Category: Bilateral

Dancing Through the Tears 

On By Glenice SIn Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, Deaf, Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss, Music1 Comment

I have always preserved music in my memory, especially the music I loved before hearing loss made it impossible to learn new songs. Lately I have been playing more music from the early years when I still had most of my hearing. One of those songs has been stuck in my head for the last few days. I haven’t been able to shut it off. The song is, “When Will I See You Again?” by the Three Degrees. 

It’s Christmas time, and I have been prepping for a house full of family on Christmas Eve. Along with the music that keeps playing in my head while I clean, I have been missing my husband, Paul. He died on January 10, 2022. Like the words in the song, I’ve been wondering when will I see him again. The song plays over and over in my head. 

While working in the kitchen, with that song playing in my head, and remembering Paul, a memory of my wonderful husband of 44 years bubbled to the surface of my thoughts. I remember it was Christmastime and earlier that month I had seen my hearing doctor. At the time I had been wearing hearing aids for a few years. At the appointment with my doctor, it was determined that I needed stronger hearing aids, and the deterioration of my hearing did not appear to be slowing down. 

On an evening when I was getting ready for Christmas celebrations doing chores in the kitchen, Paul and his brother started bringing big boxes into the house. Paul wanted to surprise me with a top-of-the-line Bose stereo system. He wanted to give me the gift of music for however much longer I had to hear it. We were raising three daughters, and my first thought was, “Can we afford this?” But that, the budget, isn’t what mattered to Paul. It was a beautiful gift of love. 

That stereo provided great surround sound for many years. When I could, I played it loud and danced through my household chores. Eventually, the lack of hearing made it impossible for me to understand the words of a song. Finally, before I received my first cochlear implant, the only music I enjoyed from the stereo was “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas.” For some reason that style of sound reached me through my deafness, and I’m sure stirred my memory bank of songs enough for me to enjoy it. 

I have had bilateral cochlear implants now for many years. When I got my first implant, the goal was to learn to hear speech and relieve the work of lip reading. I did rehabilitation exercises to learn to hear again and to be able to hear on the phone. After I mastered the phone, I wanted music again. Listening to songs from my good hearing days, sometimes over and over, brought the enjoyment of music back to me. Paul was there for me, every step of the way, always supportive. He would be so happy for me and the hearing system I have now. My latest cochlear implant processors have Bluetooth. When I play music on my phone, it goes directly to my hearing system, and I hear it like I did before deafness. When I’m missing ‘Paul my own’ and remembering us through the years, I’ll put on some music and find myself dancing through the tears.

UltraZoom

On By Glenice SIn Advance Bionics, Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, Hearing Environment, Theater1 Comment

3a76c-meow2smallDid you know that a cat can rotate their ears 180 degrees to find the  source of the tiniest squeaks and rustles? There have been three cats that have been a part of my life. The latest, Elvis, was a long hair domestic. A beautiful male cat. I found it fascinating to watch him rotate his ears toward the sound of my voice versus turning to look at me.

I don’t know what inspired the engineers that developed what is called Ultrazoom in my hearing system, but it emulates what a cat can do with their ears. Ultrazoom allows me to focus my hearing system in a specific direction.

On a recent road trip I worked at being more proactive in the use of the wonderful extras my hearing system provides for me. There were times on our trip when I was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle. I turned on my UltraZoom to enhance the sound in front of me. This setting also shut down the background noise of the vehicle and did a great job of picking up Paul’s, my husband, and Jana’s, my daughter, conversation in the front seat. It was wonderful to be able to hear and participate in the discussion.

When we stopped at a restaurant, I forgot I had this setting on. We chose to eat on the patio and after a bit I realized I could hear Paul and Jana pretty well and I remembered that I had UltraZoom front facing microphones still on.

