Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Another Step towards Speech Recognition

In normal circumstances, I still can’t understand much of the information that comes into my implanted ear. I also have trouble “hearing over” those sounds with my aided ear. If communication is urgent, I have to switch my Opus 2 cochlear implant processor off.

I am training my ear to hear in controlled environments. What seems to be the most useful exercise for me at the moment is hearing an audio text and reading it at the same time. I can not understand speech by itself, but I can now accompany the audio of a written text. I can read along and not get lost!

The easiest text for which one can find audio is the Bible, and that is what I am using. Here, for example, is Matthew chapter 2 on Youtube. I can follow along reading on my e-sword electronic bible.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Word Recognition

I am getting closer to understanding speech with my cochlear implant. There are still too many high pitched whistle sounds, but they are getting softer. This means my brain is starting to understand the stimulation. Anyhow, when the audiologist tested me with just the implant and not the hearing aid. I was able to select the correct word she was saying while looking at three options in front of me.

It wasn't clear enough to understand, but it was clear enough to recognize which of the 3 words she was saying or not saying.  That's progress.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Carol of the Bells

A few days ago, I posted on facebook asking friends to suggest good instrumental Chrismas music for me. Rebecca, a friend of mine who went to China with me back in 1999, suggested Carol of the Bells, by Manheim Steamroller.

I was pleasently surprised at all the sounds I could hear in the song. It is musical and not noisy. The neatest thing is, that I can pick up on things in the song with my CI that I could not hear with my hearing aid. I am enjoying listing to music with the implant.

My audiologist says that I should be working more on speech recognition than music appreciation, and I will do that. For now, it is all about discovering sound. It's a pleasure.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Noise

I still feel overcome by the amount of noise I hear. I am making an effort to not change the setting on my processor unless it is absolutely necessary. Communication is harder (you have to go backwards first to go forward). I get tired, both physically and emotionally.

A little encouragement from the Bible, today.

People say, “God doesn’t pay attention to us. He doesn’t care.”

But how can you say that? Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The LORD is the eternal God, Creator of the earth. He never gets weary or tired. His wisdom can’t be measured. He gives strength to those who grow tired and increases the strength of those who are weak.

Even young people grow tired and become weary, then stumble and fall. Yet, those who wait with hope in the LORD will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won't become weary. They will walk and won't grow tired.

-From Isaiah, towards the end of chapter 40.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Visit to the Audiologist

I went to see my audiologist today. I confessed to using the new program setting less than I should, because of the noise level. I told her about playing the keyboard and hearing the lower octaves and the higher ones being noise. I told her about crinkling paper being louder than speech. I asked if we could reduce the high pitched sounds and increase the low pitched ones.

She said that my experience with sound is compatible with my last audiogram and that she would not adjust my program, nor let me move on to the next one on my remote. She explained that the higher frequencies sound loud because my brain doesn’t really know what to do with the stimulation. We practiced two syllable words and I learned some new exercises for training my ear and brain. I felt much better after understanding why stuff is so loud.

It was a good meeting. I am progressing.

Now, I wonder if I can hear a dog whistle. I am looking for a pet store tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Jamming on the Electric Piano

Okay, I have a confession to make. I have not been using my Cochlear Implant on my new noisy setting very much. The noise level is too loud and makes sound comprehension extremely difficult, even of things I should hear in my right ear. When my CI is on, I can no longer understand people speaking.

I am using the new setting in quiet places, but even then, I am overcome by sound. It is not so loud that it hurts, but it is like listening to clanging cymbals and blaring whistles all the time.

I got an idea for a controlled test. I cranked up the electronic piano program on my laptop. With my cochlear implant plugged in, I played through the scale on a few different instruments. Here is what I discovered.

Out of the five octaves available, for most instruments, I could hear the scale correctly on the lowest two octaves. The top two octaves were noisy and indistinguishable. The middle octave was good for some instruments, but noisy for most.

On the lowest octave, I can play songs like “Mary had a little lamb” and appreciate the tune. The instruments do not sound right, but they are in the right key. Strangely, the one that sounded the most “correct” was the one called “synth voice.”

