Cochlear Implant Surgery

[Alex T]

Hey All-

I don't normally make posts about myself or anything but felt with such a large network here and also I have many friends on this website, and some of you are Facebook friends with me and already know the recent developments in my life. Many of you all know I am Deaf. However the past year I have been heavily involved in researching, meeting with and checking things out in response to the possibility of a cochlear implant surgery to help fix my hearing and hopefully hear better.

I know we have other deaf members on this website, and I have lost a lot of friends some that are deaf because they lost "respect" that I was "leaving" the deaf world" and joining the hearing world. The fact is, the CI is designed to improve social life, work life, relationships, all areas in between, and I am at the low point in regards to hearing. I cannot get any worse.

So because of all this I went ahead and decided to investigate getting the implant. It took over a year of making a case, fighting with insurance to get approval and whatnot. After months of appointments and whatnot I was given approval to get the cochlear implant.

October 23rd, 2009 will be the date of my surgery. I will have the cochlear done on my left ear. I hope in due time, it works so that I can advance my career at SWA and maybe become a Flight Attendant. Many of you all know I am employed by SWA, and took a leave of absence, partly due to my hearing loss. I will not go into details what went on in public, but that was a big driving force in having me check the CI out.

So I just wanted to update those who did not know about the recent developments in my life regarding my hearing loss and hope it improves my life big time regarding being deaf.

Any questions, comments are welcome. For those of you that are against the CI, feel free to voice it but I have done the research for over a year and feel comfortable to go ahead with it.

Alex

[moose135]

That's great, Alex, I wish you all the best! I hope everything works out well for you.

[PhilDernerJr]

Alex, I wish you the best.

As for your friends who may have turned their back on you, that is unfortunate. I would hope that anyone who has the chance to better themselves or overcome challenges would receive support, especially from those who have faced those challenges as well. Jealousy perhaps?

You're good people and have accomplished much regardless the status of your hearing. If things go well, you would be an excelletn flight attendant, or excel in anything else you'd like to do.

[diegodangers]

Alex, best of luck with your surgery! I saw a documentary on the implants maybe a year or so back, it is amazing what they can do with technology.

[Matt Molnar]

Best of luck, Alex!

[MarkLawrence]

Good luck Alex!!

[lijk604]

Good Luck to you Alex!

[JHNA57]

As the Uncle of an 11 yr old deaf niece who has had an implant for 9 years, let me tell you that the device is truly a miracle. I can only wish you the best of luck, and assure you that you have made the right choice.

[Alex T]

Thank you all for posting!

Phil--It is sad but I expect it. Deaf World have a STRONG pride, and don't like anything that resembles close to the Hearing Community. It is like Black Pride, Gay Pride, and such. Oddly though the Deaf EXCLUDES other members, where as Gay/black try to involve others too.

I shrug at it and try not to worry about it and just do my own thing on my own time.

JHN-That is refreshing to know and certainly boosts my confidence I have not heard one bad thing about the CI yet (maybe because I am Deaf! :lol: )

Alex

[Alex T]

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs097.snc3/16446_1164448668199_1137330042_30441086_120312_n.j pg

Having fun with sticking magnets to my head! :borat: :lol:

[Derf]

I wish you the best. You will be in my Prayers

[PhilDernerJr]

How's it going so far?

That magnet thing....so many possibilities. haha

[Alex T]

Thanks Derf!

Phil- So far recovery has been great, The scab is peeling which today finally made it thin enough for the magnet to start working. I discovered it by complete accident, I had a magnet near my head and without thinking it flew off out of my hands and flew into my head and stck there. I just gasped and went omg it works!

Wednesday is when I get the activation done! I am very much looking forward to it!

Alex

[moose135]

Having fun with sticking magnets to my head! :borat: :lol:
You're a wild and crazy guy, Alex :D
Best of luck, I hope everything works well for you.

[Alex T]

Thanks Moose! Appreciate it! :)

I posted this on Facebook and on a.net a story about life with a magnet in my head...hope ya'll enjoy it!

It's been over a week now since my surgery and it's been quite a challenge living my usual life, only with a magnet inside my head stuck to my skull. Kind of creeps you out doesn't it?

