For the first time in my life, I heard fireworks popping across the river when the clock struck 12:00am on Jan. 1, 09. Even before I lost all my hearing, I couldn't hear them popping across the river. Sadly, I couldn't see them because the trees were blocking the view. But I could hear them and I was amazed at how much my hearing has improved since I got the cochlear implant turned on.
I have also noticed that I have been able to clearly hear most of the words to the songs I listen to on my mp3 player. Most of time, I thought they didn't say a word or two, but now as I take my dog jogging, I can hear the words I thought they skipped. Although I'm not sure if it's related to actually listening closer to the song or hearing better.
Not all products are made equally, and I tend to choose Samsung cell phones over other brands and Sony mp3 players. The main reason is that these two brands work the best with my implant. I had some difficulties hearing out of other phones but Samsung just always seem to be better, even before I lost all my hearing.
I look forward to more things to hear that I haven't heard before. It always lifts my head.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
New Things I Can Now Hear
Update to the list of the things I can now hear that I couldn't before:
1. I can hear music on my mp3 player with the setting as low as 3, given that I'm in a quiet room.
2. I can hear my TV with the volume on 4-5, give I'm in a quiet room.
3. I can hear the train blowing it's horn from my apartment.
4. I can hear a cat/kitten purr. Before, I could feel it, now I can actually hear the purr-purr-purrr.
5. I can hear Bayou or Buddy bark in the woods when they are chasing squirrels and rabbits.
I learn and hear more and more as the weeks go by and I am thankful that I was born in a time where I am given a second chance to hear again, even better than before. I can't imagine if what I would be doing and how I would coping if I had never gotten a cochlear implant. It was a real struggle when I lost all my hearing. Now, it's easy, it's "natural". True, I still have some problems, but I'm still learning and will always be.
1. I can hear music on my mp3 player with the setting as low as 3, given that I'm in a quiet room.
2. I can hear my TV with the volume on 4-5, give I'm in a quiet room.
3. I can hear the train blowing it's horn from my apartment.
4. I can hear a cat/kitten purr. Before, I could feel it, now I can actually hear the purr-purr-purrr.
5. I can hear Bayou or Buddy bark in the woods when they are chasing squirrels and rabbits.
I learn and hear more and more as the weeks go by and I am thankful that I was born in a time where I am given a second chance to hear again, even better than before. I can't imagine if what I would be doing and how I would coping if I had never gotten a cochlear implant. It was a real struggle when I lost all my hearing. Now, it's easy, it's "natural". True, I still have some problems, but I'm still learning and will always be.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Trail and Error
As I've mention before, the first time the implant was turned on, it sounded like everyone was "high." Haha. About 1 or 2 months later, I got an adjustment with 2 different programs to try. They were better than the first ones. However, I still had trouble with cell phones and was still learning how to hear with the implant.
My last and 3rd adjustment was in February this past year. I got 2 different programs to try again. These 2 programs work great. They work well with cell phones, mp3 players, and distance. I have gained more confidence since this last adjustment.
However, just because these programs work for me doesn't mean they will work for someone else. Everyone is different and the whole process is trail-and-error. The first 5 programs didn't work as great as the 2 programs I now have. There are 3 programs currently on my implant. I've always wondering if the last adjustment was better than the others because I had a sinus infection. The reason I got the 3rd adjustment was b/c I had a sinus infection and was having difficulty and problems. The quality of sound was different so I went for an adjustment. After I recovered for the infection, the quality and clarity of sound didn't change. I've wondered if getting an adjustment during the infection helped in the overall improvement.
Working with different programs wasn't easy. Each program is different, and with each program, I had to learn to process the sound. But the over time, it did become easier. By the time of the 3rd adjustment, it only took a couple days to get use to the way the program processes sound.
I think with everything, you have to experience (or experiment) it and make changes as needed. In other words, trail and error can be applied close to almost anything and every action. Even though I can hear clearly now, it didn't come without trail and error.
My last and 3rd adjustment was in February this past year. I got 2 different programs to try again. These 2 programs work great. They work well with cell phones, mp3 players, and distance. I have gained more confidence since this last adjustment.
However, just because these programs work for me doesn't mean they will work for someone else. Everyone is different and the whole process is trail-and-error. The first 5 programs didn't work as great as the 2 programs I now have. There are 3 programs currently on my implant. I've always wondering if the last adjustment was better than the others because I had a sinus infection. The reason I got the 3rd adjustment was b/c I had a sinus infection and was having difficulty and problems. The quality of sound was different so I went for an adjustment. After I recovered for the infection, the quality and clarity of sound didn't change. I've wondered if getting an adjustment during the infection helped in the overall improvement.
Working with different programs wasn't easy. Each program is different, and with each program, I had to learn to process the sound. But the over time, it did become easier. By the time of the 3rd adjustment, it only took a couple days to get use to the way the program processes sound.
I think with everything, you have to experience (or experiment) it and make changes as needed. In other words, trail and error can be applied close to almost anything and every action. Even though I can hear clearly now, it didn't come without trail and error.
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