I don’t understand CI programming, but I am going to talk to my audiologist about reducing the higher pitches. Even the crinkling of candy wrappers is astoundingly loud. The high pitches swallow up all the meaningful sounds. They mask everything. The lower frequencies are meaningful, but seem too low in volume and can’t compete with higher pitches.

Anyhow, another week, more improvement. I am pleased.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

A Bit Too Much Noise

This week has been full of noise for me. It is actually too much. I’ve become exhausted. I am switching between last week’s settings and the current one, because I can’t handle noisy places for very long.

I love the stimulation of sound in my implanted ear, but it does give me a headache after a while.

I can identify footsteps and telephone ringing without seeing them. They are loud and distinct. They don’t sound right, but I know what they are.

Not much news today.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

NOISE!

Yesterday I had my second mapping on my cochlear implant. Wow. Now,there is noise everywhere, and everything makes noise. Loud noise! This is exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

The first thing we did was an audiogram. My sound detection barely registered. We then talked about the experience and I was hooked up to the machine. I have video of this, that I will post soon. I found my new maximum comfortable loudness level. It is much, much higher than what I had. I no longer feel physical problems with the sound stimulation.

So now there is so much stuff to hear. It is louder in my implanted ear than in my aided ear. It is such a fun experience. Everything is noise. I can’t identify much, but there is so much there. It’s exciting.

Practically it is like this: Imagine that you are watching TV and the volume is a comfortable low. You can hear and understand most everything. Suddenly, someone turns on the stereo, and puts the volume on the maximum level. The stereo is not set to any particular radio station, so it is just noise. The noise is so loud that it is hard to hear and understand the TV. That is what the implant is doing for me right now. On the other hand, it’s just fantastic, because I never knew about that stereo before!

I am enjoying this, and for me, this is a major, major breakthrough.

Monday, December 5, 2011

A Philosophy for the Newly Implanted

Each new sound as a little gem waiting to be polished. The banging/buzzing/clicking/chirping sound whenever a noise is made will gradually turn into a million more meaningful sounds.

Right now, I am discovering the gems. Hoping to start the polishing soon.

In just a little while, I will go to my second mapping.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Week 4

This is the fourth week after my initial activation and first mapping. I have not experienced usable or practical hearing in my left ear, but I have noticed improvements and signs of things to come each day. Here are some recent observations.

  1. I only notice the sound in my left ear, when I turn off my hearing aid in my right ear. My CI processor is set very, very low. I was experiencing a high degree of discomfort with sound at my first activation and they decided to ease me into it. No matter how loud something is, I only hear it at the level of a cricket in the distance. Because it is so low, and because it is not identifiable, the sound just gets washed out and ignored. It’s kind of like a mild ear-ringing.
  2. I can “hear” some things with my cochlear implant that I can not hear with my hearing aid. The word “hear” is in quotes, because even though I register a sounds, I can not identify them. Most everything sounds like a cricket or a clink.  Anyhow, I was talking to Mr S today, and I was telling him about my experience. He asked if I could hear the rain outside. I listened. I could not hear anything. I tried turning my hearing aid off, and sure enough, I could detect the sound of the rain. Sounds that are too soft for me to hear with my hearing ear are registering with my implanted ear.
  3. Some sounds still give me a drowsy feeling. Though I have made vast improvements in my adaptation to the auditory nerve stimulation, I can see that I will need to go a little at a time. The feeling is much like being startled out of falling asleep. It is a sleepy feeling in general. I have had no more shock kind of pain because of sound.
  4. The volume is so low, that I can not really evaluate the sound. Everything is just at detection level. I know if something is making noise or not, but that’s as far as it goes. I can’t tell what it is nor how loud it is without depending on my right ear.
  5. Vanity is not an issue. I wondered, before getting the surgery, if I would feel like I looked funny or get stared at. I honestly haven’t thought about it at all, and rarely notice people noticing. I feel proud when they do notice.

On Monday, I will go in for my second mapping. My audiologist has moved to another clinic in the state of Rio de Janeiro. I will meet a new audiologist for this mapping. I am going to see if I can get the volume put a little higher than what is comfortable for me, and have the remote programmed with a little more freedom on the volume control.