I have also used the left side focus when traveling as a passenger in the car to enhance conversation with the driver. In a party situation it works great when trying to visit with one or two people. I also checked it out in our local theater when the director made a opening statement without the use of a microphone. Setting my bionic ears directionally towards the stage I was able to get most of what she was saying. It is pretty amazing that with MyPilot (remote control) in the palm of my hand and the touch of a button, I can rotate my ears like a cat.

Zoomcontrol

Edit, Start Dication

On By Glenice SIn Activities, Advance Bionics, Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, Hearing Loss, Music, SpeechLeave a comment

The first time someone told me they could hear something different in my speech was when I was 20 and on my first date with my husband, Paul. I had just told him about my hearing loss diagnosis. I was a little taken aback as I had not thought about the affect hearing loss might have on how I talked. He never brought it up again until after I had my cochlear implants for awhile. Now, if my speech changes, Paul says I need to go to the audiologist and get my cochlear implants adjusted. Apparently the first letter that goes is “S”. That is why sometimes when people ask me my last name they think my response is Wenson!

There was one other time the subject of speech came up, but with my mother. I was a hearing aid user at the time and it was obvious that there was a limit to how much they aided me. I had stopped singing in church because I could not hear myself well enough to know if I had the right notes. I shared this frustration with my mother. She thought about it for a moment and then asked me to make her a promise. She said, “Even if you lose all your hearing, promise me you will never stop talking.” I paused for a moment before I answered her. Knowing myself, the perfectionist that I am, I wasn’t sure I could keep that promise but I made it anyway. Deep inside I knew that if I felt that I was not speaking well I would stop talking.

My speech did change. I did not realize it was happening and my family never said anything to me. I adjusted to my hearing loss with increased lip reading skills but that did not help me with my speech. It was only after I got my cochlear implants that my family admitted my speech had shifted with my hearing loss. They had to share the truth as they were telling me how much it had improved with the better hearing I was getting from my bionic ears.

Recently, just after Christmas,  I decided to try enjoying an activity that I loved when I was a kid. I went to the local arena with my daughter to go ice-skating. It had been many years since I’d been on ice skates but I was feeling pretty confident that I could pick it up again. Unfortunately I fell and broke my left wrist.

editstartdictationAs a web developer and a blogger I spend a lot of time on the computer. I am a fast typist with both hands working. Now what was I to do? I knew that I had dictation in text messaging on my iPhone. I decided to take a look around on my MacBook Pro and found that I have dictation there also. I continued to look for it in the apps that I use regularly and discovered that dictation appears under the edit menu in everything I use. With dictation I was able to get long text messages written out so that all I have to do is proof, correct, then copy and paste to where I need it. It has come in handy during my time of recovery.

I also discovered another beneficial use for dictation on my computer. Practicing elocution! As I have been using dictation for about a month now I am able to see when I drop a consonant or do not say a word clearly. The dictation on my Mac computer is quite accurate. If I am speaking clearly it often gets whole sentences right.

Not only did my cochlear implants give me back the gift of hearing, they kept me talking and if I know the song that is being sung in church I sing-along. I haven’t tried singing to the dictation yet. Hmm, I’ll give it a shot – such as feelings coming over me there is one most everything nine see not a cloud in the sky got this and I won’t be surprised disagree – guess what song that is? It is a good thing that dictation doesn’t record tune. Maybe I’ll open up GarageBand and see what I can do with that. Love my bionic ears and love my Mac!

Mic, Mic, T-Mic

On By Glenice SIn Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, Hearing Environment, Naida, T-mic, What I HearLeave a comment

The T-mic on one of my Naida processors was cutting out and while waiting for a new one to be delivered I used one of my programs that has either only processor mic or only headpiece mic. I have used the T-mic since it first came out and have had rare occasions when I needed to use one of the other microphones. I was surprised to discover again what a difference the location of the microphone makes.

