Category: What I Hear

Found Sound

On By Glenice SIn Bilateral, Cochlear Implant, What I Hear2 Comments

It was a beautiful day and I decided to take advantage of it and go for walk. I grabbed my camera with the hope of getting some good pictures and headed towards a park with a waterfall. Unfortunately, when I got to the park, the light was too low for anything special and the waterfall was not running yet.

All was not lost. Although the pictures I did take aren’t very good, the memory of that walk will stay with me always. I’ll tell you why. Just before I got to the park, I heard the beautiful whistle of a bird – a bird call that I had not singled out before. I could hear birds with one implant, but with two there is a finer quality allowing me to distinguish different birds. Even more awesome than hearing the bird, I automatically turned to where I thought the sound was coming from to see the bird, and there it was right in my line of vision. It was automatic and I turned in the right direction. I’m still having a hard time believing it. I took a picture of the bird, but before I could get a good focus, it flew away.

Feeling just wonderful and wishing there were more birds to hear, I continued to the park. Even though the waterfall had no water and the sun was getting low I took a few pictures anyway and then headed home.

As I emerged from the park, I heard a beautiful tinkling in the breeze and once again I turned toward the sound. I was thrilled to see a chime hanging on the back of the house I was looking at because now I knew for sure I had direction. And I was hearing a chime!

Birds, chimes – it amazes me. My hearing loss started in the high tones and birds were one of the first sounds I lost. To have these sounds back, the sounds that have been gone the longest (more than 25 years), is fabulous, amazing, awesome, great. Being able to locate the sound is frosting on the cake!!!

Mapping Improves Music

On By Glenice SIn Bilateral, Music, What I HearLeave a comment

After several months since a mapping, I had started to turn the volume up on my second implant. I was happy to begin to realize some growth with my newly implanted side. So last week on August 5th, I had an appointment with my audiologist. This time there was significant change in my map on the right side, an implant that I have had for nine months. We also mapped the left side, which I have had for seven years, and there was very little change there.

After my appointment, I went to visit family. Initially, there is some adjustment time after a mapping and I hadn’t yet realized the significance of the changes made. After a few hours of visiting with my daughter and her family, I headed home. I started my 40 minute drive and decided to see how music sounded with my new maps. I popped the “Eagles Greatist Hits” CD into the player and started listening. After a couple of songs I realized that it was sounding really good. The “Eagles” was a group I listened to quite a bit before my hearing loss was significant and I realized that my memory of this music might be enhancing what I thought I was hearing. I decided I wanted to give my new sound more of a test. Then I remembered that I had a CD my daughter had given me for Christmas that I had only played a couple of times because I was disappointed with how it sounded. The CD is “Ultimate Manilow.” I thought to myself, “Let’s see if Barry Manilow sounds any better.” It was amazing. Now I know what his fans fuss about. I could hear the orchestra music in tune and even make out some of the instruments. I could understand more of the words in the vocal. What I was hearing was pure pleasure.

You know what I will be doing in my spare time or when I’m in the car – listening to music, reliving old tunes and learning new.

I Write the Songs
Written by: Bruce Johnston

I’ve been alive forever, and I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music and I write the songs

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

My home lies deep within you
And I’ve got my own place in your soul
Now, when I look out through your eyes
I’m young again, even though I’m very old

Oh my music makes you dance
And gives you spirit to take a chance
And I wrote some rock ‘n’ roll so you can move
Music fills your heart
Well, that’s a real fine place to start
It’s from me it’s for you
It’s from you, it’s for me
It’s a worldwide symphony