December 2009

Today is one year anniversary for the switch on - my right ear

7/12/2009 - I attended an telecomunications seminar last night - speakers talked about emergency services i.e. sms warning systems (ACMA) - Captioned telephone i.e. demonstration (ACE) - video relay service & video relay interpreting (ACE) and Natasha Stott Despoja who gave an inspiring speech

November 2009

I did a 100 km bike ride for a good cause - Amy's ride - 100 km mission completed despite rear puncture in searing heat and never drank so much flapping powerade

Today is special milestone for me - time has flown .... today is 12 months since the CI operation in my right ear

October 2009

Impressive new release of the cochlear implant system called Nucleus 5

http://www.cochlearamericas.com/nucleus5/

First thoughts

The new Automatic Telecoil, Instead of manually activating a Telecoil, the user simply picks up the phone and puts it to his or her ear.

The remote assistant - controls both two implants, allow to tweak each processor program settings for different needs, I like that but who can be bothered to carry an remote control with you all times. Most people have enough items in their pockets to carry everyday like mobile phones, car keys, wallets.

Just an thought - I have iPhone 3GS, it would be great if cochlear has 'app' that controls the processor settings via wireless bluetooth

The new software - great to see bilateral mappings can be done on the one screen showing both left and right maps

The question is I wonder if this new Cochlear Nucleus 5 System is currently compatible with Nucleus freedom as I have heard its not backward compatible with the ESPrit 3G

September 2009

I went on my first road bike ride - 20kms and felt comfortable with the bike helmet and no problems with the bilateral implants.

I got myself like all others that have joined the iRevolution - the one and only iPhone 3GS. I am very impressed with the call quality when using cochlear impants and now waiting for audio cable so that I can listen to the iPod while riding along.

August 2009

Hearing Awareness Week 2009 - One in six Australians suffer from some form of hearing loss

I have been looking for a road / race bike and one of the interesting things that struck out was trying to find the perfect bike helmet restraint system that will not knock off the processor 'coils' attached behind my head.

Anyone know of this work around ?

edit - I have found the perfect bike helmet - Rosebank Octane which has the retention system which fit snugly where the coils are placed behind my head.


Cochlear has lifted its annual profit by 13 per cent and says its results in the new financial year will be driven by the roll out of new products

Love that new sleek cochlear nucleus 5 - check out page 15

Edit - photos have been removed by Cochlear .........

http://www.cochlear.com/PDFs/COH_Full_Year_11_08_09_Analyst_Final.pdf

July 2009

I thought it would be good idea to post a copy of my audiogram pre - cochlear implant.

The area where it's shaded ( 0-20 dbSPL range ) i.e. is what I am hearing currently with bilateral cochlear implants

I will interpret what this unaided audiogram tells us as it shows that I have a severe to profound hearing loss

Left ear

.125 kHz - 80 dbSPL
.250 kHz - 95 dbSPL
.500 kHz - 105 dbSPL
1 KHz - 115 dbSPL
2 KHz - 95 dbSPL
4 KHz - 100 dbSPL
8 KHz - 105 dbSPL

Right ear
.125 kHz - 80 dbSPL
.250 kHz - 80 dbSPL
.500 kHz - 105 dbSPL
1 KHz - 110 dbSPL
2 KHz - 100 dbSPL
4 KHz - 100 dbSPL
8 KHz - 105 dbSPL



This month will be an important milestone as I will be soon celebrating two year's anniversary for the highly successful switch on on my left ear.

I am nearly finished reading the book " Sounds from Silence " by Professor Graeme Clark, a must read book for all potential and current cochlear implant recipients as well for parents of children who are looking at options.

This is a powerful and moving book, never ending journey of one man's quest to give people a chance to give sounds from silence. He has proven the skeptics wrong. Best of all he is Australian and we are proud of him . My hat's is off to you Mr Clark, you're a legend and thanks for giving back my hearing.

June 2009

Woah what a day Friday 12/6/2009

More tweaking with the Threshold & Comfort levels and noticed minor changes in the higher freq's in both mappings, nothing major

The CUNY ( City University of New York ) listening test i.e. listening to CD with long sentences i.e some up to 14-20 words, with American accent was a breeze and scored the following

CUNY score 99%correct with both left & right processors on ( bilateral )

CUNY score 99% correct in the left processor alone with right processor turned off

CUNY score 99% correct in the right processor alone with left processor turned off

I am very happy with that results considering that I only had my right implant implanted seven months ago

Mapping update - June 2009









Left map 12/6/2009


















Right Map 12/6/2009









I have an appointment Friday week for Mapping and check up, looking forward to see what progress has been made since the February Mappings.

Drawing of bilateral cochlear implants from my 3 year old son

May 2009 Update

Personal achievement - I have recently completed my post graduate studies in hearing impairment from University of Newcastle, Australia. I am now qualified to be a teacher of the Deaf. I am now currently looking for employment as teacher of the Deaf.