With the proper fit, the T-mic sits right in front of the ear canal using the natural shape of the ear to capture sound. The processor mic is on the top of the Naida processor placing it at the top of the ear, close to the head. The headpiece mic is in the headpiece so the microphone will be wherever the headpiece location is on each individual. In my case it is above my ears about one inch.

I am bilateral, so I only had to adjust programs on one side to use a different microphone and therefore was also listening to find the best balance with T-mic working on one side and processor or headpiece mic on the other. Spending a couple of days without one T-mic and traveling I really discovered how each microphone affects the delivery of sound.

First I tried my program with the processor mic. Immediately I noticed that the sound lacked the definition I am used to. It seemed muffled and it felt like I was not getting as much sound. I then switched to my headpiece mic and was much more satisfied. I quickly adjusted to having the headpiece mic on one side and keeping the working T-mic on the other.

Being able to experience these changes in the real world versus the audiologists office where the environmental noise is limited gave me the opportunity to assess and really discover what a difference the location of the microphone makes. It is comforting to know that the headpiece mic will serve me well if and when a T-mic goes out and needs replacing.  Hearing the differences, I was also reminded that there is an optimal position for a microphone and that is in front of the ear canal.

Within two days my new T-mic was delivered. I quickly installed it and was relieved to have the sound back that I am used to. These couple of days served as a reminder to me how lucky I am to have this wonderful technology to give me optimal sound plus backup options when needed.

Fantasy Versus Reality

On By Glenice SIn Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, Hearing Environment, Thoughts, What I HearLeave a comment

Maybe it is a matter of life experience.

I just saw on Facebook a picture of a man that had the image of a cochlear implant headpiece and processor tattooed on his head in support of his daughter that has a cochlear implant. Further down in the thread someone mentioned they knew a mother that had an image of an insulin pump tattooed on herself in support of her son that has diabetes. Another support item I have seen come across Facebook is the posts about Mattel making a bald Barbie for children suffering from cancer and have lost their hair as they go through treatment.

Our daughters were little girls when the Cabbage Patch dolls were the rage. During that time our middle daughter, Paula, needed to get glasses in order to see the blackboard at school. She was not thrilled about having to wear glasses and being the stoic child that she was, she did not show a lot of emotion regarding this development. Cabbage Patch dolls came with unique accessories and of course they had one with glasses. I thought it would be cool and make her feel better about having to wear eyeglasses if we got her a doll with spectacles. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Eventually Paula was able to tell me that she was disappointed when she opened up her doll and saw that it had glasses. She really did not want to be reminded of her eyewear every time she looked at her doll. She wanted a cute doll; a dream doll. When I thought about what she said I understood and wished I had realized that play time is often a time when we are acting out what we hope for.

I grew up with Barbies. I loved my Barbie doll and it was not detrimental to me that she had perfect hair and make-up or that she had an impossible to achieve figure. When I played with my girlfriends and dressed up my Barbie doll, it was play time, fantasy and dreams. Escape from reality. Don’t we all need time for that?

I wear bilateral cochlear implants. I hear so well with them that there are days when I forget that I am deaf! Do you know what a good feeling that was to actually get to a spot in time where I was able to stop, reflect and realized I just had such a good time in my life that I actually forgot about being deaf? Then there is the reality that hits at the end of each day when I take my processors off and I’m thrown into total silence. Forgetting is a temporary and welcome relief.

When I see these displays of support, or requests for a toymaker to develop a doll that reflects the trauma of illness, I ask myself, “Is this really good?” It might be for some, but not in my experience. I worry that children that need a break from their life won’t be able to get it. We don’t always need to be looking into a mirror of reality. Sometimes we need some fantasy and dreams where we might develop some hope.

