RE: Almost Off Topic... newbie

[Guest guest]

hi alison

what u need to know?

allison

[Guest guest]

Alison,

I have a suggestion for you.

You can add a poll with your questions and many people will answer. It can be

done two ways.

1. Thru the poll section on the left side of the main page

/polls

or

2. Send a message out to the list with your questions numbered and let the list

members answer you directly thru the list.

The poll feature is very nice but creates a problem for many because you have to

remember your name and password to get to it and many people just don't

remember so they can't get to it. You could even do it both ways if you want

and put them together when they are done.

You make the choice...but I know we'll be glad to help you with your report.

Alice

Over the course of the next 6 months, i have a 4000 word research

report to write, on the impact that technology has on people with

physical disabilities.. (what a mouthful!) That includes deafness.

There are a few options here: go ask the companies for pages of

(slightly biased) information (probably will do anyway), make it up,

or ask people who actually live with it- that means you.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/3/04 6:24:58 PM Pacific Standard Time,

ailisaun@... writes:

i have a 4000 word research

report to write,

Having two kids of my own, both in college, i am BIG supporter to help anyone

who need help with researches. I would LOVE to help you but i am not hook up

yet to have a say so unless you want early days............ will that works??

Lee

Looking for a gift or deco for your home? Check it out at LeSanna, Your home

and Gift Center

[Guest guest]

Alison,

Sure, I'd be glad to help you out with your research project.. What

Alice said is a wonderful suggestion.. Giving people specific

questions to answer would probably make things go more smoothly for

you too..

Do feel free to use anything that I have personally posted in

with the exception of names <smiles>

Ask away witht the questions and I'm sure you will get more than a

few willing helpers.

Best of luck with your paper.

Regards,

Silly MI

In , " ailisaun " <ailisaun@y...> wrote:

> Hi everyone!

>

> wow... this group is a real community, like you don't come across

> very often! it's great to see everybody encouraging everybody

else..

>

> I'm from Australia, and although i have a mild/mod hearing loss, i

> hardly qualify for a CI! *grins* i do have 2 hearing aids, i used

to

> have an RF unit, and our TV is captioned or silent... However, i

am

> here for a reason.

>

> Over the course of the next 6 months, i have a 4000 word research

> report to write, on the impact that technology has on people with

> physical disabilities.. (what a mouthful!) That includes deafness.

> There are a few options here: go ask the companies for pages of

> (slightly biased) information (probably will do anyway), make it

up,

> or ask people who actually live with it- that means you.

>

> The sort of things i would really like to hear about would be

> whether CIs (and hearing aids, for those that have had them) do

help

> improve quality of life. Do people react to you differently when

> you're 'switched on'? is it easier to make friends and go places

> when you can hear well? What are the best and worst bits of being

> able to hear all the noise?

> From personal experience, hearing aids are a pain to wear, and by

> the end of the day you find yourself wanting to constantly pull

them

> out... are CIs annoying like that?

>

> Anyway, i could go on for aggeess with more questions, and

hopefully

> i'm not pushing any sensitive boundaries with anyone.. but any and

> all responses would be gratefully appreciated!

>

> Alison

[Guest guest]

Hi !

I'm I just read your transcript of your story I enjoyed reading it .!

I'm very happy for you that your CI had such great results!

i'm profoundly deaf in my left ear & completely deaf in my right eaar. I'm

due to have surgery for the CI in two weeks. I look forward to hearing once

again.

Wishing you all the best in the Years to come in your new Marriage!

Sincerely,

[Guest guest]

Hi Alison,

Good to see you on the forum! As you can see by my signature, I'm an Aussie

as well, living in Maitland, just north of Newcastle in NSW. Do you mind if

I ask where you're from? I'd be happy to answer any questions you might

have, and if you're anywhere near Sydney, would even be happy to meet up

with you one day! I'm just wondering if you watch the Australian Story on

the ABC? If so, that was me on the show in October, letting everyone know

what a fantastic difference MY CI has made to my life! If you didn't catch

it, it's still possible to have a look on the ABC's website at:

http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2003/s959049.htm

You can read a transcript of the show by scrolling to the bottom of the page

to "

[Guest guest]

Hi All

i'm from Melbourne, by the way... Alright, more scientific questions, coming

right up...

by the way thankyou to and others who've replied cos you've already

answered lots of my questions!!

1. Does your confidence with trying to talk to people improve when you can hear?

(stupid question perhaps... but bear with me)

2.For those of you who've been deaf for a while before activation (which would

be most/all of you?), how did you communicate? did you have to try learning sign

language?

3. when you were considering a CI, did safety issues occur to you- like not

being able to hear alarms / public safety announcements? Is safety a big issue?

4. Has anyone heard of any court cases involving CIs?

5. Do you think that there's been a 'culture shift' at all in the way society

reacts to deaf/ HOH people?

6 Does having your hearing help with becoming financially independent? what

reasons usually stop that happening? (i.e. other disabilities, not adjusting)

7 From what everyone's said, i get the feeling that the all time best thing

about CIs is communicating with family and friends... is that right? *smiles*

As i said, there were other questions that have been answered, so i don't need

to ask them ... Thankyou to everyone who's answered, i really appreciate it!

-Alison

---------------------------------

Personals

- New people, new possibilities. FREE for a limited time!

