Happy Cochlear Implant Day!!!

Yes, 'they' have a day for that. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do on this day - celebrate having a cochlear implant? How about we settle for takeaway and some quiet reflection on what it means to me to have cochlear implants? 

My life would be so very, very different.

My children prefer not to talk to me if I don't have my "ear" on (not always a bad thing giggle giggle) but what if I didn't have my "ear"? Would they never talk to me? And even if they did talk to me I wouldn't know what their voices sounded like, I would really miss that. What about pragmatics? They might say yes but their voice might be tinged with sadness - something I would never pick up as a deaf person (communicating with hearing children). Isn't my job as a mother to pick up on these things?

My work would be different too - I can't imagine working as a teacher of hearing children without my implants. Maybe I would have to train as a Teacher of the Deaf? Then I would have to be fluent in sign language (I'm ok at it - but not fluent). My job as a tertiary lecturer would have to change as well - so many elements of my day-to-day job require speech and hearing. 

Going to the shops, attending a lecture, seeing a play, going to a movie ....... all things I enjoy on a regular basis with my implants. Would I have to give all that up without them?

Would my relationship with my husband be different? I have no doubt that it would be.

My personal safety? I would have to install a range of specialised equipment at home like flashing door bells and fire alarms. Things that I can easily get by without with my implants.

Sometimes I fantasise about going 'cochlear free' for a day but I just can't do it. So I guess every day is Happy Cochlear Implant Day for me!!

First Day of School!

In the spirit of celebrating the first day back to school for the new year:

Thinking and Hearing

Now that I've had my cochlear implant for a while, I honestly find it difficult to function without it. I actually find it difficult to think ...... is that strange? Take today for example. I turned off my ear as the house was a little noisy and I was trying to read. Then I got up and started pottering around the house and even though I've lived in the same house for fifteen years I fell down a step. Yes, we have one step in the house and I fell down it, one step, fell down, ONE STEP! I fell hard too, right on my hip which is now causing me to walk with a limp. As soon as it happened I felt the pain shooting through my hip and leg and my first instinct was to turn on my implant so I could deal with the situation.

It's happened before too where I just don't seem to able to think straight without hearing - this makes me a very confused little deaf person but at the same time relieved that I do have the option to hear (with the implant) and therefore get my thoughts together.