What a hectic week!

This past week was a whirlwind...First, I lost my phone last Tuesday while I spontaneously decided to go to one store at the mall after work. I hadn't bought new clothes in so long I really wanted a new shirt to wear in San Diego with one of my 4 new pairs of shoes. Anyhow, I lost it and frantically had to get a new phone since I was leaving at 7 am the next morning to fly to San Diego for the AudiologyNOW! convention. Yikes! Because I liked my phone so much, I had to get the same Blackberry Bold. I can hear well with it and it has all the texting/emailing options I need. I made sure I got insurance this time....

Then I flew out to San Diego the next morning, this time going through the metal detector with my CI processor and hearing aid on, and magically, I did not set it off and no one questioned me. I can personally say that the myth that a cochlear implant will set off a metal detector, erase the stored maps in the processor, or getting zapped are not true. At least for me, these incidences failed to be true.

I talked and talked to many people at the convention and talked and talked some more in Phoenix over the weekend while visiting family on the way back to Dallas. All this time, I wore my CI, except for part of Wednesday and part of Sunday when the batteries went dead and I didn't have extras with me. But throughout all this time, I have not had time to practice or concentrate hearing with my CI alone. So today, I feel that I am still hearing buzzing sounds that are loud some times (like my voice and other people's voices close by) and quiet at other times and sharper when I hear silverware clinging, my turn signal, and shoes click clacking against hardwood floors. This week, I vow to take the time to practice using my CI alone and to try the aural rehab program "Sound and Way Beyond" provided by Cochlear Corp. This is on top of all the other things I have on my to-do list!

Wish me luck!

I'm remapped

Today I went back for my follow up mapping appointment with the CI audiologist at UT-Southwestern. I've been waiting all week to go back because I thought sound from my CI was becoming somewhat dull and I was ready to see what changes could be made in my map. I also was excited to tell Pam things that have been happening the last 2 weeks with my CI. As I expected my impedances got lower (which is better). She remeasured each T level which is the point on each of the 22 channels that I begin to hear sound. This was VERY hard. I had a really difficult time with this because 1) I'm not sure what I'm listening for, and 2) I think my good low frequency hearing in my good ear interferes with my ability to determine if I'm hearing the beeps she presents or random noise. We expected my T levels to decrease but they were still high.

After that, she measured my C levels again (which is the point that sound becomes comfortably loud). These didn't change that much from my previous map. It was really cool to hear the pitch differences as she went from the low frequency channels to high frequency channels. I didn't think I could tell before today but I definitely could!

THEN she went "live" and immediately I could tell I was hearing fan noise and it was fairly loud. Like drowning out everything else I wanted to hear. After she decreased all my T-levels it became a lot better and I could tell the sound quality was better than before I came in today. My input dynamic range (between the T and C levels) is still narrow but if she decreased the T-levels more then I may risk not hearing soft sounds. Before today sounds such as silverware clacking on plates and people typing on the keyboard and heels on tile floor were somewhat disturbingly loud. Now those sounds are still audible but more comfortable. Things also sound a little fuller. My voice is still loud but that's to be expected and I am getting used to it. I'm happy with my changes and can't wait see what else I begin to notice with my CI!

I will be going to San Diego this week to present my research poster at the AudiologyNOW! conference. This is the largest audiology conference held each year and I've gone to it for the past 3 years. It will be great to talk about what I spent the majority of my 3rd year working on and also to see lots of familiar faces. Stayed tuned!

I love my pretty cover!

Everything seemed noisy today. I noticed that the click of my computer mouse was very detectable today. I tried going to the gym with it on to lift weights. It was very noisy until the batteries died. It takes 2 high power 675 batteries. I've had to change the batteries twice since last Wednesday, which is pretty good compared to Cochlear Corp's Freedom device that took 3 675 batteries and last about 3 days. Its much more pleasant to not hear so much when working out.

I went through my box of goodies when I got home today. It's ridiculous how heavy the case is! But I figured out things like how my remote control charger works. It comes with like 6 different outlets for different companies. I learned today that for the U.S., you need the 2 prong plug in with the holes in it. I never noticed that before. I also put together the Zepher dry aid box I got to protect and keep moisture from damaging my CI and hearing aid. I somehow managed to break off the piece that shuts the box though. Oops...

There were a few worthless accessories in my box, like the "lite wear" option for babies and ear wear to keep the CI on the ear. BUT I did find the fabulous pretty purple covers that came with my CI. I love it! I'm going to wear it like that from now on. :)

Rehabing, Running, and Photos

I think I've reached a point where I'm ready for some adjustments in the programming of my CI. I can now leave it on for most of the day and not get a headache, which is a big improvement!