I expect that once the volume gets high enough to not get washed out as irrelevant background noise, the CI will compete for my attention. This might cause some temporary difficulty in understanding conversation, but it will be a logical step forward.


God bless.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Now this is interesting: Cochlear Implant History

The discovery that electrical stimulation in the auditory system can create a perception of sound occurred around 1790, when Alessandro Volta placed metal rods in his own ears and connected them to a 50-volt circuit, experiencing a jolt and hearing a noise "like a thick boiling soup.”

Ouch. That’s a terrible mental image.

The first direct stimulation of an acoustic nerve with an electrode was performed in the 1950s by the French-Algerian surgeons André Djourno and Charles Eyriès. They placed wires on nerves exposed during an operation, and reported that the patient heard sounds like "a roulette wheel" and "a cricket" when a current was applied.

Ouch again. But, I have to say, I’ve heard that cricket!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Thankful

A Thanksgiving Day post, a day late.

Today I am thankful to God. He gave me life and called me to new life. I am thankful to Jesus Christ for forgiving me of my sins and securing the resurrection.

I am thankful for Dr Evandro Ribeiro de Oliveira, who performed my cochlear implant surgery, and all those who work at his clinic.

I am thankful for Rita, my audiologist who works at Dr Evandro’s clinic. She encouraged me to get the surgery.

I am thankful for Sonya who helped us through the nightmare of scheduling and scheduling changes the surgery

I am thankful for Vanessa, who did my first mapping and has guided me through the first few weeks of hearing rehab.

I am thankful to Brazil and SUS (One Health System) for providing the implant and surgery free of cost, for me and hundreds of others who needed it.

I am thankful for my wife Loaise who has been a daily encouragement and help. She has cleaned my wounds, washed my hair, and listened to my complaints and loved me so wonderfully.

There are many others for whom I am thankful, but I wanted to list a few here.

Rhythm with direct connections

Yesterday, for my daily half-hour experiment (That’s the time I remove my hearing aid and concentrate on hearing with the implant), I listened to music with the direct connection cable. I could not hear any melody, but I could certainly follow the rhythm of some of the songs.

Being able to keep time with a song means I am recognizing the stimulation more and more. It used to be just “white noise.” Now it is a little more meaningful.

Oh, and I am starting to notice the CI sometimes, even with the hearing aid on.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A New Sound!

Yesterday, the way things worked out, we were not able to go home at the usual time. We were out until 8:30, so we decided to go to a local restaurant and order a Mexidão* for dinner. Once we arrived, we also decided to go in and eat there, instead of taking it home.

The restaurant is really just a covered area near a soccer field. The roof is metal. While we were waiting for our food, it started to rain. Not just rain, but a storm. The rain beat against the metal roof and I thought I was noticing something different.

I turned my hearing aid off and sure enough, I was hearing something. It was a humming sound. It was a “Fa” as in “Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti Do.” That’s a pretty weird sound for rain on a tin roof. It is, however, the first non-cricket sound I have heard.

As you can imagine, I really enjoyed the rain.

 

* Mexidão is a popular Brazilian night time food. It is a mix of rice, beans, cracklins, sausage, beef, eggs and collard greens. Great stuff. Do a google search to see a picture.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Video Games for Hearing Stimulation

With my cochlear implant, I am still trying my best to hear and understand what I am hearing, and hear what I am expecting to hear. This led me to an idea. First, I directly connected my CI processor to the laptop with the earphone wire. (For safety purposes the computer was on battery power. No one should directly connect to something that is in an outlet. There could be a risk of shock.)

Second, I loaded a little "shoot the balls and make them pop" game that has a predictable popping sound whenever a color match is made. I turned the music to the game off, and left the sound effects on. So the only sound was when one collided with another: Pop!

I played this with my hearing aid off and the only sound going in directly through my CI processor. This was my best "hearing" experience, yet, with my cochlear implant.