Naida Accessories

On By Glenice SIn Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, Harmony, Hearing Environment, Listening, Mapping, Naida, T-mic, What I HearLeave a comment
I have always been so thrilled with the hearing I get from my cochlear implants that I never really concerned myself with little extras or accessories that I did not have. My Harmony behind the ear processors served me well for many years without a remote control or any other add-ons. But now that I have them …
The Naida replacement systems that I received in March came with some options. Since I am bilateral, I ordered the MyPilot remote control with one and the ComPilot with the other. I didn’t think I would use them much but since one or the other came with the kit, then why not? 
Although there are buttons on the Naida processors for changing maps and volume, I have found that I do really like using the MyPilot for adjustments and program changes. Along with the visual screen that allows me to see where I am, there are more options for adjustments with the MyPilot. One of my favorites is the sensitivity setting. When I was first implanted and used the Clarion Platinum body processor for the CII implant, I had sensitivity control. I gave that up to wear behind the ear processors that did not have a switch for that. It is really nice to have that back. I found it really helped me to adjust to a new map on my right ear that seemed a little loud at first, but by adjusting the sensitivity for a day or two, I was able to adjust to the map by giving my ear/brain time to get used to having more sound.
As a Harmony user I loved the T-mic and the ability to just pick up a phone and hold it to my ear like everyone else. I also found ways to listen to music that did not require me to change settings or use the direct connect to enjoy listening to my favorite songs. So I was a real skeptic when it came to the ComPilot thinking I probably wouldn’t use that much at all. 
About a week after getting my Naidas, I decided it was time to check out the ComPilot. Following the instructions provided, I first hooked it up to the Bluetooth on my laptop computer. Wow – the direct sound coming from my computer was great and I was curious to hear more. I then hooked it up to the Bluetooth on my iPhone 4 and tried a phone call to my mother. The only background noise I heard was coming from my mother’s end of the conversation. This was wonderful for cutting back on the “what’s, pardon me’s, and please say again,” parts of the conversation. Finally, I hooked it up to my Nano Shuffle to check out listening to the music I would play when carving my Trikke. I love this. I have to say it is wonderful to be out on the trail, carving and listening to my music just like other people out there wearing their earbuds and headphones as they walk, jog, bike or run. I have never been big on needing to fit in, but by golly this just felt really great! I was so wrong about the ComPilot. I use it all the time and really love it.
There is one more accessory that I am really excited about. The Naida waterproofing kit for swimming! It has not yet been approved in the USA, but is coming soon and I am excited for the release. Living in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, I believe this is another accessory I may use a lot. Being able to hear while swimming with my grandsons would truly be a joy. 
Naida Accessories – Now that I have them – don’t want to live without them!

From CII to Naida

On By Glenice SIn Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, Hearing Environment, ListeningLeave a comment

When the decision was made 13 years ago to get a cochlear implant and I was faced with choosing a brand, my audiologist sent me home with information packets from two companies. The appointment to meet with the surgeon was scheduled and my audiologist informed me that I would need to let the surgeon know what my choice was when we scheduled the surgery.
I inspected the packets thoroughly. Advanced Bionics impressed me with what appeared to be a progressive attitude. They seemed to posses motive to provide the best cochlear implant technology while continuing to research ways to make the delivery of sound better. That seemed like a good fit for me. Even when things are good, I’m content, grateful and satisfied with my life, I don’t stop and say, “good enough.” Advanced Bionics doesn’t either. My hearing experiences with AB cochlear implants has been a series of continued advancements and joyful improvements in the quality of sound for me.

My first implant was the CII in a ceramic casing and used with the platinum II body processor and the CII BTE (behind the ear). The internal part of the implant, the CII, is still in place. It has worked with the Auria behind the ear processor, followed by the Harmony processor and now with the Naida.

When I went bilateral the AB implant was the 90K, and the processor was the Harmony. Since going bilateral in 2007, I had Harmony processors on both sides until March 12, 2014 when I received my Naida processors.

The above list of changes includes only the hardware. In between those changes there were also sound processing changes that were tested, approved and then applied to the processors bringing such things as more clarity in delivery of sound and better background noise management. Advanced Bionics did not disappoint me as they are always improving  – always looking for a better way.