One of the biggest challenges is driving, and sleeping. As for driving, my god, I forget how much we constantly have to move our head which causes me to be dizzy and stretches my incision which is a BIG NO NO. It is very hard for me to make constant right turns, because I have to stop, lean forward to check for traffic, and if a car pulls up besides me, forget it I cannot look around them to see. I have to wait for them to move on.

Then backing my car up, you know back it up yo...ya this Boy ain't backing it up Yo...I physically cannot turn my head/body around to the right to back my car up. If I get myself into a backing up situation, which I try hard not to do, WATCH OUT WORLD. I will back up blindly and pray I don't hit anyone Smile

The other challenge as I said was sleeping, NO ONE can talk about not being able to sleep until your head has been drilled into, and you have a magnet sitting on your skull inside your head, ok pregnant women may complain with me but that's it! Gosh it is so weird and hard to sleep on the side of your implant, especially since I sleep on my left side before the surgery, and now I cannot. I wake up every single morning at around 6:30am it seems like uncomfortable and usually annoyed at the feeling of it inside my head. What a way to wake up to. Then of course I take baths sometimes and the way my tub is set up I have to lean on my left side, ya again NOT HAPPENING...

I found out the cost of the surgery was, around 74,000, YIKES. My magnet alone was around 57K I believe. I have a VERY expensive head now Smile. When I found this out, I had this image of being murdered and someone digging inside my head looking for this 47,000 dollar magnet. However did find out the resale value is worth nada, so i don't have to worry. Can't you tell I watch CSI on Thursdays? Smile

On that note, I learned the other day why I should listen to the doctor when he says don't walk around campus and such...I thought what could I possibly do just walking around that would cause injury to my neck..well I found out today for the first time! After I left my fathers office and had picked up my midterm I was walking through to my car (yes attempting to drive) when my Blackberry vibrated signaling me to a text message. I looked down to see a text from my mother, opened it and *THWAP* ran smack dab into a tree branch. It apparently didn't like me as it continued to thwap at my head and in reaction not knowing what it was I turned to the right very suddenly and within that second-OWWW. Felt my incision tug and thus caused my neck to be sore all over again. *whines* And immediately as if I got my hearing back, the voice of my surgeon telling me not to walk around campus echoed in my head!

Well golly gee, He was right, the man knows what he is talking about! For over 74K buckaroos he better be! Silly

Oh and Miley Cyrus is probably out to kill me or break my neck. Ya'll know that song "Party in the USA" I assume? Well she has this line that says "nodding my head like ya", and every time the song comes on, and she gets to that line. I start to nod my head, realize what I am about to do to my neck if I nod and her lyrics then becomes "nodding my -- ya not nodding anymore" before I hurt my neck again"

That is how my past week has been so far I made it to work and work went fine! Hope you all had an awesome halloween and having a great week! Next week is my activation day! November 11th! Looking forward to it!

Whose ready for Thanksgiving now?! Can't wait to hear those Turkey gobble now! Silly

Alex

[Matt Molnar]

Glad to hear you're doing well, Alex.

Will you have to carry a doctor's note for airport security?

[Alex T]

Glad to hear you're doing well, Alex.

Will you have to carry a doctor's note for airport security?

A bracelet or necklace I believe that identifies it for TSA and Medical officials to alert them for Magnet and cannot be inside an MRI for that reason too.

Alex

[mirrodie]

Dude, knock off the magnet magic. It'll suck out yer brains and re-align your electrons!!

-And you can get an aftermarket backup camera for your car. Its much cheaper than having to pay for auto damages.

Glad to see you are doing well.


Oh, I dont get the 'deaf world' pride. I don't know a single person who has lost their gift of sight or never had it and would not want it back.

[Alex T]

Thought I'd post some images/diagrams so people can see how it is working/looking...

http://www.bcm.edu/oto/jsolab/cochlear_implants/Implanted-device.gif

This is inside my head right now under the skin flap attatched to the skull. The wires you see were drilled into my head inside the ear canal and wrapped around the cochlear inside my ear.

When I place the speech processor on...
http://www.aestheticdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/20090508-cochlear-implants-003.jpg

The magnets inside and outside will connect and the signals will be sent via the magnets and wires...

http://scienceblogs.com/twominds/implant.jpg

Hope that clears up some confusion!

[T-Bird76]

HE WILL BE THE BIONIC TRUDE!