My next experiment will be with non-impact sounds. When I figure it out, I will post.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Program 3

I met with my audiologist Vanessa today. She set my CI processor to program 3, which will be the setting for the week. She told me I can adjust the volume as much as I like, but not to change the program setting.

What I learned today is that the settings are not progressively stronger or louder, but strategically different. Even the electrodes that are switched off (3 of them) are on, one at a time, throughout these settings.

Today I listened to the drum, the bell and the rattle again, with my eyes closed and with my hearing aid switched off. I was able to tell which was which. So, that is the first step to sound discrimination. I only knew which was which by looking and listening first, though, because they all sound like a cricket to me... just different crickets.

My second mapping will be in two weeks. This week I will spend a half an hour a day with my hearing aid off, so I can concentrate on hearing with the implant.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Waiting

Today I went back to Dr Evandro. He had to change the packing in the ear and make sure everything is healing up as it should. It is. The ear pain had gone away, but he wanted to cauterize the area again, so there is a little discomfort because of that.

Tomorrow I will have the processor set to level 3. I am so anxious for another mapping. I feel like it is a waste of time set on this low level. I wish I could convince them to set the mapping date forward a week. I am going to try my best.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Mister S and his daughter

Christian friends, please be in prayer for Mister S. His 8-year-old daughter is soon to get a cochlear implant. He has asked my family to meet with his to pray and study the Bible. Pray that they will give themselves to Jesus and be baptized soon. Pray for me to be a faithful witness.

I notice when I am wearing it, but forget when I am not

Yesterday, I got up and took a shower before putting on my cochlear implant processor. I put my hearing aid on to go to the bathroom, but left the CI for when I got back. I ended up forgetting to put it on before leaving the house.

I noticed that it wasn't there, not because of sound, but because of my reflection in the mirror. So, I made a note to myself to put it on as soon as I got back to the house. I got distracted, I guess. I ended up not putting it on until we were getting ready for the evening church service.

Once it was on, I noticed what I had been missing. Immediately. So, I am at the point where I notice when I am wearing it, but forget when I am not. I am looking forward to the next mapping. I believe it will make a big difference.

...
Oh, and the ear pain is all but gone. The medicine and ear packing is working just fine. I will see Dr Evandro on Wednesday morning and the Audiologist on Thursday afternoon. I will have my processor set to 3. Then one more week to 4. The one more week to the second mapping.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

A Little Post-surgery Ear Pain

I was scheduled to see Dr Evandro yesterday. I am glad I had the appointment set. I got an earache in my implanted ear. The surgery includes a cutting of the ear canal, but that part does not require stitches. It does need to be watch and, in my case, he did a little cleaning and cauterizing and packed it with gauze. I will leave the packing in until Wednesday. My ear felt better right away after the appointment.

I am noticing more sound in my left ear, but it is still like the sound of a cricket in the distance. I mistake it for ear-ringing most of the time. I also learned that 3 pairs of electrodes are not activated in my processor. The high pitch sounds bothered me the most during my mapping, so they wanted to wait until the second mapping to turn them on.

While waiting for the doctor in the clinic, I struck up a conversation with a 48-year-old man who just had his CI surgery 2 weeks ago. He was happy to hear about my experience up to this point. I talked with the doctor and the audiologists at the clinic and got permission to look into forming an association of implantees. There are over 50 who have received MED-EL implants in Juiz de Fora. This could be a good thing at thing at the right time.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Second Meeting Post Activation

Today’s meeting was a lot less than I expected. There was no second mapping today. That will come in three more weeks. I guess I misunderstood. I also did NOT get permission from my audiologist to mess around more with my controller. I was told to leave it alone or leave it with her. So… My wife was right.

Today, Vanessa, my audiologist put my processor on level two. She then had me turn my hearing aid off and close my eyes, she played a drum, a cymbal, a rattle and a few other things to see what I could hear. The answer was the same for all of them… a little cricket in the distance. The good news is, I heard them all, except the rattle.

She explained that even though I don’t feel like I am hearing these things, that my brain is learning how to hear with my left ear, and that takes time.

