Hear Again
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2005
- Messages
- 20,114
- Reaction score
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Today is the 2 year anniversary of my first CI activation. I can't believe how quickly time flies. The past 2 years have been nothing short of amazing.
Earlier this morning I looked back at my CI journal and here is what I wrote:
"1/18/05
Typing on computer keyboard (sounds like popcorn popping)
Tigger's collar rattling
Doorbell (sounds off-tune)
Microwave beeping
Talking clock calculator (faintly understand speech)
Voices and sounds are high pitched; metallic
1/19/05
Switched to program 2
Traffic (can identify direction of travel according to pitch; notice that
cars sound different -- some engines are higher in pitch while others are
lower)
Sound of tires in the snow
Birds singing
Snowblower
Footsteps in snow
Two women conversing nearby
Air escaping from soda bottle
Music: can hear high pitches, drum beats (sounds tinny),
inflection/intonation; could recognize two songs on a CD by drum beat and
voice rhythm; can hear differences instruments in jazz and classical music
although I can't identify what they are; can hear music in another room;
cannot hear low frequencies
Can hear intonation/inflection in some voices
Can hear difference in sound volume (i.e. TV sounds louder as you walk
toward it and softer as you walk away)
No change in voice and sound quality (still high pitched and metallic)
1/20/05
Program 2 sounds weaker today; changed batteries (11:30 a.m.) but no sound
difference
Rustling of plastic and paper bags; water running (both sounds are
uncomfortably high pitched)
Jingling of keys
Computer modem
Voices and sounds are distant and weaker; changed batteries - no effect
Initial metallic quality to voices is gone; voices still sound high pitched
but more like a whine
1/21/05
Voices fade in and out from loud to soft and soft to loud - not sure if this
is due to problem with 3G, volume difference in voices or weak map
This evening I hear a continual loud humming that alternates between very
loud and moderate volume. Sometimes it varies in volume according to the
loudness of voices and sounds around me. Other times it alternates between
loud and soft when there is no background noise or voice present. (very
bothersome - stopped wearing processor for the rest of the evening because
of nausea and headache)
Cannot recognize any new sounds today because of fading and humming.
1/22/05
Traffic outside window
Could hear difference between letter "p," "m" and "i" on the radio
Computer keyboard sounds like I remember with hearing aids
I found the source of the humming. I thought it might be the traffic or
refrigerator but after getting ready to take a short nap, I found that the
humming did not subside or change after removing the 3G. I've also noticed
that I feel nauseous and get a headache after wearing the processor for
more than a couple hours.
3G shut off completely this evening. Was told on CI forum that 3G emits
warning beeps before shutting off. Could not hear beeps; changed batteries.
1/23/05
Switched 3G from original Whisper setting to Microphone
Two dogs barking across the street
Snow underneath my feet sounds more a like a squeak instead of tapping
Traffic now sounds closer to what I remember with hearing aids
Door knock on TV program
Sounds are more comfortable; voices no longer fade in and out as much as
they did yesterday; could wear processor all day without any nausea or
headache
Some voices are easier to hear on TV and radio than others; Softer voices I
couldn't hear well or at all made me think something was wrong with the 3G.
1/24/05
Melody chime clock
Laugh track on TV program (sounds like static)
Sound quality of today's map is *much* better; can hear a wider variety of
frequencies - I think I may have had the previous map set too soft/low as
sounds now seem fuller and louder but not uncomfortable
After today's map I notice a better balance of sound between CI and HA; with
last mapping, HA seemed to overpower CI; now CI sounds balanced with HA
making it much easier for me to concentrate/interpret sound from the CI
1/25/05
Can hear the sound of my cane tapping on cement and sliding against
carpeting
At yesterday's mapping Linda took out some of the lower tones; am now
finding that traffic is more difficult to hear; would like them added at
next mapping
3G completely shut off; changed batteries (6:20 p.m.)
1/26/05
Still on program 1
Can more easily hear changes in pitch with voices
Whiny characteristic in voices is slowly going away; can tell difference in
pitch but don't know yet if this is due to inflection or male versus female
speaker
1/27/05
Switched to program 2
After listening to an auditory practice website repetitively for an hour, I
could understand a few words! One speaker sounded much like I remember with hearing aids
Notice that some voices sound deeper than others; do not know if this is
because of pitch, male vs. female speaker or both
3G completely shut off (10:35 p.m.); changed batteries"
(end of journal excerpts)
To think that the metallic blur of sounds I first heard on my activation day have turned into such wonderful clarity. Music sounds better than it ever has before and the voices of my family and friends sound just as beautiful as they did before I lost my hearing.
I've dedicated my CI journey to my late dear mother who passed away from terminal cancer on December 16, 2004 -- six days before my CI surgery. I wish with all of my heart that she could be here in person to celebrate this day, but I know she is smiling from above celebrating the fact that her daughter has rejoined the hearing world -- a dream of hers ever since I lost my hearing. Her dream has come true -- and so has mine.
