Re: Hi all... & I was activated yesterday!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi and everyone. I was implanted bilaterally on October 3rd, and I was

activated yesterday. So for me, right now some sounds are still a little

electronic. But already, my brain is starting to adapt and things are sounding

more normal. Speech is sounding more normal for sure than it did at first. A

little high pitched still, but not really electronic anymore. Better than it

ever did with my hearing aids. Some sounds are pretty normal, and others will

take getting used to, I think. My dogs sound like a train coming through when

they all run barking through the house right now. The first time they did that

after activation, it scared me half to death! LOL Now, I know what to expect,

so, while it does not yet sound " normal " , I think it will soon. Right after

activation, speech sounded like squealing or grinding for the first couple of

sentences, then like Bugs Bunny on helium, (but becoming understandable after 3

or 4 more sentences), and now it is almost like I remember it from before I

became deaf. After about 10 minutes I was able to understand a lot of what my

audi said without lip-reading. I even made a call on a cell phone with a

speaker. I did not understand everything my friend said, but enough to be

absolutely thrilled! , how is your hearing now? Are you using hearing aids?

Does it sound normal? If you can hear well enough to understand speech with

them, then maybe you are not ready for a CI. If you can't, then I would say to

go for it. It will probably sound electronic at first, but it is truly amazing

how well our brains adapt to make it sound good. I am in total awe of these

wonderful CIs. I am so glad I did this.

Jane in Miami

Re: Hey All!

I can only speak for myself, . Everything sounds perfectly normal

to me, certainly not electronic. Apart from some voices on the phone,

which sound a bit different. I had worn hearing aids in both ears for

nearly 30 years, so I wasnt born completely deaf and knew what the

different things sounded like. I was sprinkling sugar on some diced

strawberries the other day and could hear the sugar hitting the

strawberries. A C.I. moment for me. The strawberries were OK too ;-).

Ted F.

>

> The one question still nags at me and won't go away. What does it

> sound like hearing with a cochlear implant? Does it sound

> electronically (or rather synthesized) or clear and normal? Is there

> a webside I can go to that has sound files of what CIs sound like?

>

> Thanks<

>

>

[Guest guest]

Adding my two cents to the quality of sound post CI

question: More than one year past activation, I would

say that overall voices sound fairly " normal " . Many

environmental sounds do not. It's hard to describe. I

remember birds chirping from my childhood, and I feel

sure they don't sound the same now. That said, I get a

thrill to hear them and am quite capable of matching a

sound to it's object in the majority of cases. So I

have no complaints regarding any imperfections. Going

back again to the bird sounds, perhaps my memory is

impaired, but I feel that I know that they used to

sound more melodic than they do now. Again, who cares?

LOL

Deb

--- dogsville <dogsville@...> wrote:

> Hi and everyone. I was implanted bilaterally

> on October 3rd, and I was activated yesterday. So

> for me, right now some sounds are still a little

> electronic. But already, my brain is starting to

> adapt and things are sounding more normal. Speech is

> sounding more normal for sure than it did at first.

> A little high pitched still, but not really

> electronic anymore. Better than it ever did with my

> hearing aids. Some sounds are pretty normal, and

> others will take getting used to, I think. My dogs

> sound like a train coming through when they all run

> barking through the house right now. The first time

> they did that after activation, it scared me half to

> death! LOL Now, I know what to expect, so, while it

> does not yet sound " normal " , I think it will soon.

> Right after activation, speech sounded like

> squealing or grinding for the first couple of

> sentences, then like Bugs Bunny on helium, (but

> becoming understandable after 3 or 4 more

> sentences), and now it is almost like I remember it

> from before I became deaf. After about 10 minutes I

> was able to understand a lot of what my audi said

> without lip-reading. I even made a call on a cell

> phone with a speaker. I did not understand

> everything my friend said, but enough to be

> absolutely thrilled! , how is your hearing now?

> Are you using hearing aids? Does it sound normal? If

> you can hear well enough to understand speech with

> them, then maybe you are not ready for a CI. If you

> can't, then I would say to go for it. It will

> probably sound electronic at first, but it is truly

> amazing how well our brains adapt to make it sound

> good. I am in total awe of these wonderful CIs. I am

> so glad I did this.

> Jane in Miami

>

> Re: Hey All!

>

>

> I can only speak for myself, . Everything

> sounds perfectly normal

> to me, certainly not electronic. Apart from some

> voices on the phone,

> which sound a bit different. I had worn hearing

> aids in both ears for

> nearly 30 years, so I wasnt born completely deaf

> and knew what the

> different things sounded like. I was sprinkling

> sugar on some diced

> strawberries the other day and could hear the

> sugar hitting the

> strawberries. A C.I. moment for me. The

> strawberries were OK too ;-).

