This weekend my family and I went to our mountain house for the memorial day weekend. It was a great time up there just being with family. We had a great weekend weather wise, no rain.
My adventure was being on the kayak and using my neptune processor. What a difference from hearing the paddle in the water to being able to talk with some people. I was indulging on all the sounds. This was the first taking it in water.
Things are coming along with the hearing and I continue to be amazed with God's goodness and grace through this time. I have to say I come to appreciate the gift of hearing, it is something that we take for granted.
One verse that has been playing in my head is Proverb 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make you paths straight."
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
THE Post-Activation Hearing Screening
This morning I took the time to really reflect on Psalm 23. Verses 2-4 really stick out to me right now:
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness...Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me your rod and staff, they comfort me." It helped me remind myself of patience and grace. I held this with me going into my appointments today.
Today I returned to JH for a mapping session. My audiologist took me back to the hearing booth to screen my hearing with my CI. For once I was not nervous and very eager to see what my hearing test looked with the CI. It is neat to see my scores on the higher end than at the bottom of the graph :) My audiologist would have liked them a little higher, but due to all the twitching, it set back the results a little. But my understanding of speech in quiet was 85% (this was just sentences) compared to my total score of 10%. My doctor and audiologist are very pleased with the results. I am excited. When I first met with my doctor and audiologist communication was not easy, reading lips and writing things down, now I still read lips but less writing things down. I notice improvements each day. Sometimes taking steps back and than leaps forward. Baby steps I have to remind myself of. It is basically like I am trying to learn a new language.
Due to the twitching and we played with it today seeing which electrodes were setting it off and different volumes making the twitching worse. This was a fun game as my audiologist watch my face twitch to the different tones. I am going back to her in June for her to keep an eye on it. there were some points today it really went. She told me to email her with even slight changes or problems.
As I was driving to my appointments it was raining. I love the sound of rain and to be hearing it was awesome. Not just the tapping on my windshield but the steadiness of the rain too and it dripping off the roof. Just these little glimpses each day make me appreciate it all. My audiologist words to me as I left "it is all worth it right with the surgery" I said "you got it." No I don't regret it. And the trips to MD are worth it.
Yesterday when I got down to my sisters, my nephew looked at me "Hockey, you play with me."--pointing to the hockey sticks and ball. So we played some toddler hockey. Today he wanted to play again but it was rainy and wet. I am picking out some words of my nephew, this is a challenge, but determined.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness...Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me your rod and staff, they comfort me." It helped me remind myself of patience and grace. I held this with me going into my appointments today.
Today I returned to JH for a mapping session. My audiologist took me back to the hearing booth to screen my hearing with my CI. For once I was not nervous and very eager to see what my hearing test looked with the CI. It is neat to see my scores on the higher end than at the bottom of the graph :) My audiologist would have liked them a little higher, but due to all the twitching, it set back the results a little. But my understanding of speech in quiet was 85% (this was just sentences) compared to my total score of 10%. My doctor and audiologist are very pleased with the results. I am excited. When I first met with my doctor and audiologist communication was not easy, reading lips and writing things down, now I still read lips but less writing things down. I notice improvements each day. Sometimes taking steps back and than leaps forward. Baby steps I have to remind myself of. It is basically like I am trying to learn a new language.
Due to the twitching and we played with it today seeing which electrodes were setting it off and different volumes making the twitching worse. This was a fun game as my audiologist watch my face twitch to the different tones. I am going back to her in June for her to keep an eye on it. there were some points today it really went. She told me to email her with even slight changes or problems.
As I was driving to my appointments it was raining. I love the sound of rain and to be hearing it was awesome. Not just the tapping on my windshield but the steadiness of the rain too and it dripping off the roof. Just these little glimpses each day make me appreciate it all. My audiologist words to me as I left "it is all worth it right with the surgery" I said "you got it." No I don't regret it. And the trips to MD are worth it.
Yesterday when I got down to my sisters, my nephew looked at me "Hockey, you play with me."--pointing to the hockey sticks and ball. So we played some toddler hockey. Today he wanted to play again but it was rainy and wet. I am picking out some words of my nephew, this is a challenge, but determined.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Music to My Ears (WOW)
It has been five weeks post activation and each day I have been listening to music even though it sounds like bad static, still exposing myself to it and listening to familiar songs. I was driving today and put the radio on once again, I still need it at a increased level but down more (before surgery even up it was static), I was able to make out the actually lyrics or most of them. My heart sunk in and felt unreal of what I was hearing. I was blown away, so even listening to music if it sounded like nothing but being persistent is worth it. It is only going to get better :). I continue to be amazed with my CI and loving it. I have come to appreciate even the annoying sounds. And the one thing nice if I don't want to hear something, I can simply remove the processor.
The song "Blessings" comes to my mind today feeling blessed to be hearing the things that God created.
