Happy Xmas everyone and Season's greetings as most of you going away on holidays this Friday 19th December 2008
More mappings have been scheduled for 2009 as implant center is closed for the Xmas / new year break and another mapping session booked for January 2009 and three month test for the right implant is scheduled for February 2009
Stay tuned for more updates and exciting 2009
Thank you for your support in 2008
update - not so magical bilateral moment - having blow flies buzzing around both processors microphones - damned noisy bloody bastards they are
Cheers big ears
BW
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Mapping sessions
Tuesday 23 December 2008
7th Mapping session
Still Fine tuning all 22 electrodes and improving as the day goes by and basically the same as the last mapping session with a better result due to increased threshold and comfort levels. They are getting better as my hearing is responding to softer sounds more than ever. Got new program installed ' Music ' from Smart sounds 2 and looking forward to experimenting both processors on the music setting
Wednesday 10 December 2008
6th Mapping session
Fine tuning all 22 electrodes and improving as the day goes by and basically the same as Monday with a better result due to better threshold and comfort levels.
Picked up the phone for the first time as its never been done for the right ear, used the T- switch for the first time and very successful using the phone with 70% result and able to carry on conversation using M /T setting on processor, this will improve over time especially at 3 month interval
Loved listening to these video clips
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=UYz38BDhXVE
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=VRsJlAJvOSM&feature=related
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=T_dnWWnKCTk
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=vnRqYMTpXHc
Magical bilateral moment's today - I have discovered that the ability to use a program 'Noise' is great in shopping centres and around screaming kids during school holidays :) HA HA take that you damned hearing people.
Monday 08 December 2008
5th Mapping session
Fine tuning the 22 electrodes and improving dramatically as the day goes by and basically the same as Friday with a better result. I am getting better at the beep test as I am listening to softer beeps and counting correctly how many beeps are there in a sequence.
One speech discrimination test I found very difficult was the nursery rhymes which I am not familiar with, scored 11/15. Did the test again and better result 14/15. Other tests scores 7/7 and 10/10
Magical bilateral moment's today - hearing the notebook whirring away - its normally ultra quite
Friday 05 December 2008
4th Mapping session
First week gone, Fine tuning the 22 electrodes and improving dramatically as the day goes by and basically the same as yesterday with a better result (99% in listening and recalling longer sentences without looking at the audiologist mouth). Very happy with the progress so far. I am getting better at the beep test as I am listening to softer beeps and counting correctly how many beeps are there in a sequence.
I experimented with a new smartsound 2 program called "noise" in the car and it's bliss as it cuts out the road noise and I was able to hear speech more clearly. It's a very good program to have with bilateral implants.
http://www.cochlearamericas.com/Products/2303.asp
Looking forward to next week as it's the first time that I going to try to have a telephone conversation with my right ear.
Magical bilateral moment's today - listening to the waves crashing at the beach in true stereo and detecting the sense of directions where the helicopter flying in the sky and which car was starting up in the car park.
Thursday 04 December 2008
3rd Mapping session
What a session, much improved mapping with more natural sounds of voices and less robotic noises. The high pitch squawk is still there but less notable. Fine tuning the 22 electrodes and improving dramatically as the day goes by.
Still blown away by the speech recognition /discrimination tests as able to hear and listen longer sentences for e.g. ‘in order to lose weight you have to exercise regularly’
Magical bilateral moment today - hearing the grunt / roar of the v8 car from a distance of 100m out of all cars in the busy CBD street, it was sweet
Tuesday 02 December 2008
2nd Mapping session
Amazing what a mapping session does to your implant as the robotic sounds and high pitch squawk are becoming less noticeable.
The Beep listening tests are always the hardest - trying to listen the number of beeps in a sequence e.g. 1-2-3 or 1-2-3-4-5-6 and so far heard most of them correct. Power surge seem to be deceasing once the processor is turned on and fine tuning the electrodes threshold levels (the loudness level at which you are first aware of a sound) and the comfort levels (where sounds become comfortable and/or too loud) with each mapping session to determine the ''map'' that provides the best sound. This is becoming more evident when you see the on screen PC desktop
Scored 98% first time on speech perception / discrimination tests - ( 20 long sentences) the audiologist holds a piece of paper over their mouth and I just repeat what they say word for word and sentences to sentences not looking at them - prior to the assessment I only scored 0 -1 % with hearing aids on both ears
Got two programs from Smart sounds 2 installed in the processor and they are noise and focus
Mapping is the term given to the measurement and adjustment of electrode frequencies within the implant. At each mapping session, the audiologist works with the patient to determine the softest sounds they can detect, and also to measure and adjust the loudest sounds comfortable for the patient. Over time, maps become more stable and require less adjustment.
