I've discovered a huge secret. Deaf people the world over have been keeping this secret for centries but I feel it is time for hearing people to know the truth. Here it is ................
Sometimes, when you talk, we can understand you. Sometimes, we can't. Doesn't matter. I have recently dicovered and put into practice the ancient art of copying your facial expressions and even if I don't have a clue what you're on about I'll smile when you do, laugh when you do, frown when you do and nod when you do. This indicates to you that I totally agree and understand what you're saying and you keep talking, encouraged. This makes me a great listener!
It works really well with children and repeating the last word said every now and then just adds to the allusion.
It is also very effective at shows, concerts, assemblies, presentations etc where there is a large group of people. I'll laugh when everyone else does (no idea what's so funny but you seem to think it is) and I'll clap when everyone claps. Works a treat.
I've even tried it during a one-on-one converstaion at work. I got about half the conversation (wearing the CI) but by mirroring everything the other person did they assumed I was with them 100%.
Shhh, don't tell ........
Friday, 2 December 2011
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Every Day
Being deaf requires thought in how to navigate the every day. When I get up in the morning I'm deaf. I hop straight in the shower and wash my hair, still deaf. I don't put my CI on until my hair is dry so essentially, for the first half hour of the morning I'm deaf. This means that my communication with the family is limited until my hair is dry and I have the CI on.
Then when I'm heading out the door for work I need to make sure I have a charged battery (mine always die right in the middle of something important). I also need my remote control which controls the settings on the CI. I use this to turn sound up and down or change the setting to match the environment I'm in (noisy, quiet etc).
Once at work I find that I need to be more alert. I can't tell who is talking to me unless they are standing in front of me which is tricky in an open office. Sometimes I'll go walking around the office trying to find the person talking. I also can't hear if two or more people talk at the same time (common problem in an open office with seven women who are all good friends). I also spend the day saying "bless you" to any noise I hear just in case it's a sneeze. I don't want to appear rude!
When I sit down for a meeting I need to think about where I'll sit to maximise the chances of me catching sound. For me that means that other people have to be on my left side as my right ear is still deaf. Therefore, I make sure I'm early to every meeting so I can choose the best seating position.
In the afternoon it's time to pick up the kids from school. If it's windy then I'll avoid stopping to talk to people as the wind makes it impossible to understand speech. The kids will start talking to me, telling me about school things but we have to wait until we get in the car where I can block outside noise.
In the car, I can't have the radio on as I can't understand speech with noise in the background and the radio is the worst.
Back at home, all is well again unless there is a knock on the door or the phone rings .....................
Then when I'm heading out the door for work I need to make sure I have a charged battery (mine always die right in the middle of something important). I also need my remote control which controls the settings on the CI. I use this to turn sound up and down or change the setting to match the environment I'm in (noisy, quiet etc).
Once at work I find that I need to be more alert. I can't tell who is talking to me unless they are standing in front of me which is tricky in an open office. Sometimes I'll go walking around the office trying to find the person talking. I also can't hear if two or more people talk at the same time (common problem in an open office with seven women who are all good friends). I also spend the day saying "bless you" to any noise I hear just in case it's a sneeze. I don't want to appear rude!
When I sit down for a meeting I need to think about where I'll sit to maximise the chances of me catching sound. For me that means that other people have to be on my left side as my right ear is still deaf. Therefore, I make sure I'm early to every meeting so I can choose the best seating position.
In the afternoon it's time to pick up the kids from school. If it's windy then I'll avoid stopping to talk to people as the wind makes it impossible to understand speech. The kids will start talking to me, telling me about school things but we have to wait until we get in the car where I can block outside noise.
In the car, I can't have the radio on as I can't understand speech with noise in the background and the radio is the worst.
Back at home, all is well again unless there is a knock on the door or the phone rings .....................
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Milestones
Two and a half weeks since switch on and I've nearly ticked off all my hearing milestones. This weekend I watched a movie on the TV without text. I have to be hooked up to the TV using my audio cord which means that nobody can watch the movie with me because the sound is directed straight to the CI. I've also watched a movie at an outdoor theatre and while I didn't get all the dialogue, I got enough to follow the storyline and enjoy the movie (OK, it was a kids movie but small steps people).