>

> Ted F.

>

>

> >

> > The one question still nags at me and won't go

> away. What does it

> > sound like hearing with a cochlear implant? Does

> it sound

> > electronically (or rather synthesized) or clear

> and normal? Is there

> > a webside I can go to that has sound files of

> what CIs sound like?

> >

> > Thanks<

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

__________

Check out the New - Fire up a more powerful email and get things

done faster.

(http://advision.webevents./mailbeta)

[Guest guest]

This discussion is fascinating!

Ok, with the birds, is it possible that the mapping might be the reason

certain sounds sound as they do?

And if you tried listening to the birds with a 2nd or 3rd program, do they

sound different?

Several of you have mentioned a whisper setting for listening in those

situations were the speaker may be speaking quietly.

I'm guessing that such a setting attempts to pick up quiet sounds and

either nulls out or attempts to reduce louder sounds?

And if this is the case, is not learning what to use when and where an

ongoing experiment in what works for you and what does not!Speaking of

environments, and with Sunday and Church fast approaching,

hearing aids have difficulty in dealing with the echoing nature of many

sanctuaries.

Are CI listeners much in the same boat or are their programs or

adjustments to deal with this?

[Guest guest]

Jane I am curious did you receive both implants at the same time?

Thanks!!!

Connie

dogsville <dogsville@...> wrote:

Hi and everyone. I was implanted bilaterally on October 3rd, and

I was activated yesterday. So for me, right now some sounds are still a little

electronic. But already, my brain is starting to adapt and things are sounding

more normal. Speech is sounding more normal for sure than it did at first. A

little high pitched still, but not really electronic anymore. Better than it

ever did with my hearing aids. Some sounds are pretty normal, and others will

take getting used to, I think. My dogs sound like a train coming through when

they all run barking through the house right now. The first time they did that

after activation, it scared me half to death! LOL Now, I know what to expect,

so, while it does not yet sound " normal " , I think it will soon. Right after

activation, speech sounded like squealing or grinding for the first couple of

sentences, then like Bugs Bunny on helium, (but becoming understandable after 3

or 4 more sentences), and now it is almost like

I remember it from before I became deaf. After about 10 minutes I was able to

understand a lot of what my audi said without lip-reading. I even made a call on

a cell phone with a speaker. I did not understand everything my friend said, but

enough to be absolutely thrilled! , how is your hearing now? Are you using

hearing aids? Does it sound normal? If you can hear well enough to understand

speech with them, then maybe you are not ready for a CI. If you can't, then I

would say to go for it. It will probably sound electronic at first, but it is

truly amazing how well our brains adapt to make it sound good. I am in total awe

of these wonderful CIs. I am so glad I did this.

Jane in Miami

Re: Hey All!

I can only speak for myself, . Everything sounds perfectly normal

to me, certainly not electronic. Apart from some voices on the phone,

which sound a bit different. I had worn hearing aids in both ears for

nearly 30 years, so I wasnt born completely deaf and knew what the

different things sounded like. I was sprinkling sugar on some diced

strawberries the other day and could hear the sugar hitting the

strawberries. A C.I. moment for me. The strawberries were OK too ;-).

Ted F.

>

> The one question still nags at me and won't go away. What does it

> sound like hearing with a cochlear implant? Does it sound

> electronically (or rather synthesized) or clear and normal? Is there

> a webside I can go to that has sound files of what CIs sound like?

>

> Thanks<

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes I did.

Jane

Re: Hey All!

I can only speak for myself, . Everything sounds perfectly normal

to me, certainly not electronic. Apart from some voices on the phone,

which sound a bit different. I had worn hearing aids in both ears for

nearly 30 years, so I wasnt born completely deaf and knew what the

different things sounded like. I was sprinkling sugar on some diced

strawberries the other day and could hear the sugar hitting the

strawberries. A C.I. moment for me. The strawberries were OK too ;-).

Ted F.

>

> The one question still nags at me and won't go away. What does it

> sound like hearing with a cochlear implant? Does it sound

> electronically (or rather synthesized) or clear and normal? Is there

> a webside I can go to that has sound files of what CIs sound like?

>

> Thanks<

>

>

[Guest guest]

I do suppose it could be my maps but I also know that

I hear so many things so well that it is just as

likely that either my memory is imprecise of sound

from the past OR that my memory is very good and I can

tell when things aren't as they were. I will chat with

my audie about this!