[Guest guest]

Hi Alison,

" i'm from Melbourne, by the way...... "

Where in Melbourne are you from? I lived in the South Eastern Suburbs for 10

years, first in Upper Ferntree Gully, then in Upwey and Ferntree Gully! I

LOVE the Dandenongs!

I'll have a stab at answering your questions, here goes -

1. Does your confidence with trying to talk to people improve when you can

hear?

(stupid question perhaps... but bear with me)

A big YES!! I hardly ever went out anywhere, I was a divorced Mum for 12

years and my kids missed out on a lot because I just couldn't hear anyone so

didn't go anywhere. Now, I talk to anyone and everyone, and you're lucky to

find me at home!!

2.For those of you who've been deaf for a while before activation (which

would

be most/all of you?), how did you communicate? did you have to try learning

sign

language?

I didn't learn Sign, I never knew any other deaf people, so I had to get by

with lip-reading. If I REALLY had problems understanding someone, I'd get

them to write it down. I did do a course in Signed English, but no-one else

I knew, knew how to do it, so it went be the wayside.

3. when you were considering a CI, did safety issues occur to you- like not

being able to hear alarms / public safety announcements? Is safety a big

issue?

I got the CI in part so that I COULD hear alarms and safety announcements! I

never could hear those things with hearing aids, if there was a fire drill

anywhere I had to rely on other people to remember to let me know! At home I

have a vibrating and flashing light fire alarm, so that's no problem, and I

used to have a flashing light door bell because I couldn't hear people

knock. With my CI I hear the slightest little tap on the front door, so the

flashing light is obsolete now :-)

4. Has anyone heard of any court cases involving CIs?

Nope

5. Do you think that there's been a 'culture shift' at all in the way

society

reacts to deaf/ HOH people?

I've found that people are much more friendly and interested in my CI than

they were when I had my HA's, but that could just be because I hear them now

when they say 'hi' and I answer them back. Lots of people used to think I

was a snob when I had my HA's because they would say hello and I wouldn't

answer, usually because I didn't know they had said anything!

6 Does having your hearing help with becoming financially independent? what

reasons usually stop that happening? (i.e. other disabilities, not

adjusting)

Another big YES!! I tried for years to get a job when I had HA's. I'm a

qualified Nursing Aide, I have a Secretarial Diploma, and I'm a qualified

Library Technician, as well as having umpteen certificates in relation to

computers! Do you think I could get a job when I had HA's?? Nup, no-one

would even give me a chance! Since getting my CI, the whole world has opened

up for me, I have the most fantastic job that I could ever imagine, and am

more financially independant than I have ever been in my life!!

7 From what everyone's said, i get the feeling that the all time best thing

about CIs is communicating with family and friends... is that right?

*smiles*

Yep :-) If I don't ring my Mum every day to talk for at least an hour on the

phone, she rings me to see what's been happening. I could never use the

phone with my hearing aids, so my Mum LOVES my CI! My husband does too :-D

and my kids, because now they don't have to make any phone calls for me, I

do it all myself! My kids also love the fact that they can talk to me from

another room now and be reasonably certain that I can hear what they're

saying, instead of having to come up and tap me on the arm to get my

attention before they said anything. It's sure made things a LOT easier!

Bet you didn't realise that you were going to get so many wonderful people

answering you on this forum. Do hope the answers are useful, and keep them

coming if you want more!

Cheers for now

Mischelle in Oz

Progressive loss due to childhood measles

Severe/profound by early 20's - HA's for 30 years!

Nucleus 24 Contour, August 2000 and wearing the ESPrit 3G!

Consumer Advocate

Cochlear Ltd, Sydney, Australia

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Hi Alison

well I am in melbourne too. My son has two cochlear implants and will be 10

on the 25 jan. I will answer the questions from a parent point.

regurds

Carol mother of Kristian right ear N22 left side N24C

Re: re: Almost Off Topic... newbie

>

> Hi All

>

> i'm from Melbourne, by the way... Alright, more scientific questions,

coming right up...

>

> by the way thankyou to and others who've replied cos you've already

answered lots of my questions!!

>

> 1. Does your confidence with trying to talk to people improve when you can

hear? (stupid question perhaps... but bear with me)

> yes

> 2.For those of you who've been deaf for a while before activation (which

would be most/all of you?), how did you communicate? did you have to try

learning sign language?

> Kristian and family learnt sign to help learn spoken language

> 3. when you were considering a CI, did safety issues occur to you- like

not being able to hear alarms / public safety announcements? Is safety a big

issue? Yes safety is big when you are talking a child, they need to be able

to hear cars when rideing a bike or cars when crossing the street

>

> 4. Has anyone heard of any court cases involving CIs? No

>

> 5. Do you think that there's been a 'culture shift' at all in the way

society reacts to deaf/ HOH people?

some do react different, some carnt under stand that for a parent it is very

hard to make the decsion to implant. Some people still think it is wrong to

implant children

>

> 6 Does having your hearing help with becoming financially independent?

what reasons usually stop that happening? (i.e. other disabilities, not

adjusting)N/A

>

> 7 From what everyone's said, i get the feeling that the all time best

thing about CIs is communicating with family and friends... is that right?

*smiles*

Kristian loves to chit chat

>

> As i said, there were other questions that have been answered, so i don't

need to ask them ... Thankyou to everyone who's answered, i really

appreciate it!

>

> -Alison

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Personals

> - New people, new possibilities. FREE for a limited time!

>

>