Last Thursday I had my first meeting with Melissa, who has graciously offered to do aural rehab with me so I can maximize my ability to hear with my CI. She did several analytical exercises with me until I reached a point that I was having more difficulty. Developing my CI listening skills is going to be hard because I already depend so much on my hearing aid ear. I had to plug up my good ear so I could try to hear only through my CI ear. I've practice my exercises a few times with Michelle today while plugging my good ear. It seems that I am confusing the vowels "eee" and "ooo" and voiceless and voiced fricatives such as "f" with "p" and "sh" with "z." I'm not even sure I'm detecting those consonant sounds. Cochlear gives CI recipients a aural rehabilitation DVD called "Sound and Way Beyond" which I've heard is good. I haven't been able to get to it yet but I'm going to try it when I get the chance.

I was really disappointed that I didn't get to run in Forest Park over the weekend, so when I got back to Dallas yesterday, I decided to run the Katy Trail with my CI on. The Katy Trail is a great running/biking trial that is less than a mile from my apartment. I put an elastic headband over the cable and around my head and it surprisingly kept everything in place. Thanks Michelle for the headbands! It was very windy which made my run very noisy as the wind brushed over the microphones constantly but it wasn't too bothersome.

I'm also noticing that my voice seems louder than normal with my CI on so it's somewhat difficult for me to tell if I'm speaking a normal loudness level or not. This will be something else I'll have to get used to.

Oh and I have pictures from when I first got my cochlear implant activated. The first picture is what my CI sound processor looks like. It blends in quite well with my hair! I got these purple plastic covers that is supposed to protect the processor but I think it's fun for kids. If I ever want it to stand out, I'll just slip it on!

In this 2nd photo, I'm carrying my big heavy briefcase filled with all my accessories and tools. All I can think of is the poor 1 to 2 year olds who get bilateral implants and have to carry 2 of these!

The next picture is one of my parents and I and then a picture of Michelle and I. I'm SOOO happy they were all able to come with me to this appointment.

My Initial Stim Experience

Happy Easter! I'm finally back to Dallas from a busy Easter with family and friends in St. Louis. I got to visit with several friends I hadn't seen in a long time, find time to continue my tradition of helping Grandma and Grandpa Padgett prepare for their annual Easter Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt, spend time with Brian's wonderful family and then spend Easter Sunday visiting with my Padgett family which is always fun but chaotic! Grandma Padgett said she counted 95 people this year! I probably overdid myself but what's new? In addition, everyone had to know how I was doing with my cochlear implant. Usually on Easter, I help sit people and serve drinks and food to people all morning but today, I decided to stay out of the kitchen because it was very loud and not the place to catch up with everyone. I was ready for a long nap by the time we left at noon!

I want to back up and tell you what happened last Wednesday when I went for my "initial stimulation," "activation," "hook-up," or whatever else one might say about getting a cochlear implant turned on for the first time. I was very nervous because even though I'm almost a full-fledged audiologist and have a lot of knowledge and experience with cochlear implants and counseling children and adults about expectations with cochlear implants, I did not know how I would first react or "hear" with my cochlear implant. So many variables play a role in how a person will do with a cochlear implant and how quickly they will learn to make sense of sound.

Anyhow, my mom and dad, as well as my friend Michelle, who is a cochlear implant audiologist at UT-Dallas/Callier Center, came with me to my appointment. First, I had my check up with Dr. Roland who did my surgery. He said my incision looked good and I was ready for my initial stim. Along my incision there is surgical glue on top of the stitches which will eventually dissolve and come out. I didn't know this but it takes about 4-6 weeks for the glue to come off and about 8-12 weeks for the stitches to go away. Good thing they're not visible since they're behind my ear! He also said I was free to do whatever I want including scuba-diving, and sky-diving (not that I plan to do those things anytime soon...). However, I'm looking forward to getting back to running, working out, traveling for my upcoming trips, and, oh, looking for a job...

My parents also asked many questions. I was very disappointed that my dad didn't ask the one question he really wanted to know, which was "Does Dr. Roland know the song 'Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner' by Warren Zevon?"...He also sang Werewolves of London...don't worry, I didn't know who that was or what these songs were either.

I then had my appointment with Pam, the audiologist. This was the first time I had met with her since I had my pre-evaluations with another audiologist who has since moved from Dallas. However, I had heard many great things about Pam so I was happy that she would be doing my initial stim. When I got to her room, she had my new sound processor hooked up to the computer ready to get started. The room wasn't very big but we managed to all fit and my dad happily videotaped everything.