7th Mapping session
Still Fine tuning all 22 electrodes and improving as the day goes by and basically the same as the last mapping session with a better result due to increased threshold and comfort levels. They are getting better as my hearing is responding to softer sounds more than ever. Got new program installed ' Music ' from Smart sounds 2 and looking forward to experimenting both processors on the music setting
Wednesday 10 December 2008
6th Mapping session
Fine tuning all 22 electrodes and improving as the day goes by and basically the same as Monday with a better result due to better threshold and comfort levels.
Picked up the phone for the first time as its never been done for the right ear, used the T- switch for the first time and very successful using the phone with 70% result and able to carry on conversation using M /T setting on processor, this will improve over time especially at 3 month interval
Loved listening to these video clips
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=UYz38BDhXVE
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=VRsJlAJvOSM&feature=related
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=T_dnWWnKCTk
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=vnRqYMTpXHc
Magical bilateral moment's today - I have discovered that the ability to use a program 'Noise' is great in shopping centres and around screaming kids during school holidays :) HA HA take that you damned hearing people.
Monday 08 December 2008
5th Mapping session
Fine tuning the 22 electrodes and improving dramatically as the day goes by and basically the same as Friday with a better result. I am getting better at the beep test as I am listening to softer beeps and counting correctly how many beeps are there in a sequence.
One speech discrimination test I found very difficult was the nursery rhymes which I am not familiar with, scored 11/15. Did the test again and better result 14/15. Other tests scores 7/7 and 10/10
Magical bilateral moment's today - hearing the notebook whirring away - its normally ultra quite
Friday 05 December 2008
4th Mapping session
First week gone, Fine tuning the 22 electrodes and improving dramatically as the day goes by and basically the same as yesterday with a better result (99% in listening and recalling longer sentences without looking at the audiologist mouth). Very happy with the progress so far. I am getting better at the beep test as I am listening to softer beeps and counting correctly how many beeps are there in a sequence.
I experimented with a new smartsound 2 program called "noise" in the car and it's bliss as it cuts out the road noise and I was able to hear speech more clearly. It's a very good program to have with bilateral implants.
http://www.cochlearamericas.com/Products/2303.asp
Looking forward to next week as it's the first time that I going to try to have a telephone conversation with my right ear.
Magical bilateral moment's today - listening to the waves crashing at the beach in true stereo and detecting the sense of directions where the helicopter flying in the sky and which car was starting up in the car park.
Thursday 04 December 2008
3rd Mapping session
What a session, much improved mapping with more natural sounds of voices and less robotic noises. The high pitch squawk is still there but less notable. Fine tuning the 22 electrodes and improving dramatically as the day goes by.
Still blown away by the speech recognition /discrimination tests as able to hear and listen longer sentences for e.g. ‘in order to lose weight you have to exercise regularly’
Magical bilateral moment today - hearing the grunt / roar of the v8 car from a distance of 100m out of all cars in the busy CBD street, it was sweet
Tuesday 02 December 2008
2nd Mapping session
Amazing what a mapping session does to your implant as the robotic sounds and high pitch squawk are becoming less noticeable.
The Beep listening tests are always the hardest - trying to listen the number of beeps in a sequence e.g. 1-2-3 or 1-2-3-4-5-6 and so far heard most of them correct. Power surge seem to be deceasing once the processor is turned on and fine tuning the electrodes threshold levels (the loudness level at which you are first aware of a sound) and the comfort levels (where sounds become comfortable and/or too loud) with each mapping session to determine the ''map'' that provides the best sound. This is becoming more evident when you see the on screen PC desktop
Scored 98% first time on speech perception / discrimination tests - ( 20 long sentences) the audiologist holds a piece of paper over their mouth and I just repeat what they say word for word and sentences to sentences not looking at them - prior to the assessment I only scored 0 -1 % with hearing aids on both ears
Got two programs from Smart sounds 2 installed in the processor and they are noise and focus
Mapping is the term given to the measurement and adjustment of electrode frequencies within the implant. At each mapping session, the audiologist works with the patient to determine the softest sounds they can detect, and also to measure and adjust the loudest sounds comfortable for the patient. Over time, maps become more stable and require less adjustment.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Telemetry check
Friday November 14 2008 –A few days after the operation a "Telemetry" check is performed to ensure the cochlear implant is working as expected – all passed and heard beeps from all 22 electrodes
Very Successful switch on
Monday 01 December 2008
I am happy to report that the switch on is a success and I am learning to cope with new sounds in the right ear and sense of direction. What was more amazing was to be able to hear / listen to four to five words at a time and a 10-15 short sentences with 95% success.