It all makes logical sense…. I just wish there was a way to speed up the process.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

5 Days In

Today is Wednesday. I have my next meeting with the audiologists tomorrow. I am excited about it for two reasons.

One, I find all of this fun and fascinating. This time, I will bring my son Nilson and let him enjoy it too.

Two, I (even though my wife protested) took my remote and played around with the settings. I put the processor on program #4, which is supposed to be for the forth week. I let it go for a little while, and with the volume on maximum. Now, maximum is actually pretty low, because of the way it was set at my first mapping, but it is much higher than the setting for program #1. The higher setting meant I was getting stimulation from a lot of sounds, so I was hearing lots of clicks. They were little, hard to hear clicks, but they were there. I also noticed that the feeling of the sound did not bother me much at all, unlike the first day. I really hope with the new mapping, I can get the power up a bit and see what else there is to hear.

I also need to get the permission of the audiologist to mess around with the controller more, so my wife won’t complain. (She loves me and does not want me to mess anything up.)

As a side note, I still have pain in my left temple area when I open my  mouth wide. The doctor said to put a hot water bottle there from time to time and it will go away. I have yet to put a hot water bottle there. It is on today’s shopping list.

Did anyone watch any of the videos? You can comment on them in the comments section. I’ll post some more this coming weekend. An introduction of Dr Evandro and video of the second mapping.

Monday, November 7, 2011

YouTube Videos are Up!

Quick Links in Order:
1. Driving to the Clinic for Activation.
2. Arriving at the Clinic.
3. Going into the Clinic.
4. Entering the SUS Auditory Health Center.
5. Presentation of MED-EL OPUS 2 Processor.
6. Testing the Electrode Array.
7. First Activation and Mapping.
8. First Real World Sound Test.

The first few are short, the later ones are longer. There are a couple that still need to process before I can add the link.

Doctor Visit

This morning, I will visit Dr Evandro to get the plug in my ear removed and my ear cleaned. He was not available on Friday when my implant was activated. He has been very attentive and cautious to preserve my hearing in my right ear.

I have Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome. This means that I am prone to sudden deafness, and it has happened a number of times in my life. One of the causes can be a change in pressure in the head. Since I had a few episodes of severe ear-ringing after the surgery, he prescribed Betaserc. This medicine is used here in Brazil and Europe, but is not FDA approved in the USA. Many use it to treat Meniere's Disease and as a long term treatment for tinnitus. It has also been reported to prevent hearing loss in certain cases. I’ve been on it for a couple of weeks, and it usually starts taking full effect after a month of use.

Several Youtube videos are up and my next post will be a link to those, along with a brief explanation.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

A Sign of Progress

As I mentioned in the other post my cochlear implant is set to a very low power during this first week, so I can get used to the feeling of the auditory nerve stimulation. When it was set so that I could hear clicks, I also felt bad. So they set it low for me to get used to it.

I didn´t explain to Nilson, my 4-year-old son, that I am not hearing yet in my left ear. He loves the implant and the magnet on my head. He also loves coming and talking into my implanted ear.

Today, he came and said something to me. I didn´t hear it, but I did hear a quick quiet buzz. That was something... it was progress. Good!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

The day after 1st activation

Still working on the youtube videos... slow internet.

I´ve been wearing my cochlear implant all day today. I like the way it feels on me. I actually like the way it looks, too. I keep expecting people will notice and comment, but not so much.

I can not hear anything with the implant today. I think the power/volume is too low. It has to be this way evidently, because I feel the stimulation before the sound, and it makes me a little uncomfortable. The audiologist said that I have to wear it like this for a while to get used to the stimulation so I can handle it when it is strong enough to send a signal that will be perceived as sound.

I am anxious to hear something, and I am not. I do feel startled when a door slams and such, but I don´t hear it. I just feel that the CI sent a signal. That signal startles me.

I haven´t heard from my left ear in 30 years... if ever. I know this is going to take time. Still, I really wanted to be hearing things already... anything. (I hear in my right ear with a hearing aid, but I mean with my left ear.)

Logically, I understand this process. Everything has been explained well. I know things are as they should be. Emotionally, however, I am anxious. I get scared that it just isn´t going to work.

