time - so Andrea and Dave ( the gorilla- that's his nickname by the way - don't ask - too long a story to explain!!) invited me to go along with them to watch the Doncaster v Portsmouth match at Fratton Park, I took my nephew Louis along with me in tow.It really cheered me up - it was just the tonic I needed. I love football - but Ive never been able to have the confidence to go. I didn't hear what was behind me, my husband who also supports was working most match days - so my fear was if any trouble, danger or safety was needed id be stranded - when Andrea and Dave said they'd look after me - i was bowled over with gratitude. It was nice to meet them face to face as id been talking abt Pompey(The Slang word for Portsmouth!) for a long  time on the Internet to them.  As a thank you to them I asked my fellow friend Ian Johnstone to draw and design another cartoon of us together!

The match was a great listening experience for me and that not just because we won 3 v 1, I could hear the crowds and the beats, people cheering, it was a bit messy to be amongst at the start and i did pound poor Dave with a few questions as there was loads of sounds clashing but he and Andrea were great! I did struggle with the Melody's of songs they sang  - Portsmouth Fans are well known for there songs and chants all over the UK!  but overall what a great day!. I hope if i go next time it will be much clearer to hear - as I'm sure my brain was processing every moment ! I look forward to the day i can hear the crowds singing:
PLAY UP POMPEY - POMPEY PLAY UP!!! 



Listening through a kindle!!

Lately Ive been researching about Audio Books some of my C.I followers have told me about them - but my main worry was i still wouldn't know word for word as speech is still distorted for me at times. Speaking to one of my pals who had a Kindle i progressed to ask her if they had an Audio output on them - her one did - i jumped with joy when i heard this! For those of you who don't know what a kindle is its one of the latest gadgets out on the market- photo is below - it means you can download books from the Internet and read them on a screen- good stuff eh?. A discussion with someone who lived in the states USA proved also very helpful she described how she had used hers to help her learn speech, The words would still show on the screen like a book and I would be able to follow and listen at the same time. I was amazed how fabulous technology had become, now that's what you call a double jump with joy ha ha  a few days later i jokingly asked my parents if they could purchase one for me.I never thought for a second it would be taken seriously as I don't often ask for much but I was so chuffed and excited when my Mother told me my Father had purchased one for me - my birthday isn't until next month and my husband agreed to contribute towards the cost as my present.Best of all I was allowed to have it early to help me progress. My audio lead that Neurelec provided me was very helpful for this - so I am now pleased to say I am a Kindle addict ! Thank you so much Daddy - I love you!! xxx by the way something else to mention here is I'm cautious of overloading my poor brain with too much sound at the moment so i find an hour a day of listening is enough - each person is different but i with patience I've learnt - little steps!

 Im awaiting a new purple case for my kindle in the post! - it just had to be done so it will match my CI after all im a purple princess he he!

Disclaimer: Dear father Christmas i will not be held responsible for an influx of CI wearers requesting a Kindle for Christmas - much love the CI Kindle Addict Lisa B xxx

PS I think ive been a good girl apart from nicking husbands choccy bar out the fridge the other day so if theres any chance I  could have a ipod shuffle for Xmas so i can listen to all your chrimbo tunes I Promise to be a very good gal forever !

The second mapping -Gosh i need to learn patience!!!

I had my second mapping today and saw Helen who did my activation - was good to see her again, I explained things have been tough - id had a few stressful days as my best mate Emma got married i was bridesmaid! which was the greatest honor I could ask for - especially when i asked her if she wanted me to take my CI of for photos her reply made me melt
'don't you dare its part of you!'- i didn't have to do much for it as shes an organisation freak but it was the listening to everything that put me down in the dumps a bit - i think maybe my expectations were a bit to high to begin with?

Crackling?

The sounds i have been hearing were great I've heard more than I'd ever done before but a continuous crackling when any noise was present was driving me mad- it was making my listening experience so tough at times.

Helen did some further investigation and made some alterations via my mapping programme but it didn't seem to make much difference. Once again neurelec representative was contacted and he made some good recommendations- between them both they changed various things like microphone sensitivity etc. In the end we decided to change my processor and i discovered that it was indeed much better than the prior one!

We did the famous lipreading test as well which brought me good news: I  managed to understand 41% of what was being said, when i looking back at my records Helen said i was prior to the implant only getting 27% so an amazing improvement!


De-noising
After my mapping session Helen decided to try me out with a de-noising programme - because she felt that maybe i was sensitive to the background sounds and asked me to change the settings to de-noise further if i needed to - i found this quite interesting as with hearing aids you could never do that - the background noise used to be a pest especially when you wanted to hear in a noisy situation. She did say it probably will be like this but it may help my listening much more comfortable - rather than annoy me enough to want to take it off! Its important i wear it as much as i can - to give my brain a chance to adapt.

I am however set back on my listening journey as it appears my left ear in which the processor hasn't been receiving sound well, means that more work is needed which means more appointments - but i didn't mind this as each tune in I have the more improvement I see! In fact i feel sorry for the Audie's! I was born a pain still am! ha ha!



Patience
Once again she reassured me that  I've only been listening via the implant for a month and that i needed to give it more time, for those who have had hearing before it was easier for them to adapt, although I've had some hearing I've always been deaf so it is indeed going to be quite hard for me at the very beginning. I realised that perhaps i needed to be a bit more patient with it all. I think back over the past weeks and I suppose what made made me sad was at the wedding reception i was listening  to the 'time warp' and found that hard i could hear the beat - but words were disorted. Helen explained to me that it would be hard for my brain to hear that at this stage as so many different noises were clashing together. SO PATIENCE IS THE KEY HERE !!!

I also bumped into an old pal of mine Emma at the centre- her brother went to school with me, it made my day seeing her- was good to catch up with her and she too was going through all the assessments for a CI - i noticed quite a few of my deaf peers in my age group were indeed considering it.

IF i look back i know its been a tough few weeks for me - but through this all i don't regret it - id never heard the clock ticking that annoys me now!, keys rattling, cars passing by( drives me mad most of the time!) twinkle twinkle little star is getting clearer each day and so is my husbands voice! The train journey was also much more comfortable than last time- a big phew! So I've achieved quite alot for my first month
'Good things come to those who wait!'

Oh by the way i have a new nickname for my CI 'BOGOF' ; which means you buy one and get one free! - and I've been given a nickname as well by Helen and the rep - 'Lisa the blog!!' kind of like it actually ha ha!

Going to miss my PURPLE processor but they promised to send it too me in the post once its been repaired : Get well'Bogof'! I also received a parcel in the post the other day - some battery's - WOW these guys  think of everything - I cant begin to tell you how much time you save me! I get  through 2 battery's every two days - i guess it goes to show how powerful the processors are! 

This is a huge advantage as they never did that with my hearing aids ! So that saves me a fortune in travel costs and time, to all the staff @  SOCIEC ( SOUTH OF ENGLAND CI CENTRE) SPECIAL THANK YOUS - your faith and encouragement it keeps me going xxx