Don't Cry for Me Argentina

What has this title got to do with the cochlear implant one may say. Well, I went to see the play, Evita, last Friday at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton. It was 'stage-texted' which is theatre captioning similar to television subtitling, so I was able to follow every word in every song. The play was fantastic. Although I was able to hear most of the words, they sounded harsh and sometimes hollow. I couldn't really hear the notes. Hopefully, they will improve over time. However, I was able to differentiate some of the musical instruments. Next month, I will see Les Miserables, again with stage-text, so hopefully there will be some improvement.

It is almost three months since the cochlear implant was switched on and it continues to amaze me. I now have three different programs in my cochlear implant:

• ClearVoice which focuses on speech and compresses the background noises. I have this on most of the time
• Outside - the ClearVoice option is switched off, so that I can hear the environment noises - very useful for cycling and walking in the town.
• UltraZoom - it is used when I am in a very noisy environment such as in a pub / cafe. It focuses on the person I am talking to and almost cuts off the background noise.

I frequently switch programs depending where I am and each really works. A couple of weeks ago, I met a great friend of mine at a lovely pub near Regent Street, London called The Windmill. It makes delicious homemade pies. My concern was that it is a noisy pub and my friend has a strong Yorkshire accent which is difficult to lip-read as many deaf people would agree. My fear was allayed when I switched to the 'UltraZoom' program and I could hear every word he said. I was very impressed. This has given me much confidence to go out more.

Very shortly, I will have telephone sessions which I will learn to use the telephone starting with simple words and not changing the subject too often. The plan is that over time I will gain confidence using the telephone and not have to rely on my family too heavily. My family will be relieved if this happens!

For a trial, I have been selected to use a remote device called ComPilot which is like a small remote controller. As well as allowing to switch programs more easily, it will enable me to connect seamlessly to Bluetooth enabled devices such as mobile phones, laptops, ipads and even televisions. The trial will start sometime in the New Year. Incredible piece of technology and I can't wait!

A Stranger

Last week, I went back to the hospital for further re-tuning. Sounds in particularly voices are now becoming more recognisable as my brain continues to re-adjust. I haven't really listened to any more new sounds - just sharper and crisper. For example, walking along the River Test yesterday, I could hear my footsteps on the gravel very clearly, water rushing and people talking. There were also a few cyclists on the path but I didn't hear them coming from behind me. Perhaps I would have heard them if I had the cochlear switched to the 'Outside' programme (see previous post below).

Anyway, the audiologist was pleased with my progress so far and decided that I should have hearing tests. There were 2 main tests:

1. Listening and lip-reading a man on television. He spoke without any facial expressions (like a robot!). He spoke approximately 20 sentences. 
2. Again, listening to the same chap on television but without lip-reading.

Before the operation, using hearing-aids, the success rates were 94% and 49% respectively. Now, 3 weeks after the operation, the success rates were 95% and 66% respectively. Quite a big improvement on the second test, so that was very pleasing.

Next month, a telephone workshop is being planned to test if I can use the device. It would be great to turn the clocks back to over 20 years ago when I was able to use the telephone (with limited use). Will see.

There is an useful short video (2 minutes) describing visually how a cochlear implant works (don't worry, there is no gory!).

How a cochlear implant works.

Walking in the town at lunchtime today, a stranger came to me to say that she noticed my cochlear implant and just wanted to say that her friend had his operation last year. She added that he was making great progress especially with his speech. She then said, "It is a pleasure to meet you" and walked off! It has made my day :)

Programmed

Since having the cochlear implant re-tweaked last Wednesday, the voices are no longer cackling. Hurray! In fact, voices sound more familiar except that I am still hearing the letters 's' and 't' in the speech which are very important. The benefits of having a CI over a hearing-aid are now reaping and becoming more apparent.

I was having a session with a speech therapist and she left me momentarily in a room. It was very quiet that you could hear a pin drop. I suddenly heard a sharp high pitched rhythm. I looked around and realised the sound was coming from the second hand of a large office clock. I now understand why guests take out batteries from clocks in the bedroom! Must be quite irritating.

I have two new programmes on the processor. One is called "Outside". I mentioned to the audiologist that the traffic noises sounded somewhat muted. The main reason is that the CI is programmed for speech and other sounds are compressed and compromised. This 'Outside' programme could be used for example when walking in the high street and cycling. I tried it when I went for a bike ride and it was definitely helpful as I was able to hear when a vehicle was about to overtake. The other programme is called 'Ultra-zoom' which should be used when listening to someone in a noisy environment such as a pub and cafe. I'm seeing someone at lunchtime and will try that out.