Today I reflect on the wisdom of the wise teacher. Let me live well, even during the uncertain moments.

From Ecclesiastes

Everything in this world has its appropriate time, and everything its occasion.
There is a time to be born and there is a time to die.
There is a time to plant and a time to harvest.
There is a time to kill and a time to heal.
There is a time to break things a a time to fix things.
There is a time to be sad and a time to rejoice.
There is a time to cry and a time to dance.
There is a time to scatter rocks and a time to gather them.
There is a time to hug and a time to back off.
There is a time to search and a time to let go.
There is a time to be frugal and a time to spend everything.
There is a time to tear and a time to mend.
There is a time to be quiet and a time to talk.
There is a time to love and a time to hate.
There is a time for war and a time for peace.

God has given a time for everything. He put eternity on our hearts, and gave us a desire to understand why things happen, but he doesn´t let us know and really understand all the things he does.

Everything God does lasts forever.

So, of all that has been said, here is the conclusion. Fear God and obey his commands. That is why were were created. At the end of our lives, we will have to give an account to God for all we have done with our time, whether good or bad, even the things done in secret.

Friday, November 4, 2011

First Impression after Activation

My cochlear implant was activated about 5 hours ago. I am sending video to youtube right now and will post the implant experience here when it is ready. In the meantime, let me just write out my first impression.

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The biggest thing was that I did not really hear very much. I could feel the electrodes doing their thing more than I could experience sound. What I heard was kind of like a clicking, or a cricket, or maybe a blacksmith hitting an anvil in the distance. But, whenever they upped the power enough for me to hear, I felt a little dizzy, sleepy, startled and nauseated. Basically, I am not used to the stimulation. The volume/power was backed down a good bit, so I am not hearing much at all, but rather feeling the effect of sound. In a week, I will go back for another adjustment and again every week for a while. I think the hearing and hearing of meaningful sound will come a little at a time.

MED-EL has a great presentation of their product, the packaging and the supplies. I felt like a rich man with all the things I got. I’ll post pictures when I can.

I am happy.

Leaving in One Hour

In one hour I am going to go and pick up my son from the preschool and pick up my wife from work. We will go down to the Dr Evandro Ribeiro de Oliveira Clinic of Ear, Nose, Throat and Eyes. There, I will have my cochlear implant activated and the first mapping done. I will also meet with Dr Evandro, who did my cochlear implant surgery, and have the plug removed from my left ear.

Today I will get the processor that goes with the implant. My best understanding is that it will be an Opus 2 processor. Hopefully dark gray to match my hearing aid.

I have no idea what to expect, but I am pretty excited. I will video what I can and post it to youtube with a link here.

See you soon.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Fever Gone, but Ringing Ear

I am getting better fast, no fever and my throat is a lot better. I had my third major ear ringing episode today. It sounded like someone was using a vacuum cleaner next to me for a few hours. It bothered me enough to comment to my wife, who promptly called the implant doctor. He asked me to go see him tomorrow morning. He also asked me to double a certain medicine and my Ginko Biloba. I am feeling better now, just before bed. Hopefully fine in the  morning.

Activation a week from tomorrow!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Sick

One of the things the doctor warned me about was getting sick during the recovery phase of surgery. I’ve got a severely inflamed throat, fever and some sinus stuff happening. Dr Evandro prescribed some medicines and told me to gargle with warm water mixed with baking soda at least 5 times a day. (this tastes terrible, by the way)

Nilson, my son had this last week, now I’ve got it, and I won’t be surprised if Loaise is coming down with it too.

Activation will be not this Friday, but next. I am looking forward to it.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Activation on November 4th

On Tuesday, I met with Dr. Evandro, who did my CI surgery. Everything is healing well. I have had problems opening my mouth wide. I can’t and it hurts to try. He told me that there is a plug in my left ear that can’t come out for at least 30 days after the surgery. He will remove it  and clean out my left ear on activation day, November 4th.

I had two days with serious ear ringing and dizziness, but it passed both times. He prescribed some medicine and supplements, including Gingko Biloba, and some nose spray.