[emshighway]

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs097.snc3/16446_1164448668199_1137330042_30441086_120312_n.j pg

Having fun with sticking magnets to my head! :borat: :lol:


See you will become very popular in college, you bring your own bottle opener. :D

Congrats

[emshighway]

Glad to hear you're doing well, Alex.

Will you have to carry a doctor's note for airport security?

A bracelet or necklace I believe that identifies it for TSA and Medical officials to alert them for Magnet and cannot be inside an MRI for that reason too.

Alex

Just advise the screener, you should bypass the walkthrough metal detector since it may make you dizzy. The drawback is you will get a patdown every time.

[Alex T]

Hey All~!

Activation has been complete—for now! Anxiety was building up to 2pm today. I went in for the CT Scan and everything went fine.

I went in at 2pm for the activation and the first hour was used to introduce me to the speech processor and how it works, what I need to do. Battery charging, going through metal detectors, flying, courts, driving, music, just every day life and how to adjust with it.

The 2nd part of it was the fun part. She placed the speech processor and the magnet on my head and was going to send me through a series of testing. If you recall during the surgery sixteen electrodes were placed inside my ear. She had to individually test each electrode to make sure they worked, and in the end all 16 were balanced in terms of volume and pitch. We wanted to make the electrodes and sounds are as equal as possible.

She went with number 1. This would be the very first time I heard a sound without my hearing aid, and through the implant. I sat and waited as she did some typing and clacking to start the test. I stared at Mom talking to her and out of the blue I heard a long BEEP loud and it rang through my head. My eyes jerked wide open and I went I just heard a sound I think. It was so different from the hearing aid that I almost didn’t recognize it as a sound! I looked in excitement and audiologist said yep I activated it, you are turned on! I was wide mouth in smiles. Just amazed and blown away. Yes, it was just one sound. But it was a sound I never got to hear before for the first time.

I just sat there trying to take it in and try to hear the sound. It is absolutely without a doubt TOTALLY different from my hearing aid. The hearing aid only amplified the sound and made it louder, the cochlear actually goes right into my ear/head and creates a sound for me that sounded SO natural and pure, compared to a speaker type sound the hearing aid provided me. It is hard to explain to hearing people what I hear.

So we went through all sixteen electrodes. She would do a series of beeps, in different volume and pitch so I could try to match the sounds all up evenly. I was hearing high pitches for the first time naturally, where with hearing aids I could not. So that was also very exciting for me. I was also able to for the first time tell you the difference in sound in terms of pitch and volume!

Today was just the beginning, but right now, I can hear SOME sounds, I am NOT able to tell you what I am hearing yet, or understand them or have it clarified. All the sounds that I do pick up sound exactly the same regardless of who/what is making the sound. Right now I will continue to wear it along with my hearing aid on the right side. On slow days I will wear only the cochlear implant to again stimulate my left ear and just giving it mileage.

It is going take awhile and patience as I said but it is going to be a fun journey and I am very excited to go through it! Thanks again all for the support, it is appreciated!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs117.snc3/16446_1166332755300_1137330042_30445493_6782466_n. jpg
This is the first time I heard a sound through the activation.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs097.snc3/16446_1166333275313_1137330042_30445506_766552_n.j pg
Staying focused during the testing trying to pick up sounds.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs097.snc3/16446_1166333355315_1137330042_30445507_6004260_n. jpg
Finished! :)

I go back tomorrow for more testing and will be doing so for the next 6-8 weeks once a week appointments. Very excited!

Alex

[Derf]

Wonderful news, I am very happy that it worked out and decided to share with us. On days where everything seems off and things are not their best, this thread created a smile bigger than any other and realization of the the truth, be happy that we are healthy. Your joy is backed up by many of us and hoe you keep us informed on the updates. Great smile and congrats again!!!

[lijk604]

Congrats Alex...glad to hear it was a success!

[Alex T]

Will have further updates either tonight or tomorrow (Saturday) Already improvements are showing on my records and had quite a funny incident with my turn signal, took me 3 minutes to discover that a turn signal DOES make noise! Who knew?! :lol:

Stay Tuned for the next update! Will be my last one until next week.
Alex

[PhilDernerJr]

Alex, I read the blinker thing on your facebook and I loved hearing that. I'm very happy for you. :)

[Alex T]

Hello All-

I am on Day 4 after the activation and there has been MANY changes already.

