Recent content by Gallen

As a materials engineer, the aluminum can and the shiny aluminum spike being attracted to the magnet were among my favorites. At least the horseshoe was steel! I might be ready for a CI in a couple months, and I have a ton of questions. I'll cruise the message boards for answers before...

No doubt about it, I would take that pill. I've only been deaf for a few months, and I've learned alot in that time, but I would go back to full hearing in a heartbeat. When people's reaction to hearing that I'm now deaf is "Oh, I'm sorry", my response is often "Don't be sorry - I'm not"...

I lost my hearing to a strong antibiotic called Amikacin. Since my liver transplant I have had a series of unfortunate complications, resulting in serious infections. The Amikacin was the last antibiotic left to try for the worst of these, and it finally worked (had it not, I would not be...

Welcome. I applaud your efforts to get to know what it's like for deaf people. I, myself, have only been deaf for a few months, so I'm learning about it too! A couple weeks ago I wrote a way-too-long reply to a thread under the Deaf Culture heading that might help you. The thread was...

To answer the question, yes I already use Tricolor for IMs (three buzzes), and I just switched to Siren for text and e-mail. I experimented a bit, and it seems to me like Siren is the longest of the vibration alerts. The main problem with having it in my shirt pocket is if I lean forward and...

I need to find some way to more reliably detect the vibrations from my Sidekick 3. I often carry it in a pocket, where the vibrations may not always be felt. 1) Is there a belt holster which is more effective at transmitting the vibrations to your hipthan others? That awful thing that comes...

I have had a Sidekick 3 for a few months, and love it. I don't know about the features of the other devices, but that wasn't the question. Perhaps most of what I like has to do with the general idea of being able to communicate in so many different ways (e-mail, text, IM, web surfing), which...

I did move the clock to two separate circuits (both different than the doorbell receiver, and it worked fine, so this solution will work for me. No, I don't have a CI right now. I will seriously consider it in the future, but right now they refuse to even talk much about it until my...

I'll try moving things around the house to make sure it will work before investing in more gear. Thanks for the information.

Figured it out! I just received the Sonic Alert kit today and tried it out. There's a nifty feature on the doorbell button that picks up electromagnetic pulses. I put it next to my door chime, it flashes the lights when tested. I put it next to my smoke detector, it flashes the lights when...

Thanks for making me feel welcomed!

Thank you all for your responses. I may still be plagued with "Rhinestone Cowboy" all day long, but at least now I know that's normal - sort of. It sounds like maybe this wasn't a phenomenon known to everybody, so a few people are learning along with me. That's what it's all about. As long...

This may sound like a silly question (no pun intended), but do most deaf people "hear" phantom noises? I could hear well for over 40 years, and I guess my brain still thinks I can. All day long I get constant but random snippets of songs in my right ear (Jethro Tull, Mozart and Glen Campbell...

Basic question: Is there any easy to install (ie wireless) alerting system that works with a smoke detector, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg? I have existing hard wired smoke detectors on all floors, but of course now I can't hear them. I tend to float around to many different rooms...

I'm in my early 40's, and only went deaf about 2 months ago due to strong medications. Otherwise I had been hearing all my life, and I think in terms of spoken english. My wife and kids would like to learn some basic sign language along with me this summer (while school's out), as a backup to...