I also heard the phone ring yesterday! It rang and I just stood there watching it, not knowing what to do with it. Do I answer and risk not hearing and hang up on the person? I let it go to the answering machine but low and behold, I heard the message too!!!
I also went to the shopping centre with my eldest son to get some shoes for him. As we were looking in a shop, two retail assistants smiled at us and I smiled back. When we left the shop my son said "that lady in the shop must think you're really rude because she asked you how you were and you ignored her". I had to explain that he now had to listen for me and either tell me what people say or explain to them that I can't hear well. He's really embarrassed to do either. Early days.
I also heard the phone ring yesterday! It rang and I just stood there watching it, not knowing what to do with it. Do I answer and risk not hearing and hang up on the person? I let it go to the answering machine but low and behold, I heard the message too!!!
I also went to the shopping centre with my eldest son to get some shoes for him. As we were looking in a shop, two retail assistants smiled at us and I smiled back. When we left the shop my son said "that lady in the shop must think you're really rude because she asked you how you were and you ignored her". I had to explain that he now had to listen for me and either tell me what people say or explain to them that I can't hear well. He's really embarrassed to do either. Early days.
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Mapping
I had my second mapping appointment today which means I had a tune-up. Each time this happens voices are a little more clearer. People are starting to lose the chipmunk sound now and they sound more like themselves. Voices are still a little high pitched but still clear. My audi tells me that sounds will always have a robotic sound but over time will sound more natural. I have to remind myself that I'm not hearing with my ears (like using a hearing aid), I'm using an electronic device to send electical impulses directly to my brain. That still spins me out. If I can't hear someone clearly, instead of saying, "talk in my ear", I'll say "talk in my microphone".
I've attended two work meetings (I chaired one) over the last two days and I've understood about 98% of what people have said. Sometimes I have to ask people to repeat what they've said but even hearing people do this. I've been singled sided deaf all my life, so I usually miss bits and pieces anyway. With the CI on I feel comfortable and confident communicating in the work environment.
I also went for a run this morning with my CI (Lucy) on. While I felt more confident being able to hear, I couldn't work out what most of the sounds were. Animal sounds are the hardest to work out as I usually can't identify the animal or where they are. Birds are very difficult. Car engines on the other hand are very clear and I can identify a car horn.
Hearing with the CI takes a lot of concentration and effort and I am very tired at the end of each day. I've decided that a weekly massage is a good hearing reward, starting tomorrow!
I've attended two work meetings (I chaired one) over the last two days and I've understood about 98% of what people have said. Sometimes I have to ask people to repeat what they've said but even hearing people do this. I've been singled sided deaf all my life, so I usually miss bits and pieces anyway. With the CI on I feel comfortable and confident communicating in the work environment.
I also went for a run this morning with my CI (Lucy) on. While I felt more confident being able to hear, I couldn't work out what most of the sounds were. Animal sounds are the hardest to work out as I usually can't identify the animal or where they are. Birds are very difficult. Car engines on the other hand are very clear and I can identify a car horn.
Hearing with the CI takes a lot of concentration and effort and I am very tired at the end of each day. I've decided that a weekly massage is a good hearing reward, starting tomorrow!
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Update
An update on my progress:
This week is the third week since my switch on. I think I'm doing OK. I have a list of things that I want to hear again and I'm slowly ticking them off. My list includes watching a movie without using the text (almost there), listening to my seven year old read a story, follow a conversation in a restaurant (tried it Friday night but not ready to tick that one off yet), have a clear conversation on the phone (people stopped ringing the home phone months ago so I haven't heard it even ring yet) and listen to the radio and follow a song I haven't heard before.
There are a few noises that drive me mad (water running, the dog barking) and I automatically reach up and block my ear with my finger. It takes me a second to realise that my ears are now for decoration and sticking my finger in the ear has no effect on sound, but grabbing the coil off my head does! While I'm discussing the dog barking, to my brain she sounds like a baby crying. It's a very high pitched noise and I never realise it's the dog until I see her barking.