When I went back up for the 2nd activation we did some major tweaking and the Audiologist said that my brain and ear had changed so much overnight that the program she set for me on Wednesday was now considered OLD, and she had to delete that program/mapping and give me a newer one! She expected to only have to tweak it, but after I took the testing I wasn't responding to the program from Wednesday (which in this case is good) which meant the brain was saying "ya I can hear that already come on I want more" so it gets bored and doesn't respond to it, thus showing the brain and ear is maturing already.

So I came home on Thursday with two different settings one more designed for sound in terms of volume and the 2nd one was designed more for clarity.

The testing on Thursday was pretty much what I went through on Wednesday, a series of beeps per electrode to align the volumes, to which she noticed as I said above that she had to give me an entirely different program.

She also noticed my speech was changing a bit too. As some know I have a VERY slight speech deficiency, not many notice it and for those that do sometimes mistake it for an accent, I have been told it sounds like a British Accent, those who know me or have met me hearing me speak can attest to this. I sound NOTHING like a guy who is from the cornstalks of Southern Illinois LOL Anyhow she went on to say that the speech was becoming a bit more clear, I was enunciating my words more, speaking a bit slower, and my volume was down a bit too. This is not to say I was screaming every word or shouting but my voice level would get a bit louder when people around me were loud, now this is not the case.

One funny story as most already know, I got in my car to drive home from the Hospital in STL and I went to the stop light and was waiting to turn left. I was sitting and kept hearing this click, click, click really rapidly. I had never heard this before and was baffled to hear this noise. I checked my phone, the dashboard, behind me in the car and no idea at all. I noticed I had to complete my turn and when I did the clicking went away. I said ok what the H was that noise?! I looked and realized my turn signal had been on the same time I heard the clicking sound. So I turned it on again and sure enough the clicking sound was matching my seeing it blink. I looked and stared at it open mouth absolutely stunned. I did not know turn signals made noise! I really thought all they did was just blink! Who knew?!

Some of the differences already that they are noticing.

I am picking up pitch and tone at the same time and can tell the difference. Pre Surgery I could not, day 3 I can.

Pre surgery- the lowest Decibel I could pick up sound was only at 95, which means the noise level had to be at 95 DB before I could start picking things up. Now it is already down to 30, some electrodes are 42, 47, 49, but the lowest is a 30 and she had that as her goal for me and already two of my electrodes are hitting 30 on Day 3.

Pre surgery, I had the hearing of a severe to profoundly deaf person, on day 3 after hearing test, I am now one with a MINOR hearing loss with the CI.

Pre surgery couldn't tell you how many people were speaking. Day three, I am able to TELL that there is more than one voice speaking, but still cannot tell you the number yet.

Some other sounds I have discovered is my washing machine apparently makes a DING sound when it is finished. What is more amazing is I heard this sound 20 feet away!

I started the gas stove to fix my dinner and I heard a chime, almost dinging repeatedly, and noticed it was coming from the clicking of the flame over the stove.

Whenever I eat lunch or dinner and I am around someone, I realize how LOUD I chew, and I keep wanting to apologize for all of a sudden making this loud noise, and they tell me they don't even notice it half the time, and added it isn't that I am loud, they say we all make sounds when we eat we just learn to tune it out. Lucky them I thought, I still can't do that so when I hear EVERYONE chew at once..ya just a little bit gross!

So, I am definitely hearing sounds now, and am picking up a ton of high pitch sounds that I never heard before. I am having so much fun discovering all the things that make noise, that I never heard before. It seems the most repeated sentence out of my mouth lately is "oh my god, that makes a noise?!" It is going to be a loooong few months for my family and friends! :)

Voices are very tricky because everyone's voice is so different, but I am having fun listening to everyone speak just boggled and amazed.

That is really it in just 4 days. I will have more updates next week after my next mapping and such, hopefully will have more improvements! I am hopeful!

Also, I don't post this to make you guys feel like I am trying to make you feel ashamed for taking things for granted. It is ok, I post this to share the excitement of the things I am discovering and you can discover them along with me too! It is so awesome to finally be in the hearing world and understanding and hearing what you folks go through ever day, you guys call me brave? I think YOU'RE the brave ones for enduring all of these constant sounds 24/7 without the ability to shut them out like I can! :-D

Alex

[PhilDernerJr]

Alex, I really love hearing this. I want to hug you!!! Great stuff.