The sounds ( bloody awful ) are more Robotic and "jingle bells" type theme with lots of high pitched squeals and whistles. Some sounds are like two squirrels fighting. My poor brain is trying hard to adapt to hearing new sounds. So far I am loving it as was expected to hear these type of sounds and exploring more new sounds around the house.
No two cochlear implant switch on's are alike - both are completely different
Looking forward to many more MAPping sessions this week and next few weeks and in the new year to fine tune the BTE processor
I am happy to report that the switch on is a success and I am learning to cope with new sounds in the right ear and sense of direction. What was more amazing was to be able to hear / listen to four to five words at a time and a 10-15 short sentences with 95% success.
The sounds ( bloody awful ) are more Robotic and "jingle bells" type theme with lots of high pitched squeals and whistles. Some sounds are like two squirrels fighting. My poor brain is trying hard to adapt to hearing new sounds. So far I am loving it as was expected to hear these type of sounds and exploring more new sounds around the house.
No two cochlear implant switch on's are alike - both are completely different
Looking forward to many more MAPping sessions this week and next few weeks and in the new year to fine tune the BTE processor
This is it - the moment I have been waiting for
Today is the day that my hearing is going from unilateral to bilateral - I will update this post once I get switched on - Bring it on
Monday, November 24, 2008
One more week to go till switch on
The waiting suspense in the last two weeks has been killing me known as The Dead Silence Zone. I am slowly getting my balance back and walking bit faster now. In the mean time I have been researching and reading scientific research about cochlear implant especially bilateral cochlear implants in adults.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0206-two_ears_are_better_than_one.htm
http://deafness.about.com/od/cochlearimplants/a/bilaterals.htm
www.cochlearamericas.com/pdfs/outcomes_using_bilateral.pdf
The main conclusion from published studies indicate improved understanding in noise and sound localization.
Interesting fact 3500 bilateral cochlear implant patients worldwide (Lustig & Wackym, 2005)
A fast growing trend is that there are over 4000 nucleus bilateral cochlear implant recipients
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0206-two_ears_are_better_than_one.htm
http://deafness.about.com/od/cochlearimplants/a/bilaterals.htm
www.cochlearamericas.com/pdfs/outcomes_using_bilateral.pdf
The main conclusion from published studies indicate improved understanding in noise and sound localization.
Interesting fact 3500 bilateral cochlear implant patients worldwide (Lustig & Wackym, 2005)
A fast growing trend is that there are over 4000 nucleus bilateral cochlear implant recipients
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Before and After - sutures / scar 4 cms
I am so looking forward to having my surgical sutures removed today :)
Update - sutures removed and painless procedure - 2 minutes
Surgery
My experiences with the Cochlear's Nucleus Freedom cochlear implant http://www.cochlear.com/Products/587.asp and the one I received 17 months ago for my other ear is the same one and so very exciting period going from unilateral (one implant) to bilateral (two implants). In 2007, I received the Nucleus 22 Contour advance electrode in my left ear, also from Cochlear. http://www.cochlear.com/Products/593.asp
Both surgeries went well despite the second time round went longer for some reason my right ear was more difficult to access to than my left ear.
I'm afraid tickets are not available for the event :)
Tuesday November 11 2008 - This is it ( goodbye hearing aid, nice knowing you for 30+ years ) The surgical procedure is done at St Andrews Hospital, one of Adelaide’s premiere major private hospitals, located on South Terrace, Adelaide. The Operation was longer than expected ( 4 hour operation ) Funny enough as this date 11/11/ is known as Remembrance day - a day to remember the sacrifice of whats was left of my residual hearing in my right ear. As this is it once the electrode is placed, point of no return.
Wednesday November 12 2008 – x ray showed electrode wrapped perfectly around the cochlear, which is expected and excellent news
Thursday November 13 2008 – Feeling the side effects of the operation
After the surgery, I had roaring tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as well as bouts of dizziness. I also lost taste buds on one side of my tongue. The tinnitus seems to happen at night and dizziness only lasted a few days. All are considered normal, possible side effects of having the surgery.
I became restless after a few days of TV / internet and Bed rest and asked my wife to take me shopping. We went to do some errands and I was surprised to find that I was still weak as I walked slowly and bit unsteady on my two feet.
I had to use a shopping trolley to help me walk faster, I am very surprised to walk slowly like an old 90 year old man . We were only gone for 2 hours and when we returned I crawled back into bed feeling completely depleted of energy. This went on for about 2 weeks and then I gradually began to return to normal.