My Harmony behind the ear processors provided me with many years of great service. They gave me great sound and wonderful features like autosound tuning and the T-mic. But with seven years of daily use, they were showing wear and the fit on my ears had become uncomfortable often causing soreness. It was time to replace them with new Naidas.

I have been using my Naida processors for almost three months. There are so many new features I am greatly enjoying with the Naidas that I want to talk about and share with my readers. If I write about them all in this post, it will become quite long. So I have decided to share in several posts. This will also serve to get me back in the habit of writing regularly – I hope. 

The phrase, “You’ve come a long way baby,” comes to mind as I think about the years I have been an Advanced Bionics CI user and all the changes that have taken place. The creation of the waterproof Neptune, the design of the Naida and all its features are great leaps from 13 years ago when I got my first implant. 

To begin my list of things I like about my Naida processors I will start with the fit. They are smaller and the new design of the T-mic places the microphone in the perfect spot on my ear without bending and twisting of the stem. 

Thank you AB for listening to your customers. Your actions and designs show us that you are paying attention and I for one appreciate that we are heard.

I’m Not So Tough

On By Glenice SIn Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, Hearing Loss, Mapping, Thoughts, What I HearLeave a comment

I thought I was tough. Turns out – when it comes to my hearing – I’m not so tough. The thought of being without sound for even one day brings tears. Wouldn’t you think after losing my hearing little by little over 30 years I would be able to bear a day or two? Not so. 

Sunday night I noticed that my left processor kept cutting out. I discovered that the wire on my headpiece had a crack in it. It had been my practice to always have a backup on hand, but I discovered that I had forgotten to order a backup. Because I had a meeting on Tuesday that was important to me, I felt a little panic. 

Getting creative, I decided to charge up the batteries to my body processor which I had not worn in a very, very long time. The flashing light told me the processor was getting power yet I had no sound. Switching through the programs I finally got something on the last one. It then dawned on me that all but one of my programs was set on 100% T-mic and the body processor does not have a T-mic, therefore no sound. Settling on the one program that did work, I wore my body processor on the left side and a BTE with a poorly working headpiece on the right. This would get me through Monday and I would immediately order new headpieces. I knew I probably wouldn’t get them before my meeting on Tuesday, but with prayer and tape, I managed to wear both my Harmony processors and get through the meeting and that day.

Wednesday I started watching for a Federal Express delivery. When nothing came by 4:30 pm my husband, Paul, encouraged me to call customer service again and ask about my order. To my shock and dismay, the order had been put on hold due to new regulations and probably some confusion about my immediate need. As the customer service person was explaining equipment changes, the new procedures and how long it could take, I was overcome with emotion. I gave the phone to Paul, my rock. I am so blessed to have a husband who has been willing to come to my rescue and give me rest, or let me cry.

The customer service representative and insurance assistant stayed with us on the phone figuring out how to make sure I have sound as soon as possible. Replacement headpieces should be here by Friday and the order process for Naida has been initiated. With the new parts on their way, I have rallied and have much to look forward to as the Naida has some great new features I am excited to try. Still – I am not as tough as I thought – and I will never be without backup parts again!

Clear Voice

On By Glenice SIn Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, Hearing Environment, Hearing Loss, Mapping, What I Hear1 Comment