[Hussman75]

Great news, Alex! It's refreshing hearing about an adventure like this...

[m.marra]

Congrats Alex.

[moose135]

It's great to hear :wink: things are going so well for you Alex!

[Alex T]

Thanks All!

I had my first class this week since coming back after being turned on, and it was a Computer Class. NOT a good way to start!

I heard every click, clack, beeping, chimes, dings, from people typing, and computers making noises, I was conscious every time someone clicked with their mouse. It was making my eyes blurr almost!

Now 24 computers were all on at once in the class. I think the teacher might have noticed my facial expressions wincing to every noise produced cause we ended up leaving so early I think I shouted an all-yu-ya! :lol:

I am thankful for hearing don't get me wrong but jesus, I really don't know how you people can do this LOL

Alex

[emshighway]

Thanks All!

I had my first class this week since coming back after being turned on, and it was a Computer Class. NOT a good way to start!

I heard every click, clack, beeping, chimes, dings, from people typing, and computers making noises, I was conscious every time someone clicked with their mouse. It was making my eyes blurr almost!

Now 24 computers were all on at once in the class. I think the teacher might have noticed my facial expressions wincing to every noise produced cause we ended up leaving so early I think I shouted an all-yu-ya! :lol:

I am thankful for hearing don't get me wrong but jesus, I really don't know how you people can do this LOL

Alex

You will learn to ignore these background noises. Also you will need to learn this when you get married. :shock:

[T-Bird76]

I have given Alex a new name as he now well knows, hehe Alex is now the BIONIC TRUDE!

[Alex T]

Hey All—

It has been one full week since my activation date and in other words, since I have been “turned on”. I am AMAZED at the progress I have made and my brain too since that day I began to hear the world for the first time naturally.

So far I have NO regrets whatsoever doing this surgery. Before, I was truly frightened and scared, wondering what the outcome would be. I heard many good things about it, but it was always the what if. What if I was that one in a million it didn’t work for? What if all that year I spent was a waste…

It wasn’t. The ability to hear things, so quiet and so loud, just blows my mind. You have it all so easy, and I don’t mean it in a mean/bad way. You wake up and bam, the world comes to your ears. Not me. I wake up, and I put the device on. Let it tune up and then the world hits me, but I don’t know what I hear. I have occasion of confusion, wondering, sometimes and frustration even. But, when I discover a sound, for the very, first time, the biggest smile comes across my face. It makes me happy I wake up every single day, it is Christmas for me every day, and every sound I discover is a new present for me to open.

I get overjoyed when I hear a pencil tap against the counter, you don’t. Boring you think. I jump for joy; I run to my room and write in my daily notebook “heard a pencil tap against the counter”. Another highlight of my day was hearing my cat meow for the first time too. Sounds that are SO simply to you folks, yet I have to work so hard for, suddenly become a bit easier for me with time.

Hearing my parents voice and brother and sister too, while it is a bit blurry still, it is their voice. To hear it in its natural state, so pure, and calm even, is amazing. It made me wonder how I could go almost 22 years without hearing it. I have a LONG way to go, but it is nothing short of amazing in just the week since activation of things I can do/hear.

Before the surgery, I was severely to profoundly deaf. I heard practically nothing without my hearing aids. Now the world beckons to me, instead of me beckoning to the world. I can hear the turn signal now. I know some of you all got a laugh out of that. The night I heard raccoons randomly, that was fun to discover too! Hearing music is sooooo different and also amazing too. Some songs I like more, some songs I didn’t so much and some I still struggle to sound out.

Sounds I am looking forward to are birds chirping sometimes, or the first snowfall. I am curious to see what it will be like to hear total, and utter silence, as the snow blankets everything on the ground and all you hear is a random bird chirping and the crunch of the snow as you walk among the white grounds.

I have soooo much work to do for the next 3-4 months but I cannot wait. With the continued support of my friends and family, keeping tabs on me and seeing what’s new, sharing the excitement of something I hear.

Some changes, my voice has become clearer, I am enunciating words more, and speaking softer, my volume has gone down a bit. I am picking up sounds at a lot lower Decibel compared to pre-surgery. I have heard my gas stove make a noise, microwave beep when it is done. My laundry finishing and giving a sound letting me know it is done. I have become more dependant on my ears now instead of my eyes. Letting my ears slowly do the work for once instead of my eyes. Many changes have happened and all for good.

