Tag Archives: Cochlear implant

Cochlear implant

Cochlear implant progression

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We met with the audiologist again today. The Advanced Bionic rep was there again, which is extremely helpful. I think the audiologist is not as familiar with the AB brand as the Cochlear brand, so she often has a puzzled look on her face. Not so reassuring, but she’s learning. So today they made a lot more adjustments to the volumes for different types of sounds, and the clarity of speech. After today’s adjustments, I’m feeling a lot more confident in social settings already. And since we are heading to my family’s week-long reunion extravaganza tomorrow, the timing couldn’t be better. It will still be challenging, but not as challenging as it would have been.

Today the audiologist gave me the remote for my device, which is called the ComPilot. The ComPilot is used to adjust volume, change programs, and connect the earpiece to other electronics through Bluetooth technology. Yes, my earpiece is equipped with Bluetooth. Can you hear me now?? The answer is, not really. It connects, but it’s a choppy connection, so we have some work to do with that. But it’s not a crucial piece at this point. At this point, I have enough to do practicing understanding speech. One day at a time, dear, one day at a time.

Cochlear implant, God speaks

Blessings for all

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“Seek [God’s] kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” – Luke 12:31 (NIV)

It’s safe to say I’m really enjoying life with my new ci hearing. It’s amazing to rediscover sounds I haven’t heard in almost a year. Yesterday it stormed, and I was able to hear (from inside the house!) the rain and thunder. And though voices sound artificial, like the cartoon chipmunks or people high on helium, the rain sounded so real. And I know from talking with other ci recipients that it only gets better from here.

Last night as I laid my head on my pillow for the night, I was thanking God for this miracle, and telling Him how wonderful it was. And then He said something to me (when thoughts come out of nowhere, I know it’s Him). This is what He said. This is so exciting. Ready? “This isn’t IT. There is more to come.”

God loves to bless His children. He has blessed me and my family, and He won’t stop there. Really? More blessing? Yes. There is more to come. But the even better news is that I am no exception. You are His child as well, and He wants to bless you too. In fact, He probably already has, and maybe you missed it. So, do this today. Be on the lookout for God’s blessing. And if you have trouble with accepting it, stop that. Just let Him bless you.

Cochlear implant, Deafness, Miracles do happen

First Impressions

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Today was the day my first cochlear implant was activated. I wasn’t sure how it would go, but I went in with an open mind, and I’m glad I did. Here are some of my first impressions:

1) Everyone sounds like chipmunks. So when they turned it on and started talking to me, I sat there, grinning like an idiot, trying not to giggle (I failed).

2) Natalie told me she loved me, and I told her I loved her too, and then I started to cry. This is what I was waiting for. I think a lot of times she speaks without sound when she talks to me, and in a very exaggerated way, so it’s going to take some learning on her part to remember to talk normally again. But thankfully, she is a smart girl and a very quick learner. I think as weird as it was for her when I went deaf, this is also a new kind of weird. So we’ll journey this weirdness together.

3) When they were setting the base volume level, they played a series of beeps. I had dried my tears from before, and this just got them going again. It’s been 11 months of having nothing sound real or normal, and those beeps, those sounds, they were beautiful. Beautifully real sounds.

4) On the drive home I could hear the beats to the music, and the road noise from the tires, and I just stared out the window. And again let the tears fall. I was struck with the simplicity and normalcy of sound. I believe I really had forgotten what I had lost. The memory of it, and then the reality of it being returned to me was just overwhelming. Simple sounds we all take for granted. The shuffling of papers, footsteps around me, my own husband’s voice. These are all things I took for granted, and they were taken from me. Yet for some reason only known to God, they are being returned to me. To say that I am grateful is a colossal understatement.

These past 11 months have been a journey, and today is the next step on that journey. I thought at first that it was a new journey, but I think that’s wrong. What I have been through has shaped me in ways I am still discovering, and it has made me who I am today. I am more patient, more courageous, more thoughtful of others. Stronger, yet tender-hearted.

Yet, still Mindy.

Cochlear implant, Deafness, Music

Morning soundtracks

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You know how some alarms can be set to wake you up with music? Yeah, I kind of have that going on in my head now. It doesn’t necessarily wake me up, but I do have music playing in my head very soon after I wake in the morning. Last week I think I mentioned one day it was Pearl Jam. It’s such a strange variety, I really should have been keeping track all along. For example, yesterday morning it was an old children’s song we used to sing. “On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese, I lost my poor meatball, when somebody sneezed!”. This morning it was one of my favorites, “Some Nights” by Fun.

Music is a big deal to me. Clearly. So it was a huge loss when I lost my hearing. You lose so much more than just your hearing. But, by George, tomorrow I’ll be heading down the road to hearing again, when my cochlear implant is turned on. Activation Day. TOMORROW! I don’t know how it will go, or how soon I’ll be understanding speech or enjoying music, but I am praying that it comes sooner rather than later. Later sucks. We vote for Sooner.

I wonder what tomorrow’s morning song will be? Perhaps a little “Eye of the Tiger”?

Cochlear implant, Memories, Music

I miss the music

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I have a feeling these next three days are going to be very emotional as I’m leading up to my first cochlear implant activation. I saw a commercial come on for some cheesy concert and it made me cry. It reminded me of the last concert I attended, which was about a month before I lost my hearing. It was an outdoor concert I attended with one of my best friends, and it was amazing. We went to see Awolnation, MGMT, and Twenty-One Pilots. Awolnation sucked raw eggs, but Twenty-One Pilots knocked my socks off! And MGMT was a great cap to the whole event. Their music was entrancing, and purely magical when the fireworks went off from the nearby baseball game. It was certainly a night to remember.

So there I stood, in front of the television, crying tears of sadness, but mostly tears of joy, because I am glad to have that memory and am also hopeful that one day I may be able to enjoy a concert again. If nothing else, I’ll be pulling up my Twenty-One Pilots album as soon as possible post-activation. That and one of my favorite worship songs, “Oh How He Loves Me” sung by Kim Walker. I’m so jazzed.

Cochlear implant, Deafness

Sometimes I get a kick out of being deaf

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1) I can’t be held responsible for ignoring chatty strangers.

2) I sleep awesome.

3) I’ve been known to leave the garbage disposal running after I turn the water off.

4) You know about SBDs? Silent But Deadly toots? Well, they’re all SBDs to me. No. Warning. Whatsoever.

5) I’m terribly easy to sneak up on. My 7 year old son loves this.

6) Tinnitus: Think jazz horns. 24/7. Nice, but I do miss the chanting monks.

7) Every morning wake up with a new song in my head. Yesterday it was Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam and jazz.

And to top it all off?

8) Dude. I’m getting implants! (Look left! Four more days!)