I did ask her if there was a such programme called 'Muted' which could be activated every time my wife speaks. Sadly there was no such thing :)

I had lunch with my work colleagues yesterday and they were all mumbling as usual. However, I was able to detect who was talking and to hear separate words although still incomprehensible. That is some improvement. Will I be able to follow the conversations in future? May be a little. Will have to wait and see.

I will be visiting the hospital once again at the end of the week, so hopefully there will be further improvements.

The Witches Cackle

Last Monday, I went back to the hospital to have my cochlear implant re-tuned. After a couple of hours or so, the sounds were more clear and familiar. I then went home. As soon as I started listening to my family and the television, the voices sounded more distorted and cackling. I felt I was in Pendle Hill, Lancashire where the famous witches lived! The sounds were unbearable that I even had to leave the lounge away from the television. I sent a SOS mail to the hospital and they managed to find me a free slot on the following day to further re-tune my device. The voices still sounded cackling but I could tolerate them for the next appointment a week later.

I can now hear people coming down the stairs and Harry walking about in his bedroom when I am in the study below. That is quite handy so that I know if he is in bed or playing about!

After a long hot spell, we finally had rain and I was able to hear the rain platting on the car while driving. Quite a nice and comforting sound.

In the office, I am hearing people have conversations although I do not (yet?!) understand them. I can even hear them walking about; the door being opened and closed. The keyboard is so loud and I know if my colleagues are typing or not. I am now very conscious when typing and try to press the keys gently. The air conditioner above me hums but it is not irritating. 

I went to Sofia for a few days to watch the Deaflympics. I had a great time but it was so noisy most of the time that I did not have the chance to listen for new sounds. However, I did manage to go for a couple of runs in the morning and was pleased that my device (the outside part which is the processor) did not fall off. The magnet is strong enough to hold its place.

I have been practising listening to bird sounds through iPlayer and I believe the second bird song I heard last week (see my previous post) was a blue tit.

There is still a long way to go but it has been a promising start. I will be back in a couple of weeks with an update and hope to post a few more new sounds.

Cochlear Implant - update after day three

Still hearing high squeaky voices which are impossible to understand. But managed to hear new sounds never before:

• Grandfather clock ticking
• Alex crunching an apple
• Pen writing on paper
• Pressing keyboard on blackberry
• Cat licking milk in bowl
• Two bird sounds - one was obviously a pigeon but the other was unrecognisable. Very high tweeting but a lovely sound. Will try and listen bird sounds on iPlayer to practice listening - a good tip from mother-in-law (thanks!).

I went to the London Olympic Stadium last night for the Anniversary Games, so caught a train there. I could hear passengers coughing and sneezing on other side of platform. I could also hear the humming sounds from air conditioning and a very noisy newspaper on the train. I am an avid newspaper reader and have been commuting to London for over 15 years. I just realised that I must have been a very noisy passenger and would like to profusely apologise to all other regular passengers who had to put up with me! I will try and be more quiet and subtle from now on, or even read the newspaper from an iPad.

Overall, sounds are much sharper and crisper and I can hear them much further away.I’m going back to the Cochlear Implant Centre in Southampton on Monday to crank up the cochlear implant. Hopefully, I will hear more new sounds and will send another update next week.

Stay tuned!

Cochlear Implant - first sounds

Five weeks after the cochlear implant operation, it was finally switched on this morning. First sounds heard were my voice and the audiologist’s and we both had high pitched and squeaky voices. Yuk! The audiologist tried to re-assure me it was normal but I wasn’t convinced. Not happy but went to a nearby café for an hour to wait for the next appointment. I couldn’t hear my footsteps but could hear myself blowing and whistling. The traffic was muffled. Bought coffee and a flapjack and found a table. 5 metres away, 2 gents were talking I could actually hear their conversations although I couldn’t understand what they were saying. Good progress. It was graduation day at Southampton University, so the café filled up and all I could hear was high squeaky voices but the noise wasn’t unbearable.

I went back to see the audiologist and asked her if the volume could be increased. She agreed and I was able to hear more sounds including the letter ‘s’ and ‘sssshhhh’. Went through series of simple tests and could recognise every sound and passed 100%. Very pleased.

Popped in Waitrose on way home and could hear squeaky trolleys and shoes! Arrived home and walked around the garden with Alex. I could hear my feet scuttling across the grass and a dog barking in the distance. No birds though. I will try to listen them tomorrow morning.

The kitchen is noisy and I could even hear myself munching my lunch. Will try be quieter with my eating habits!

A positive start and I will post any new sounds I hear over the coming weeks. I made one mistake today though and that is I reacted when Sian called my name. I can’t ignore her anymore!