This surgery has given me a reason to continue to live, and a reason to wake up. More than ever it shows me not to take ANYTHING for granted, live with what you got, accept and embrace it, if you can help yourself in anyway, do so. It has shown me the tremendous support from friends and family, and it has bridged friendships that I already had and made them stronger, and it has even created newer friendships that I didn’t think possible too. It didn’t give me the gift of being able to hear, it gave me the gift of life, and an improved one at that too. In the presence of thanksgiving coming next week, I think this is the biggest gift I can be thankful for, the gift of being able to hear, and sharing it with my friends and family.

Alex

[Hussman75]

Alex-

It's awesome to hear things are going so well, so quickly for you! Reading your updates does give me pause (as I hope it does for the other members here) and pretty well commands me to realize that the few nagging health issues I deal with on a day to day basis are really NOTHING by comparison to what you lived with and without for most of your life... Makes me stop and realize how fortunate I am to have had good hearing for so long, and how incredibly fortunate you are to have benefited from modern medical science and technology, and gained the use of such an acute sensory tool.

Please keep sharing your experiences! It's in some ways almost like watching a toddler exploring the house after learning to walk, and seeing the wonderment on their face at discovering something new. Soak it all up, revel in it and by all means- please post your experiences up for us to enjoy with you!

Congrats again, man!

-Brian

[Derf]

sorry to be the one who has to say this but when it snows, it kills all sound by absorbing it.... outside has almost no sound and it is kindof like your deaf.

(I had no other way of saying it...sorry)

[Alex T]

sorry to be the one who has to say this but when it snows, it kills all sound by absorbing it.... outside has almost no sound and it is kindof like your deaf.

(I had no other way of saying it...sorry)

hahaha I know! THATS the sound I am looking forward to.

That type of silence when the sound is all absorbed into the snow. I heard it with my hearing aids, and wanna see what it is like with the implant.

Alex

[Alex T]

Howdy All!

I hope everyone had a fantastic thanksgiving holiday and it was safe and fun and memorable for everyone involved!

I have now had my two-week activation test.

First off, I am amazed at the progress I have been doing, as is my audiologist. I am picking up more and more sounds every day. Some of them come to me out of the blue, and some of them I have to listen and focus for carefully.

One example is at work I suddenly heard the buzzer go off in the back door. However I knew it had been going off since I got activated but questioned why that day I heard it. My audiologist explained that I was always hearing things through the implant since activation. The reason I suddenly “hear” it out of the blue, is because the sound finally clicked for my brain, and it lets out an “AH HAH!” moment and that same moment is when I “hear” it and go ohh ok so that was the buzzer!

Every day she explained I am hearing sounds, I just sometimes don’t realize it because my brain hasn’t had time to figure out the sound or recognize it yet. This made sense and reminded me how patient I have to be.

I had my first haircut experience after the activation, and it was damn near traumatizing! I was absolutely nervous and my poor barber who does my hair had to be equally nervous. My main concern was the magnet and the magnet that was inside my head INDEED attracted the buzzer he uses to buzz my hair with. It wasn’t strong enough to completely attach itself but I could feel the pull being slight. I was sweating and I still have no feeling in my ear or behind it so I thought if he cuts me or something I am so screwed. I felt like being in the movie, “Edward Scissorhand”. However after talking to the audiologist she suggested to not use the buzzer anymore just in that area, not so much that the magnet is a concern but if he accidentally slips and nicks my skin, that can cause an infection and we just cannot have an infection right around my incision. So next haircut it is advised to use scissors around the incision and may use the buzzer for anything else around my head.

Now to move on to the two-week testing. I got a new program that I LUVED so much better than my previous ones. Everything actually came together and it actually sounded like sounds. I could actually make out a lot of the sounds produced. Paper being crinkled actually sounded like a crackling/crinkling sensation instead of just a pounding noise. Things were becoming more clear and being sounded out. This was pleasing and making me actually WANT to hear more as well.