Deb

--- Mike <Mike@...> wrote:

> This discussion is fascinating!

>

> Ok, with the birds, is it possible that the mapping

> might be the reason

> certain sounds sound as they do?

> And if you tried listening to the birds with a 2nd

> or 3rd program, do they

> sound different?

>

> Several of you have mentioned a whisper setting for

> listening in those

> situations were the speaker may be speaking quietly.

> I'm guessing that such a setting attempts to pick up

> quiet sounds and

> either nulls out or attempts to reduce louder

> sounds?

> And if this is the case, is not learning what to use

> when and where an

> ongoing experiment in what works for you and what

> does not!Speaking of

> environments, and with Sunday and Church fast

> approaching,

> hearing aids have difficulty in dealing with the

> echoing nature of many

> sanctuaries.

> Are CI listeners much in the same boat or are their

> programs or

> adjustments to deal with this?

>

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Messenger's cheap PC-to-Phone call rates

(http://voice.)

[Guest guest]

Hi Mike,

The Whisper setting is one of the Smartsound options on the Nucleus Freedom.

I was just activated on September 27, so I don't have any of those options

programmed yet. My audie wanted to get my processing speed set first and

then add the Smartsound options. I don't understand all of what Whisper

does, but I believe it raises the sensitivity up so you can hear softer

sounds. It is supposed to make things better for you to hear when in a quiet

environment, such as church or a meeting. It is also supposed to be good for

picking up the soft sounds in nature, such as a bird singing. I don't think

it does anything to reduce louder sounds. From Cochlear's website " Whisper

brings the softer sound " closer " so that you can hear it better, while other

louder sounds remain unchanged. "

As to hearing in Church, the CI is much better than my hearing aids. The

echoing was terrible with my old hearing aids, and I couldn't hear much at

all during Mass without using the assistive listening device-- preferably

with my neckloop. I can hear pretty well with my CI only now, but have to

raise the sensitivity way up and do better if I sit a little closer to the

front. When I get Whisper put on my processor, I will give it a try.

Lynn

Fairhope, AL

Nucleus Freedom

Surgery date: 9/6/06

Activation date: 9/27/06

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Mike

Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 2:30 PM

Subject: Re: Re: Hi all... & I was activated yesterday!!!

This discussion is fascinating!

Ok, with the birds, is it possible that the mapping might be the reason

certain sounds sound as they do?

And if you tried listening to the birds with a 2nd or 3rd program, do they

sound different?

Several of you have mentioned a whisper setting for listening in those

situations were the speaker may be speaking quietly.

I'm guessing that such a setting attempts to pick up quiet sounds and

either nulls out or attempts to reduce louder sounds?

And if this is the case, is not learning what to use when and where an

ongoing experiment in what works for you and what does not!Speaking of

environments, and with Sunday and Church fast approaching,

hearing aids have difficulty in dealing with the echoing nature of many

sanctuaries.

Are CI listeners much in the same boat or are their programs or

adjustments to deal with this?

[Guest guest]

Whisper certainly does help to pick up softer sounds,

but it does not mute the louder sounds around it,

which is why it is optimal in truly quiet settings. I

thought team meeting rooms were quiet and so I tried

whisper there, but now I know that my whole office

building has not only the usual fans for air and heat

blowing but something the office manager calls " pink

noise " that helps to make the rooms (or cubicles) more

private. To me that pink noise is excessively noisy

when I'm in whisper, so I am very limited in my use of

it. I have used it on occasion to hear speakers in

other environments when I was sitting a bit further

away than I liked, and it was helpful. It's not my

most favorite setting, but it has its uses!

Deb

--- Mike <Mike@...> wrote:

> This discussion is fascinating!

>

> Ok, with the birds, is it possible that the mapping

> might be the reason

> certain sounds sound as they do?

> And if you tried listening to the birds with a 2nd

> or 3rd program, do they

> sound different?

>

> Several of you have mentioned a whisper setting for

> listening in those

> situations were the speaker may be speaking quietly.

> I'm guessing that such a setting attempts to pick up

> quiet sounds and

> either nulls out or attempts to reduce louder

> sounds?

> And if this is the case, is not learning what to use

> when and where an

> ongoing experiment in what works for you and what

> does not!Speaking of

> environments, and with Sunday and Church fast

> approaching,

> hearing aids have difficulty in dealing with the

> echoing nature of many

> sanctuaries.

> Are CI listeners much in the same boat or are their

> programs or

> adjustments to deal with this?