After both surgeries I experienced moderate pain at the implant site as well as in my ear. The ear pain was intermittent dull ache pain like when you have an ear infection. It subsided after two weeks. I took Panadol to help alleviate some of the discomfort
Both surgeries went well despite the second time round went longer for some reason my right ear was more difficult to access to than my left ear.
I'm afraid tickets are not available for the event :)
Tuesday November 11 2008 - This is it ( goodbye hearing aid, nice knowing you for 30+ years ) The surgical procedure is done at St Andrews Hospital, one of Adelaide’s premiere major private hospitals, located on South Terrace, Adelaide. The Operation was longer than expected ( 4 hour operation ) Funny enough as this date 11/11/ is known as Remembrance day - a day to remember the sacrifice of whats was left of my residual hearing in my right ear. As this is it once the electrode is placed, point of no return.
Wednesday November 12 2008 – x ray showed electrode wrapped perfectly around the cochlear, which is expected and excellent news
Thursday November 13 2008 – Feeling the side effects of the operation
After the surgery, I had roaring tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as well as bouts of dizziness. I also lost taste buds on one side of my tongue. The tinnitus seems to happen at night and dizziness only lasted a few days. All are considered normal, possible side effects of having the surgery.
I became restless after a few days of TV / internet and Bed rest and asked my wife to take me shopping. We went to do some errands and I was surprised to find that I was still weak as I walked slowly and bit unsteady on my two feet.
I had to use a shopping trolley to help me walk faster, I am very surprised to walk slowly like an old 90 year old man . We were only gone for 2 hours and when we returned I crawled back into bed feeling completely depleted of energy. This went on for about 2 weeks and then I gradually began to return to normal.
After both surgeries I experienced moderate pain at the implant site as well as in my ear. The ear pain was intermittent dull ache pain like when you have an ear infection. It subsided after two weeks. I took Panadol to help alleviate some of the discomfort
My Story
My name is Robert Dobson, I have severe – profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. My main form of communication is oral with very basic knowledge of sign language. I was born deaf but was not diagnosed until I was at least 3years old. At that time there was no hearing test for babies so my parents had to work out whether my hyperactive behavior indicated a hearing loss or not. I was fitted with bilateral hearing aids till I was 4 years old.
Throughout my schooling I relied heavily on residual sounds with two hearing aids plus lip-reading. Being in the mainstream in normal hearing classes (primary and secondary) was a challenge. I felt isolated from classroom peers and had support from AVT HI twice a week (Advisory teacher – hearing impairment)
One of the biggest challenges faced in my adulthood is dealing with the demands of the ‘hearing establishment’. Society is organized around hearing people, and major adjustments have to be made for me to confront everyday problems and did that with gusto and bravado .
Going through a university for normal – hearing people required a supreme effort for me and I was very lucky to get support for in the form of note taking and additional support for other areas of study. I graduated with two degrees – Bachelor of teaching and Graduate diploma outdoor education. I have been teaching on a contract / casual basis for 13 years and I teach mainly Physical education and some work as teacher of the deaf. I have recently completed my Graduate certificate in educational studies – hearing impairment from University of Newcastle
Over the last few years I had been hearing about cochlear implants from friends and my interest intensified when the nucleus freedom cochlear implant was introduced. I met with my Ear Specialist Dr Paul Varley and the wonderful audiologists at the South Australian Cochlear Implant Centre (SACIC) and we explored and discussed the benefits a nucleus freedom cochlear implant and what it could do for me.
Given that research and assessment period had demonstrated significant improvement for my hearing needs and communicating with a nucleus freedom cochlear implant I felt that I had nothing to lose but everything to gain. The surgery for the cochlear implant was performed on Tuesday the 19th June, 2007 and on Wednesday 11th July 2007; my CI processor was activated at SACIC.
The moment of truth
All went really well and exceeded my and the audiologist expectations I was overjoyed, my hands were trembling. At first that power surge (switch on) was scary as it sounded like a bunch of Indians going off doing the rain dance.
The very first sounds were like a washing machine. That settled down after 5 minutes. I am able to differentiate different sounds and pitch at various frequencies’ which is an excellent start. Hearing my wife Haze’s and our son’s voice was different – higher pitched than I am used to.
Heard different ( early days ) sounds like paper money rustling , my wife Haze sniffling, hands rubbing on my jeans , able to converse whilst driving home not looking at my wife hazel’s mouth ( no lip reading ) , paper rustling, sound of the keyboard clacking, surprised to hear how noisy having two computers running at the same time and crunching empty bag of chips sounded cool, going to the toilet for a leak ( Niagara falls ) sounded very loud.