There are also a few girly things that need to be considered when getting a cochlear implant. Firstly, there isn't a lot of room for sunglasses so I can't wear sunglasses that have thick arms. I also have to think about wearing hats. They can't be too tight against the coil and they can't sit too low or they rub against the microphones on the processor. I also can't fluff up my hair or give myself a quick finger comb as I always end up knocking the coil off (the magnet isn't that strong). I also had to cut my hair as I couldn't tuck it behind my ear anymore like I've done all my life.
Another annoying problem is that the batteries only last a day or two and usually decide to go flat in the middle of a movie or half way through a work meeting. I carry a spare battery with me but I've got to pause my life, change the battery and then continue on.
Every day sound gets a little clearer and people sound less like a chipmunk. The sound, especially a voice, is still very robotic and not natural sounding. I still struggle to hear well, and it's impossible when two people are talking at once, a bit like listening to an answering machine message while someone is talking to you at the same time.
I ask my husband all the time, "what's that noise?" so I know I'm still learning to hear again. Slowly, slowly, as my mother always says (she with hyperactive tendencies). x
This week is the third week since my switch on. I think I'm doing OK. I have a list of things that I want to hear again and I'm slowly ticking them off. My list includes watching a movie without using the text (almost there), listening to my seven year old read a story, follow a conversation in a restaurant (tried it Friday night but not ready to tick that one off yet), have a clear conversation on the phone (people stopped ringing the home phone months ago so I haven't heard it even ring yet) and listen to the radio and follow a song I haven't heard before.
There are a few noises that drive me mad (water running, the dog barking) and I automatically reach up and block my ear with my finger. It takes me a second to realise that my ears are now for decoration and sticking my finger in the ear has no effect on sound, but grabbing the coil off my head does! While I'm discussing the dog barking, to my brain she sounds like a baby crying. It's a very high pitched noise and I never realise it's the dog until I see her barking.
There are also a few girly things that need to be considered when getting a cochlear implant. Firstly, there isn't a lot of room for sunglasses so I can't wear sunglasses that have thick arms. I also have to think about wearing hats. They can't be too tight against the coil and they can't sit too low or they rub against the microphones on the processor. I also can't fluff up my hair or give myself a quick finger comb as I always end up knocking the coil off (the magnet isn't that strong). I also had to cut my hair as I couldn't tuck it behind my ear anymore like I've done all my life.
Another annoying problem is that the batteries only last a day or two and usually decide to go flat in the middle of a movie or half way through a work meeting. I carry a spare battery with me but I've got to pause my life, change the battery and then continue on.
Every day sound gets a little clearer and people sound less like a chipmunk. The sound, especially a voice, is still very robotic and not natural sounding. I still struggle to hear well, and it's impossible when two people are talking at once, a bit like listening to an answering machine message while someone is talking to you at the same time.
I ask my husband all the time, "what's that noise?" so I know I'm still learning to hear again. Slowly, slowly, as my mother always says (she with hyperactive tendencies). x
Best of Both Worlds
Having a cochlear implant gives me the best of both worlds, the hearing world and the deaf world. They are very different worlds and each has advantages and disadvantages. A CI means I can choose which world I want to be in at any given time.
Here are some examples.
It's very handy to be able to hear when out to dinner with hearing friends. It's also very handy to be deaf when the seven year old is having a crying tantrum (is it wrong that I whip off the CI when he does this?).
It's really handy to have hearing going through the take-away drive-through (see earlier posts) but great to be deaf when the husband starts snoring at night.
It's nice to be hearing when my twelve year old wants to tell me about his day but I love to be deaf when an annoying kids TV show is on and I want to read the paper in peace.
Imagine having the choice to either hear everything or hear nothing? It's makes for a very peaceful night's sleep :)
Here are some examples.
It's very handy to be able to hear when out to dinner with hearing friends. It's also very handy to be deaf when the seven year old is having a crying tantrum (is it wrong that I whip off the CI when he does this?).
It's really handy to have hearing going through the take-away drive-through (see earlier posts) but great to be deaf when the husband starts snoring at night.
It's nice to be hearing when my twelve year old wants to tell me about his day but I love to be deaf when an annoying kids TV show is on and I want to read the paper in peace.
Imagine having the choice to either hear everything or hear nothing? It's makes for a very peaceful night's sleep :)
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