>

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Cheap Talk? Check out Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates

(http://voice.)

[Guest guest]

Congratulations Jane. I think if we can hear better than we could

with hearing aids, thats a great start and it can only get better. If

new implantees use this as a guide, they shouldnt be disappointed.

Without my hearing aid or C.I. the only two sounds I can hear are a

dog barking, if he is right next to me, or thunder if its right

overhead.

Ted F.

> >

> > The one question still nags at me and won't go away. What does

> > it sound like hearing with a cochlear implant? Does it sound

> > electronically (or rather synthesized) or clear and normal? Is

> > there a webside I can go to that has sound files of what CIs

> > sound like?

> >

> > Thanks<

> >

[Guest guest]

I thought the music was better in the 60's as well :-)

I'm in a time warp with music. The 60's was probably the last time I

enjoyed music before starting to go deaf. So it seems to be the music

era that I know the best and the words to the songs to. I only listen

to stuff that I liked back then. Most of the newer stuff I dont like,

but I do like some of Alan s stuff and Ronan Keating,

especially " If tomorrow never comes. "

Ted F.

>

> Adding my two cents to the quality of sound post CI

> question: More than one year past activation, I would

> say that overall voices sound fairly " normal " . Many

> environmental sounds do not. It's hard to describe. I

> remember birds chirping from my childhood, and I feel

> sure they don't sound the same now. That said, I get a

> thrill to hear them and am quite capable of matching a

> sound to it's object in the majority of cases. So I

> have no complaints regarding any imperfections. Going

> back again to the bird sounds, perhaps my memory is

> impaired, but I feel that I know that they used to

> sound more melodic than they do now. Again, who cares?

> LOL

> Deb

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Ted.

Without my CIs, now I can only hear my tinnitus. LOL

I am very grateful for my new hearing. I would have been grateful for 1/10th of

what I got. So I am ecstatic.

Jane

Re: Hi all... & I was activated yesterday!!!

Congratulations Jane. I think if we can hear better than we could

with hearing aids, thats a great start and it can only get better. If

new implantees use this as a guide, they shouldnt be disappointed.

Without my hearing aid or C.I. the only two sounds I can hear are a

dog barking, if he is right next to me, or thunder if its right

overhead.

Ted F.

> >

> > The one question still nags at me and won't go away. What does

> > it sound like hearing with a cochlear implant? Does it sound

> > electronically (or rather synthesized) or clear and normal? Is

> > there a webside I can go to that has sound files of what CIs

> > sound like?

> >

> > Thanks<

> >

[Guest guest]

Jane,

LOL! Same here! I'm 100% deaf without my processors on and all I hear when

they are removed is my tinnitus. I've dealt with the bilateral tinnitus for

so long now that it would feel completely strange if it suddenly

disappeared -- not that I'd complain. LOL!

Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06

[Guest guest]

.

That lousy song that my left ear was playing for so long finally has mostly

stopped, since I got activated yesterday. Now when it is quiet or when I remove

the processors, my right ear is playing " Time After Time " , which at least I

like. I am so glad to get rid of that horrible marching band song. LOL So is

everyone around me, as I can't seem to help humming whatever is playing in my

head.

Jane

Re: Re: Hi all... & I was activated yesterday!!!

Jane,

LOL! Same here! I'm 100% deaf without my processors on and all I hear when

they are removed is my tinnitus. I've dealt with the bilateral tinnitus for

so long now that it would feel completely strange if it suddenly

disappeared -- not that I'd complain. LOL!

Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06

[Guest guest]

With tinnitus did most of you have it before being implanted or did it come as a

result of the implant but the processor alleviates the tinnitus? - Gerald

dogsville <dogsville@...> wrote: .

That lousy song that my left ear was playing for so long finally has mostly

stopped, since I got activated yesterday. Now when it is quiet or when I remove

the processors, my right ear is playing " Time After Time " , which at least I

like. I am so glad to get rid of that horrible marching band song. LOL So is

everyone around me, as I can't seem to help humming whatever is playing in my

head.

Jane

Re: Re: Hi all... & I was activated yesterday!!!

Jane,

LOL! Same here! I'm 100% deaf without my processors on and all I hear when

they are removed is my tinnitus. I've dealt with the bilateral tinnitus for

so long now that it would feel completely strange if it suddenly

disappeared -- not that I'd complain. LOL!

Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06

[Guest guest]

I had tinnitus before being implanted. Although I

experienced an increase in it temporarily right after

implant surgery, the tinnitus I now experience in the

implanted ear is much LESS intense than it was prior

to surgery. Now, I rarely get it when I'm wearing my

processor and even when I have the processor off it's

less intrusive than it was in the past. So it's an

improvement overall.