Went to a Café Villi's for lunch and found the sound of people chatting to be very noisy was noisy and scrambled the coffee machines were loud as well dirty dishes banging together.
So far I am loving it and exploring more sounds around the universe. I am glad I went ahead with the decision and my hat is off to the bloke that invented the cochlear implant Professor Graham Clark and the hard working audiologist team at SACIC - three cheers for you
Impact of Cochlear Implant
The first thing was I am able to do is to listen not lip read. Scored 98-100% first time on speech recognition and discrimination tests. Prior to the assessment I only scored 0 -1 % with hearing aids on both ears. I have found too that my greatest success with the cochlear implant has been the ability to listen to most the car radio / television / people behind my back / music
Discussed the possibility of getting the right ear implanted ( update - its been done ) – The cost of replacing batteries is expensive but it does not outweigh the joy of getting real hearing back
The main benefits of getting the cochlear implant are restored detection of everyday sounds in the hearing environment, improved face to face communication, the ability to understand speech through hearing alone.
Being able to hear and listen my family with two young boys has been absolutely phenomenal and priceless
Throughout my schooling I relied heavily on residual sounds with two hearing aids plus lip-reading. Being in the mainstream in normal hearing classes (primary and secondary) was a challenge. I felt isolated from classroom peers and had support from AVT HI twice a week (Advisory teacher – hearing impairment)
One of the biggest challenges faced in my adulthood is dealing with the demands of the ‘hearing establishment’. Society is organized around hearing people, and major adjustments have to be made for me to confront everyday problems and did that with gusto and bravado .
Going through a university for normal – hearing people required a supreme effort for me and I was very lucky to get support for in the form of note taking and additional support for other areas of study. I graduated with two degrees – Bachelor of teaching and Graduate diploma outdoor education. I have been teaching on a contract / casual basis for 13 years and I teach mainly Physical education and some work as teacher of the deaf. I have recently completed my Graduate certificate in educational studies – hearing impairment from University of Newcastle
Over the last few years I had been hearing about cochlear implants from friends and my interest intensified when the nucleus freedom cochlear implant was introduced. I met with my Ear Specialist Dr Paul Varley and the wonderful audiologists at the South Australian Cochlear Implant Centre (SACIC) and we explored and discussed the benefits a nucleus freedom cochlear implant and what it could do for me.
Given that research and assessment period had demonstrated significant improvement for my hearing needs and communicating with a nucleus freedom cochlear implant I felt that I had nothing to lose but everything to gain. The surgery for the cochlear implant was performed on Tuesday the 19th June, 2007 and on Wednesday 11th July 2007; my CI processor was activated at SACIC.
The moment of truth
All went really well and exceeded my and the audiologist expectations I was overjoyed, my hands were trembling. At first that power surge (switch on) was scary as it sounded like a bunch of Indians going off doing the rain dance.
The very first sounds were like a washing machine. That settled down after 5 minutes. I am able to differentiate different sounds and pitch at various frequencies’ which is an excellent start. Hearing my wife Haze’s and our son’s voice was different – higher pitched than I am used to.
Heard different ( early days ) sounds like paper money rustling , my wife Haze sniffling, hands rubbing on my jeans , able to converse whilst driving home not looking at my wife hazel’s mouth ( no lip reading ) , paper rustling, sound of the keyboard clacking, surprised to hear how noisy having two computers running at the same time and crunching empty bag of chips sounded cool, going to the toilet for a leak ( Niagara falls ) sounded very loud.
Went to a Café Villi's for lunch and found the sound of people chatting to be very noisy was noisy and scrambled the coffee machines were loud as well dirty dishes banging together.
So far I am loving it and exploring more sounds around the universe. I am glad I went ahead with the decision and my hat is off to the bloke that invented the cochlear implant Professor Graham Clark and the hard working audiologist team at SACIC - three cheers for you
Impact of Cochlear Implant
The first thing was I am able to do is to listen not lip read. Scored 98-100% first time on speech recognition and discrimination tests. Prior to the assessment I only scored 0 -1 % with hearing aids on both ears. I have found too that my greatest success with the cochlear implant has been the ability to listen to most the car radio / television / people behind my back / music
Discussed the possibility of getting the right ear implanted ( update - its been done ) – The cost of replacing batteries is expensive but it does not outweigh the joy of getting real hearing back
The main benefits of getting the cochlear implant are restored detection of everyday sounds in the hearing environment, improved face to face communication, the ability to understand speech through hearing alone.
Being able to hear and listen my family with two young boys has been absolutely phenomenal and priceless
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)