Voices sound like voices, I can distinctly tell between a male and a female voice too and detect a bit of pitch and tone too. With this program I went to the testing booth and took the two-week test. I will be tested on a 2, 4, 6, 8 week and so forth until I think 12 or 16 I am not sure just yet. It depends on the progress I am making.
Now if you remember my last test, we were going by decibel produced. The LOWER the number/decibel, the better my hearing becomes. We wanted a goal of 30 on my last test and only one of them I was able to hit 30 on. I was averaging between 40 and 50 on the previous test. Not bad, but we definitely want to go lower if we can. I tested again on week two, and finally half my DB’s were AT THIRTY or BELOW! This was really good news. Two of them were at 30, and the other two were at 26 and 24 while the others were still in the mid 40 range. We want a 30 average because this is the speech threshold that normal hearing people are usually at for speech. Having a 30 across the board raises my chances of being able to not only hear speech but UNDERSTAND it as well. So both her and I were pleased to see I was making a bigger jump and progress too. I went from 110 DB before surgery without hearing aids, and dropped all the way to between lower 40, mid 30 and high 20’s in just TWO WEEKS. Quite impressive for me even.

My next test was the word test. What this basically was is I look at 4 words in a group. A word will be spoken out loud to me in the sound booth. I have to circle the word out of that group that I think I heard. Now many folks thought this was cheating because I got to look at the words while hearing it, but keep in mind, I cannot hear/understand word, and with this implant I don’t know what they are supposed to sound like. I am hearing it for the first time. The test results showed I got 11 words right out of 20 words, this means I was able to understand 11 words without lip reading or reading a caption or something. While yes, I was looking at a group of words, since I had never heard it before I had absolutely no idea which word it would be until it was actually spoken. She wants a goal of 80% correct in due time. Since averagely people who understand 80% typically is able to get most of the conversation and whatnot.

She says I am now classified as someone with a mild hearing loss with the implant, versus profoundly to severely deaf as I was labeled before the surgery was done. I like the SOUND of that label more! Ha-Ha!

Keep in mind, I did not get my hearing back. The hearing I was born with is gone forever and was damaged. The surgery gave me NEW hearing that my brain and myself are working with now. Hence why the word "implant" I was implanted with new hearing, much like a new organ or whatever. Since I was not born with this type of hearing, that is why nothing suddenly starts working for me immediately, and that it takes time to figure out the new hearing that is inside my ear/head now. Hope this clears up any confusion!

Anyhow that is the update for now. Thanks for those who continue to read and keep updated! I appreciate it!

Alex

[Alex T]

My one month activation is coming next week, I have to go through a series of testing ALL day, plus side is I'm being paid for one of the testings! Woo Hoo!

I hope to have a more condensed update by end of next week. I am swamped with finals and end of semester projects now.

On plus side, even though I missed 3 weeks of class and such, I managed to get a 100% on my final for one of the classes and pulled a B and scored the highest in the class! Not to shabby for a guy who missed 3 weeks for surgery and whatnot!

Anyhow keep an eye on update by end of next week. Again I usually have more updates via my FB Status on Facebook if you all want to add me and keep track on there. Just send quick message when you add me letting me know your screen name from nycaviation.com so I can add you, thanks!

Alex

[Midnight Mike]

Hey All~!

Activation has been complete—for now! Anxiety was building up to 2pm today. I went in for the CT Scan and everything went fine.


http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs117.snc3/16446_1166332755300_1137330042_30445493_6782466_n. jpg
This is the first time I heard a sound through the activation.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs097.snc3/16446_1166333275313_1137330042_30445506_766552_n.j pg
Staying focused during the testing trying to pick up sounds.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs097.snc3/16446_1166333355315_1137330042_30445507_6004260_n. jpg
Finished! :)

I go back tomorrow for more testing and will be doing so for the next 6-8 weeks once a week appointments. Very excited!

Alex


Alex! So happy to hear that everything is working for you, this is like a whole new world for you & thanking for keeping your ears clean when you posted the photos!!!!

[Alex T]

Hello Folks-

There really is not much to update you guys on to be quite honest however there have been progress and improvements so I will touch on those two things.

I haven’t been hearing NEW sound so to speak, I heard them all already. Now the trick is to try to hear it again so that I can figure out what the sound is and make a memory of it in my brain. It has been working, and I have been re-hearing sounds again and instantly recognizing them. Which is pretty sweet to be able to do now. I recognize sounds like the water running; turn signal (OBVIOUSLY), as well as any cell phones ringing, the buzzer at work going off, and babies crying!!!