At first, I was dreaming almost every night that I was getting the implant activated and was hearing in my left ear. Now, not so much. With such a long wait, some of the excitement has worn off. I am sure it will perk up again in November.

I will get a haircut this coming week, so all of my hair will be even again. I’ll post a picture.

God has been very gracious to me.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

This is my Implant, a MED-EL Sonata

SONATA

The World's Most Sophisticated Implant
with Titanium Housing

SONATA Cochlear Implant

The thin, small-volume SONATA is the most advanced titanium implant available. The I100 electronics platform supports both FineHearing and Complete Cochlear Coverage, two technologies which help users to enjoy greater sound clarity and detail. These technologies are especially important for music enjoyment and listening in difficult situations.


The energy-efficient SONATA is also extremely durable. With an over 99% reliability rating, the SONATA delivers peace of mind along with future readiness. SONATA is embedded with additional capabilities that are currently untapped. The capabilities are designed to be utilized in conjunction with future software or audio processor upgrades. This makes SONATA the ideal implant choice for both today and the future.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

CI Surgery - My Experience

I am sure my wife stressed out and suffered more than anyone in this whole ordeal. My surgery date had been moved up, unexpectedly, so she had to go through a whirlwind of paperwork and meetings to make it happen. She is a special woman.

 

The day before the surgery, I was told to suspend my medicine, it wasn’t going to happen. There was another problem and my name “wasn’t on the list.” We fretted about that and then just decided, after doing everything we could, just to take off work and go to the mall. Just forget about it and let it go. A few hours later they called us and my name was back on the list, and the surgery was on.

 

When I arrived at the hospital, I was given hospital clothes. Not long after that a list of questions. Then I was taken to the operating room. I was given an IV and my hair was shaved a little more. Then they put some white stuff in my IV and I lasted about 10 more seconds. The next thing I remember, I was in the recovery room. I still had my hearing aid on in my right ear. It made me happy to hear something. That might be what the smiling is about in that second picture. About every two hours they came and gave me medicine for pain, nausea and swelling. That also might account for the smile in the second picture. Who knows?

 

I experienced no head pain or headaches. I’ve had no nausea. I have had some dizziness and lack of energy. The stitches are well done and there is no sign of inflammation or infection. I am still having some fluid drain (blood and water) from my left ear. I guess this is normal.

 

About half of my tongue feels like it was burned by hot coffee or soup. No flavor there. I hope it comes back.

 

My wife proved once again that she is God’s perfect person for me. She is special. What a wonderful helper she is.

The Implant Surgery in Pictures

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Friday, September 30, 2011

A Cochlear Implant in a Hurry!

A person may plan his own journey, but the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Here I am at the computer, three days after receiving a cochlear implant surgery. It wasn't supposed to happen so fast, but God has a way of working things out in a way that stretches you a little bit.

Earlier this year, I had another hearing check-up. Things were as expected. No hearing in the left ear and a profound hearing loss in the right ear. My audiologist asked me again if I had considered a cochlear implant. I began to list my reasons for not really considering it.

  1. I still hear well enough to function with a strong hearing aid in my right ear.
  2. I don't want to destroy the hearing that I still have.
  3. I am not sure I want to trade natural hearing for synthetic hearing.
  4. The longer I wait the better the technology will be.

Finally she said. “Look, a cochlear implant can help you with your speech recognition and communication. We can implant it in your deaf ear, not your hearing one. Your supposed natural hearing really isn't natural, you are so greatly aided. The technology has really come along. But here is why you should really, really consider it. As a legal resident of Brazil you qualify for the implant through SUS (the Brazilian one health system). It would be free. Free surgery. Free rehab. Free processor.”

Now, it is pretty hard to turn down an argument like that one. My wife Loaise and I began to talk it over. We reasoned that if it didn't work, life would go on as usual. I just wouldn't use the implant, and I would have another nice battle scar.

Fast forward 6 months and here I am with a MED-EL Sonata TI 100 implanted in my left cochlea. It actually happened so fast that we weren't ready for it all. Now I am looking forward to activation. I will write all about the experience on this blog.