Graeme Clark saw what everybody thought was impossible and he was determined to do it. Albert Einstein said imagination is more important than anything. Guess who is laughing now

Quick note - thanks everyone for their kinds words on Facebook , personal emails and sms about me getting the 'Hearo' award from Cochlear Australia & NZ

Hearo Award 2009

loud shirt day

Loud Shirt Day is an initiative of "deaf kids talking". This alliance is made up of five organisations throughout Australia, whose aim is to support deaf and hearing impaired children throughout Australia so they can learn to hear, listen and speak.

http://www.loudshirtday.com.au/Default.html

National Volunteer Week - 2009

I am honored and humbled to receive the 'Hearo' award from Cochlear Australia & NZ - Made a valuable contribution to raising awareness cochlear hearing solutions and how they can improve the communication ability and quality of life for adults and children with moderate to profound hearing loss.

May 2009 - Photos of Feedom nucleus cochlear implant and Feedom rechargeable battery system

April 2009

Magical bilateral moment today - listening to the Aspro Clear ( dis solvable aspirin tablets ) fizzing away in the glass of water, I am so amazed that bilateral processors can pick up the smallest sounds. It sounded like "fizz" and "crackling"

One little thing that has started to annoy me is that battery cage is becoming harder to pull out from the processor - just requires little extra force.

Cochlear has a new A4 template on my story - check it out
http://www.c-a-network.com/print/storybrochures/a4storybrochures/robdobson.pdf

March 2009

I was in awe watching / listening to the countdown spectacular on DVD - brilliant Australian 80's music. To be able to listen to the lyrics is wonderful. Alot of these Australian songs reminds me of my mis spent youth.

I have been finding that battery life in both processors seem to last longer, I have been using both rechargeable batteries and power one 675 type batteries.

More bilateral implant research -

A case when 2 are definitely superior to 1

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/05/29/bilateral.cochlear.implants.a.case.when.2.are.definitely.superior.1

February 2009 update

9th Mapping session

More tweaking with the T & C levels and minor changes in the middle freq's

The CUNY listening test ( listening to CD with long sentences with American accent ) was a breeze and score 90%+ correct with both left & right processors on - I am very happy with that result considering that I only had my right implant inserted three months ago

Other changes was adding the T-switch program to processor mapping i.e. Program 2

Speaking of the T-switch I have found that using mobile phones and cordless phones to give off buzzing / humming interference :( So basically I use my normal program setting and cope just fine

Where as using the T-switch for corded phones e.g. land line phones - works like a charm

Magical bilateral moment happened to me today - listening to the rescue helicopter landing on heli pad @ Flinders medical centre - it was a buzz to be able to hear / listen to the helicopter rotor's going WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP like in the movies and stand close to helicopter

Cochlear

HEARING implant company Cochlear has posted a 22 per cent jump in interim net profit and says it is well positioned for growth despite the challenging global economic environment.

Cochlear (coh.ASX:Quote,News) reported a net profit of $69.9 million and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.26 for the six months ended December 31, both up 22 per cent on the prior corresponding half.

February 2009

Funny bilateral moment happened to me yesterday - As I was putting our 13 month old son into the car seat - my right magnetic coil got attracted to the metal pillar near the rear door and at the same time my son grabbed the left magnetic coil from behind my ear .......hairy situation to be in as the last thing I want is both coils damaged.

I am looking forward to the hearing awareness test ( test with left & right speakers) and listening skills test with both processors on - Thursday week and will post an update

Cheers big ears
BW

Recipient story on cochlear website

http://www.cochlear.com.au/Community/599.asp?StoryID=1983

Right mapping update

Right map January 2009












Massive difference in the dynamic range compared to the switch on map 6 weeks ago below

Left mapping update

Left map January 2009












Last map was done 6 months ago and its gone leaps and bounds to where it stands today with the latest map pictured above - January 2009

Mapping update

8th Mapping session

Had both of my maps ( left & right ) done and its wonderful to see both maps looking striking similar in most of the electrodes. Fine tuning both 44 electrodes was fun and hearing the 'softest ' of all lowest sounding beeps is getting easier and better. Both maps showing excellent dynamic ranges in all frequencies and hearing this made my grin / smirk wider knowing that both implants are getting a nice even balance

New Year commences - 2009

Magical moment last night for NYE 2008 - chatting to the neighbors with beer in one hand in pitch black darkness under the moonlight and hearing & listening to every word that was being spoken, I would have struggled with this pre cochlear.

One month since switch on and loving it - looking forward to fine tune both processors to equalize the balance.

another note - love youtube and have a listen to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E37-D7B0Wa8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZY0xk0VeDs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ798THmR5Y&feature=related