Earlier this morning I looked back at my CI journal and here is what I wrote:
"1/18/05
Typing on computer keyboard (sounds like popcorn popping)
Tigger's collar rattling
Doorbell (sounds off-tune)
Microwave beeping
Talking clock calculator (faintly understand speech)
Voices and sounds are high pitched; metallic
1/19/05
Switched to program 2
Traffic (can identify direction of travel according to pitch; notice that
cars sound different -- some engines are higher in pitch while others are
lower)
Sound of tires in the snow
Birds singing
Snowblower
Footsteps in snow
Two women conversing nearby
Air escaping from soda bottle
Music: can hear high pitches, drum beats (sounds tinny),
inflection/intonation; could recognize two songs on a CD by drum beat and
voice rhythm; can hear differences instruments in jazz and classical music
although I can't identify what they are; can hear music in another room;
cannot hear low frequencies
Can hear intonation/inflection in some voices
Can hear difference in sound volume (i.e. TV sounds louder as you walk
toward it and softer as you walk away)
No change in voice and sound quality (still high pitched and metallic)
1/20/05
Program 2 sounds weaker today; changed batteries (11:30 a.m.) but no sound
difference
Rustling of plastic and paper bags; water running (both sounds are
uncomfortably high pitched)
Jingling of keys
Computer modem
Voices and sounds are distant and weaker; changed batteries - no effect
Initial metallic quality to voices is gone; voices still sound high pitched
but more like a whine
1/21/05
Voices fade in and out from loud to soft and soft to loud - not sure if this
is due to problem with 3G, volume difference in voices or weak map
This evening I hear a continual loud humming that alternates between very
loud and moderate volume. Sometimes it varies in volume according to the
loudness of voices and sounds around me. Other times it alternates between
loud and soft when there is no background noise or voice present. (very
bothersome - stopped wearing processor for the rest of the evening because
of nausea and headache)
Cannot recognize any new sounds today because of fading and humming.
1/22/05
Traffic outside window
Could hear difference between letter "p," "m" and "i" on the radio
Computer keyboard sounds like I remember with hearing aids
I found the source of the humming. I thought it might be the traffic or
refrigerator but after getting ready to take a short nap, I found that the
humming did not subside or change after removing the 3G. I've also noticed
that I feel nauseous and get a headache after wearing the processor for
more than a couple hours.
3G shut off completely this evening. Was told on CI forum that 3G emits
warning beeps before shutting off. Could not hear beeps; changed batteries.
1/23/05
Switched 3G from original Whisper setting to Microphone
Two dogs barking across the street
Snow underneath my feet sounds more a like a squeak instead of tapping
Traffic now sounds closer to what I remember with hearing aids
Door knock on TV program
Sounds are more comfortable; voices no longer fade in and out as much as
they did yesterday; could wear processor all day without any nausea or
headache
Some voices are easier to hear on TV and radio than others; Softer voices I
couldn't hear well or at all made me think something was wrong with the 3G.
1/24/05
Melody chime clock
Laugh track on TV program (sounds like static)
Sound quality of today's map is *much* better; can hear a wider variety of
frequencies - I think I may have had the previous map set too soft/low as
sounds now seem fuller and louder but not uncomfortable
After today's map I notice a better balance of sound between CI and HA; with
last mapping, HA seemed to overpower CI; now CI sounds balanced with HA
making it much easier for me to concentrate/interpret sound from the CI
1/25/05
Can hear the sound of my cane tapping on cement and sliding against
carpeting
At yesterday's mapping Linda took out some of the lower tones; am now
finding that traffic is more difficult to hear; would like them added at
next mapping
3G completely shut off; changed batteries (6:20 p.m.)
1/26/05
Still on program 1
Can more easily hear changes in pitch with voices
Whiny characteristic in voices is slowly going away; can tell difference in
pitch but don't know yet if this is due to inflection or male versus female
speaker
1/27/05
Switched to program 2
After listening to an auditory practice website repetitively for an hour, I
could understand a few words! One speaker sounded much like I remember with hearing aids
Notice that some voices sound deeper than others; do not know if this is
because of pitch, male vs. female speaker or both
3G completely shut off (10:35 p.m.); changed batteries"
(end of journal excerpts)
To think that the metallic blur of sounds I first heard on my activation day have turned into such wonderful clarity. Music sounds better than it ever has before and the voices of my family and friends sound just as beautiful as they did before I lost my hearing.
I've dedicated my CI journey to my late dear mother who passed away from terminal cancer on December 16, 2004 -- six days before my CI surgery. I wish with all of my heart that she could be here in person to celebrate this day, but I know she is smiling from above celebrating the fact that her daughter has rejoined the hearing world -- a dream of hers ever since I lost my hearing. Her dream has come true -- and so has mine.
Every time I listened to music, all it did was remind me of what I could no longer hear. 
That is so awsome. Thank you for sharing some of your experiences with your CI. You have surely dealt with a lot of adversity and are a great person.