I haven’t heard the birds chirping, not really that anxious to either. One of the big things for me is, I had 20 years of being on the hearing aid. I heard those sounds on the hearing aids, but they were at a different tone/sound then what I am used to with the implant. So I cannot compare what I heard on the hearing aid and the implant. They are two different things.

As most know I just had my one-month anniversary. Looking back the world has changed for me. It is amazing what I am picking up, and also how FAR I am picking up sounds too. I am still not able to understand neither speech 100% nor any at all quite honestly. I pick up some words, but it is only through testing that are done at the sound booth in STL at Barnes-Jewish. I get frustrated but I have to remind myself it literally has only been one month since I have been activated. I have months to go through.

My one month test showed that, I got 1 word out of 100 right…I scored 11 words correctly out of a sentence test, where there were 20 sentences. My Decibel is lower in the mid 20’s and low 30’s with just one at 38. I finally got all of them below 40, so this is good. These scores might seem bad or think “that is all?” Well keep in mind, my scores were basically ZERO before the surgery, I heard and understood NOTHING before the surgery with my ears. So ya, to even get ONE word right is awesome for me, as well as words out of sentences too. So while frustrating it isn’t more…it’s better than nothing.

It has been a very challenging semester between the surgeries, numerous doctor appointments; I think it has been my toughest semester so far because of all this. However as I always have in mind, I work hard to make it right, so I can win the fight, right or wrong, I know in the end it was meant to be and whatever happens happens.

[Alex T]

Hey All—

Well, where to begin now…my last testing was December 15th, and a lot has happened since then. I have had better improvements; I took my first flight with the implant, which was quite an adventure in itself. First I will start with the testing last Tuesday.

I was very disappointed with the results due to the program used was not what my audiologist wanted me to use. So when I came back she gave me a new program based on how I responded to different tones. That was very hard for me because I never heard tones and pitches before the surgery so I had to tell how high or low the sound was. With nothing to compare it to it was very hard for me.

She did some quick testing with me to see how I would do with this new program. It seemed much louder and clear too. I further proved this when she ran about 10 sentences, and I got 3 of them right word for word. This was awesome for one-month anniversary. I was so giddy and excited to actually UNDERSTAND an entire sentence without any help but my own ear! It truly was awesome.

The sentences I did not get correct, I was still close in that I picked up some words that were alike or inside the sentence too. This really put me in a good mood and it was what I wanted to hear—literally!

So for the rest of the week I did work and finals/classes keeping busy. So I didn’t have any new things to discover. I am constantly hearing sounds and such as usual, and trying to match and identify them as I hear it again. I am always picking up ringing and ring tones from cell phones now and it is getting quite annoying almost ha-ha.

I am still amazed at what I can pick up and how far I am picking up the sounds too. I hear the laundry go off a lot and now I can hear it and recognize it, it is second nature to me too. It is hard trying to discover new sounds because my routine is so basic, I need to reach out and go find other sounds to play with it.

Now comes to my first flight on the implant! I was very startled to discover how quiet the engine seemed when we took off. I was thinking, odd, the engine was much louder to me with the hearing aid and even when I took my hearing aid off! It seemed like it barely made a loud noise, but I knew it was on! I was able to hear all the announcements made, however I still couldn’t understand most of it.

I heard all the dings, chimes and whatnot. Another thing I was pleased to discover was that I was able to pick up the Flight Attendant’s conversation, her actual voice, and THREE rows away over the sound of the engine and other noise. I realize that most of you guys can do that anyway but again keep in mind; this could not be done for me on the hearing aid.

I had a very fun experience seeing what I could, I noticed I was sort of able to carry more conversations in the plane, but at night it was still hard for me. Security in Houston was ridiculous. They hassled me about the implant. One motioned for me to take it off and put it through the x-ray machine. HELL NO! If you want to pay 100,000 dollars for it! So I discussed with them that I am able to wear it and go through security. They finally let me through.

When I was riding the shuttle bus from airport to car rental at Houston Airport I was sitting in the last row of the bus, and heard a clicking sound, and went what is that sound? My friend said it was the turn signal. OMG I did it AGAIN! However I was surprised how far away I could hear it, again, nothing new for you folks!

This has been the updates so far the past two weeks and such and quite an adventure!

Alex