Here's an example of what I used to do to decipher what's said in conversation when I had naturally bad hearing (no CI at that time, just HAs). Of course, this goes without saying I read lips.
1. Counted the number of syllables.
2. Detected intonation.
3. Read body language, which is where most communications is derived. That's normal for all of us whether aware or unaware.
4. Captured cadence.
4. Had extreme focus on the person talking.
All of this left me beyond tired after putting in very long days. My extreme focus lead to issues. I suppose an analogy would be comparing my focus to a border collie's and I know that may not make sense to some of you. But the dog's focus was so intense that we opted not to get a border collie.
With the CI:
1. I was told recently I'm often wrong counting the number of syllables.
2. Some changes in intonation are still detectable but it doesn't help.
3. Body language still comes in handy and I don't think I'm interpreting it as well prior to reaching profound deafness.
4. I'm moving out of being the extrovert I had been and that's probably the toughest part of this. My extreme loss began about six years ago when I went from some moderate loss to mostly severe and hit profound quickly.
Since I lost my ability to do what got me through life and a career, I'm looking for other "tools" but I haven't found anything useful. While no one can take the extrovert out of me, I'm going inward and finding other outlets, I suppose.
Thanks.
1. Counted the number of syllables.
2. Detected intonation.
3. Read body language, which is where most communications is derived. That's normal for all of us whether aware or unaware.
4. Captured cadence.
4. Had extreme focus on the person talking.
All of this left me beyond tired after putting in very long days. My extreme focus lead to issues. I suppose an analogy would be comparing my focus to a border collie's and I know that may not make sense to some of you. But the dog's focus was so intense that we opted not to get a border collie.
With the CI:
1. I was told recently I'm often wrong counting the number of syllables.
2. Some changes in intonation are still detectable but it doesn't help.
3. Body language still comes in handy and I don't think I'm interpreting it as well prior to reaching profound deafness.
4. I'm moving out of being the extrovert I had been and that's probably the toughest part of this. My extreme loss began about six years ago when I went from some moderate loss to mostly severe and hit profound quickly.
Since I lost my ability to do what got me through life and a career, I'm looking for other "tools" but I haven't found anything useful. While no one can take the extrovert out of me, I'm going inward and finding other outlets, I suppose.
Thanks.