The song "Blessings" comes to my mind today feeling blessed to be hearing the things that God created.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Patience and the other P on the journey
I title this entry as Patience for a reason. This is one thing that God is really working on in my life through this journey. And Patience is a must no matter which route one goes with a hearing loss, I have to admit there are times that "yes" I do get impatience through it, but keep reminding myself to push forward and be persistance. It reminds me of someone learning to walk or learn, like my niece Penny she is trying to pull herself up and than falls but keeps on trying. You take steps forward and back but continue making process. Even the slightest improvement is a gift. Right now it is exciting for me to noticed the little things that I can now hear.
Today I went on a walk, no no adventure in getting bit, but I heard some dogs barking, yes I look left, right. up, down and sometimes turn around and sit down until I locate the sound, but I heard the dogs barking. I continue to enjoy God's creation more and more as I hear all the birds and each having their different song. I can now identify a woodpecker with his sound. I think I am going to have to take my bird book back and try to figure out the birds through their songs. I have to remember one time I was so annoyed with the bird making a nest outside my window when I was young b/c they woke me up so early in the morning, now I am loving the sounds of the birds. And one thing is if I simply don't want to hear something I can simply take off my processor. One advantage with hearing loss/deafness.
The thing that caught myself on my walk this morning was there were children waiting for the bus to go to school. A first grader and third grader (guessing) said "hi"several times, I heard it but took time to locate direction. I waved back to them and said "Hi. Have a great day at school." They smiled back. As I continued walking I felt my hear sank and feeling overjoyed. Hearing children, even though they repeated. Still I heard it. Yes these are older children but it is a start. I am so glad that I did not take my music with me, rather enjoyed the sounds of nature. I have been exposing myself to children and yes older ones are better, still difficult but grasping it. Speech is still harder to gain and sounds are becoming more clear and identifying them through visual cues too. Voices are sounding less cartoonish, men's voices still can be high pitch and same with children's but making more things out.
There are times where I feel that yes I am overdoing it and have to step back and give myself a break, but I am missing the sounds so much and wanting to wear my processor all the time. This is one difference with me using the hearing aids. I continue to be amazed with all the things that I am hearing, much more than with hearing aids. I have to say I actually turned the radio lower for the first time in a long time.
Retraining your brain to hear and process takes PATIENCE and is very tiring. Just think of learning a new language or just having to relearn all over again. But it is paying off and keeping me motivated. I continue to progress with my balance and challenging myself in that area.
I am trying not to look at the whole picture, rather little steps and improvements.
As there are frustrating days and times of uncertainity I reflect on Psalm 121 reminding me that God is with me all the way of this journey. He will lead me through. It also helps me to remain patient and keep on going.
Today I went on a walk, no no adventure in getting bit, but I heard some dogs barking, yes I look left, right. up, down and sometimes turn around and sit down until I locate the sound, but I heard the dogs barking. I continue to enjoy God's creation more and more as I hear all the birds and each having their different song. I can now identify a woodpecker with his sound. I think I am going to have to take my bird book back and try to figure out the birds through their songs. I have to remember one time I was so annoyed with the bird making a nest outside my window when I was young b/c they woke me up so early in the morning, now I am loving the sounds of the birds. And one thing is if I simply don't want to hear something I can simply take off my processor. One advantage with hearing loss/deafness.
The thing that caught myself on my walk this morning was there were children waiting for the bus to go to school. A first grader and third grader (guessing) said "hi"several times, I heard it but took time to locate direction. I waved back to them and said "Hi. Have a great day at school." They smiled back. As I continued walking I felt my hear sank and feeling overjoyed. Hearing children, even though they repeated. Still I heard it. Yes these are older children but it is a start. I am so glad that I did not take my music with me, rather enjoyed the sounds of nature. I have been exposing myself to children and yes older ones are better, still difficult but grasping it. Speech is still harder to gain and sounds are becoming more clear and identifying them through visual cues too. Voices are sounding less cartoonish, men's voices still can be high pitch and same with children's but making more things out.
There are times where I feel that yes I am overdoing it and have to step back and give myself a break, but I am missing the sounds so much and wanting to wear my processor all the time. This is one difference with me using the hearing aids. I continue to be amazed with all the things that I am hearing, much more than with hearing aids. I have to say I actually turned the radio lower for the first time in a long time.
Retraining your brain to hear and process takes PATIENCE and is very tiring. Just think of learning a new language or just having to relearn all over again. But it is paying off and keeping me motivated. I continue to progress with my balance and challenging myself in that area.
I am trying not to look at the whole picture, rather little steps and improvements.
As there are frustrating days and times of uncertainity I reflect on Psalm 121 reminding me that God is with me all the way of this journey. He will lead me through. It also helps me to remain patient and keep on going.
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