People often ask and want to understand how I hear with my cochlear implant. When trying to help others understand, I and other CI users have described pictures. For instance, if moderate deafness is a blurry picture, then hearing aids bring the picture into focus. When you are profound to severely deaf and you can’t make out the picture at all, it is just a smear of colors – a cochlear implant brings the picture back so you can make out what it is. The degree of blurriness varies amongst users. My cochlear implant experience has been great and I have a pretty sharp picture that includes bright colors representing my enjoyment of music. 
The company that makes my cochlear implant, Advanced Bionics (AB), is a progressive company that continues to seek ways to bring better hearing to the deaf and hard of hearing. They keep fine tuning the picture and since I got my first cochlear implant in 2001, AB has presented their cochlear implant users with three advances in the processing technology. The last improvement I received was like getting a high definition television. Today I got the third. It is called “Clear Voice” and my hearing picture just went 3-D. 
Clear Voice processing is able to identify background noise that may interfere with understanding speech and then lowers it to a level that gets it out of the way for better speech comprehension. There are three levels to choose from, low, medium and high. 
While I was being fitted with Clear Voice, there was a steady rain coming down pattering on the window of my audiologist’s office. When she first turned Clear Voice on for me, I immediately noticed the softening of the sound of the rain. She had it set to medium. When she put the Clear Voice on high, the sound of the rain disappeared. Then we tried the low setting, which I liked. I could still hear the rain, but it felt pushed back and out of the way of the conversation with my audiologist.
For my three programs, I decided to go with Clear Voice low on one map, medium on the second and my old favorite map in the third slot. I had my processors set to the first map with Clear Voice low for the drive home. I was planning to test the sound of music during the drive and I discovered that I really like Clear Voice low to listen to music. This map pushed the car and road noise down enough so that the music sounded wonderful. 
This technology is amazing! I think I’m going to love hearing with Clear Voice. It is a whole new picture!

Thankful for Health and Hearing

On By Glenice SIn Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, Hearing Environment, Hearing Loss, Listening, What I HearLeave a comment

There were some rough patches for our family during the 2011 holiday season which served to enlarge our blessings with the contrast of getting through some moments to celebrating others. Due to illnesses with a daughter and grandson, I found myself in emergency and hospital rooms more times than I care to remember over a two month period. We all value health and it is during these times we are reminded to be grateful for it. So we start off 2012 recovering, being well and looking forward to living well.
During one of my daughter’s hospital stays, I had the opportunity to share how I hear with a senior resident. He said they tend to go over cochlear implants fairly quickly in medical school and he was truly interested in how I hear with them. He was genuinely surprised at how well I hear. The conversation moved along without any phrases like “pardon me” or “I’m sorry, what did you say?” The doctor admitted that had no one told him, he would not have been able to tell that I don’t have natural hearing. It was fun to share with him and I enjoy every opportunity to educate medical professionals. Fortunately that conversation took place when the doctor and his team were preparing to discharge my daughter and things were looking up that day.
It was approximately a month later, on Christmas morning, that I was in the emergency room with another daughter and her son. Her husband was unable to go with her because he was sick and we were taking their one month old baby boy, Jared, to the hospital. I was glad I was able to be there for them. It is hard when they are so young and blood draws and an IV are needed. I watched as the RN explained to Paula, my daughter, how hard it can be to get an IV into a baby and that often they have to try twice. Upon hearing this I immediately began to pray for Jared asking God to bless the nurse’s skill and help her to get it the first time so that this precious baby boy only had to be poked once.
Paula was helping to hold Jared and I was sitting in a chair at the side of the room. The nurse had her back to me and I had my head down praying. After giving it to God, I sat there just listening and waiting. The nurse and lab tech were taking there time with the process. When I sensed the RN was ready I was holding my breath. Before I took in any air, I heard her say, “Well there is your Christmas present. That is a Christmas miracle right there!” The IV was in on the first try. I sighed a prayer of relief, “Thank You Jesus,” and then I smiled for Jared. When I realized how well I had heard the nurse I smiled again and sent another thank you to the Lord for my hearing. A little while later, a diagnosis was made and Jared was admitted to the hospital for treatment. He was discharged after three days and continued to recover at home.
On a daily basis, I experience the extreme of complete silence to being able to hear most everything once my AB cochlear implant processors are on.  You would think after ten years that I wouldn’t still be amazed by this, but I am. I will never take my hearing, my health, or the health of my family for granted. Now that I have had some recent reminders of how precious all that is, I will try to remember to thank the Lord for it all every day.