The first thing that Pam did was have me put the processor on my ear and make sure the magnet was strong enough to stay on my head where the internal magnet of the implant was located. Then she measured impedances and made sure all the electrodes inside the cochlea were working. The lower the impedances, the better the electrical current is able to stimulate the cochlea. The impedances looked good and so then she moved to the next step. She ask me to tell her when I first hear two beeps. She wanted to find the softest level (t-level) that I could hear for each channel or electrode region it stimulates along the basilar membrane of the cochlea. When she presented each sound, I felt the vibration rather than heard it. After doing this for 22 channels, she measured my C-levels for each channel which is where the sound is "loud, but comfortable." Again, for me, this was hard because I was feeling the stimulus instead of hearing it. Each presentation was like a pounding sensation rolling through my head. I'm not sure if this is normal. After this step, she went live. She turned down the levels slightly and then turned on the processor. I was very nervous because I didn't know what to expect and knew it was not going to sound good especially since I was feeling the sounds more than hearing them. So when it went live, it was VERY overwhelming. I starting tearing because it was new and uncomfortable, somewhat like a really big headache. Pam turned down the levels to where it was comfortable and then I listened to hear talk about setting different programs and the different accessories and pieces I would be taking home in my big white briefcase, which is really heavy! It was hard to pay attention with all these sound stimulating my auditory nerve and vibrating through my head. I kept thinking, 'I hope this gets better and I start to hear the sounds because feeling the sounds is not comfortable.' The processor has room for 4 different listening programs. After discussing how to utilize the 4 programs, she decided to give me a program that I was currently listening to, then another program that was slightly softer, and then a 'noise' program, and a 'focus' program to try. These two programs are designed to allow a CI user to understand speech better in noisy situations.

The entire appointment took about 1 1/2 hours. I return on April 12th to readjust my levels. I left the appointment with a very big headache and a lot of confusion about whether I was hearing or feeling the sounds. I can't remember if I explained my hearing loss yet or not, but I have just a mild hearing loss from 250 Hz to 1500 Hz (low to mid frequencies) and a severe/profound loss from 2000 Hz to 8000 Hz (mid to high frequencies) in my left (good) ear. My right ear that has been implanted has been profound and unaidable since I had meningitis at the age of 7 months. I have not heard in this ear in 25 years, but I have already heard many sounds with my left ear. Explaining what sounds through my cochlear implant are like is hard because I cannot compare it to natural acoustical hearing. However, after 5 days, I can say that the vibrating feeling of sounds are becoming much more bearable and I am hearing soft buzzing noises when louder sounds are present. Another interesting thing that happened on the first day was that I noticed that as I got near my TV or walk by certain places in the hallways at Callier Center, I was hearing a loud buzzing sound. This sound I knew because I wear a hearing aid on my other ear. My hearing aid has a technology called a telecoil. This telecoil picks up electromagnetic energy and is very useful for allowing hearing aid users to utilizes the telephone while cutting out the background noise. I recognized this right away and turned off the "autophone" feature that the Nucleus 5 device has as a default setting. I was able to do this with my fancy little "remote assistant." It's a really great remote control! Now, I thankfully don't have to hear buzzing sound anymore. I have to remember to tell Pam about this because I wouldn't want patients who aren't audiologists to have to listen to this sound and not know what it is! The good thing is that I definitely knew I was hearing that electromagnetic energy, which means I will be "hearing" other sounds soon, right? :)

Alright this is PLENTY long for today. I have lots to show and tell though so I will be writing again soon. Now that I have 24/7 access to a computer for a week, look forward to more updates! I have pictures too...

I'm exhausted! Update Coming Soon :)

It's now been a day after my initial stimulation of my cochlear implant. It was certainly an interesting appointment and it's been an exhausting and stressful day working and getting some disappointing news (not related to my CI). My parents and my good friend, Michelle, who is also an audiologist came to the appointment with me. My mom is still here to "be my support" if I need her and because she wanted to go shopping. And boy did she go shopping! I'm very happy she decided to stay a couple extra days. Anyhow, I have worn my processor for most of today, which has been difficult because it's a very strange sensation to have my auditory nerve that has not be stimulated in 25 years to now receive input. In fact, I wouldn't even say that I'm actually "hearing" on my right side as much as I'm feeling the sounds. I've heard this is somewhat common for teenagers or adults who have not have the auditory nerve stimulated for a long time. I'm hoping this sensation fades and "hearing" emerges. I will go back for my follow up appointment on April 12th at which my maps will be adjusted after I've had some time to get used to it. I have much more to say but I'm exhausted and I fly home to St. Louis for Easter tomorrow after work with my mom. I will update again soon!