Deb

--- Gerald Gollinger <gerald3nyc@...> wrote:

> With tinnitus did most of you have it before being

> implanted or did it come as a result of the implant

> but the processor alleviates the tinnitus? - Gerald

>

> dogsville <dogsville@...> wrote:

> .

> That lousy song that my left ear was playing for so

> long finally has mostly stopped, since I got

> activated yesterday. Now when it is quiet or when I

> remove the processors, my right ear is playing " Time

> After Time " , which at least I like. I am so glad to

> get rid of that horrible marching band song. LOL So

> is everyone around me, as I can't seem to help

> humming whatever is playing in my head.

> Jane

> Re: Re: Hi all... & I was

> activated yesterday!!!

>

> Jane,

>

> LOL! Same here! I'm 100% deaf without my processors

> on and all I hear when

> they are removed is my tinnitus. I've dealt with the

> bilateral tinnitus for

> so long now that it would feel completely strange if

> it suddenly

> disappeared -- not that I'd complain. LOL!

>

>

>

> Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G

> Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

>

> Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

> Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

>

>

>

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

> We have the perfect Group for you. Check out the

> handy changes to .

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Everyone is raving about the all-new

(http://advision.webevents./mailbeta/)

[Guest guest]

Hi Gerald.

I had mild tinnitus before the implant. It became loud afterward, but it is

getting softer every day, now that I am activated. I am not completely healed

yet, there is still a lot of swelling around the implant area, so I think it may

improve a lot more, once the swelling is gone. It is already livable, now that I

am activated.

Jane

Re: Re: Hi all... & I was activated yesterday!!!

Jane,

LOL! Same here! I'm 100% deaf without my processors on and all I hear when

they are removed is my tinnitus. I've dealt with the bilateral tinnitus for

so long now that it would feel completely strange if it suddenly

disappeared -- not that I'd complain. LOL!

Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06

[Guest guest]

Jane,

I am beginning to get the impression if someone is deaf and without tinnitus

before an implant there is little chance of it occurring after implant. Perhaps

can shed some light on this since I am new to and do not

know what transpired on before I came.

I only have a partial hearing loss and while my audiogram is not good I may

not be a candidate for a CI at all. I am using BTE hearing aids and managing to

hold down a job and hear better in movies than theater. Noisy places are a

problem for me but there are better hearing aids for this but insurance is

limited for hearing aids while for many people covers implant surgery and the

processor. - Gerald

dogsville <dogsville@...> wrote:

Hi Gerald.

I had mild tinnitus before the implant. It became loud afterward, but it is

getting softer every day, now that I am activated. I am not completely healed

yet, there is still a lot of swelling around the implant area, so I think it may

improve a lot more, once the swelling is gone. It is already livable, now that I

am activated.

Jane

Re: Re: Hi all... & I was activated yesterday!!!

Jane,

LOL! Same here! I'm 100% deaf without my processors on and all I hear when

they are removed is my tinnitus. I've dealt with the bilateral tinnitus for

so long now that it would feel completely strange if it suddenly

disappeared -- not that I'd complain. LOL!

Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06

[Guest guest]

Gerald,

Its different for everyone. I had tinnitus before implantation. Still

do, its not changed much. I certainly can live with it.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

Duct tape is like the force; it has a light side & a dark side, and it holds

the universe together.

& Dreamer Doll (Guide Dawggie)

Newport, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rclark0276@...

http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

[Guest guest]

,

Alice put up two excellent polls. . And hopefully more people will

participate, and we will get better feedback. A random sample by a large number

of people within our group will tell us about the results of CI implants in the

larger USA population.Perhaps this Tuesday vote on this topic as well. - Gerald

<rclark0276@...> wrote:

Gerald,

Its different for everyone. I had tinnitus before implantation. Still

do, its not changed much. I certainly can live with it.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

Duct tape is like the force; it has a light side & a dark side, and it holds

the universe together.

& Dreamer Doll (Guide Dawggie)

Newport, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rclark0276@...

http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/

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

Want to start your own business? Learn how on Small Business.

[Guest guest]

I had it in my unimplanted ear before the surgery. After the op, I got

it quite loud in the implanted ear for a while. It doesnt bother me

now, except sometimes at mapping sessions, I think it tries to compete

with the beeps :-)

Ted F.

>

> With tinnitus did most of you have it before being implanted or did

> it come as a result of the implant but the processor alleviates the

> tinnitus? - Gerald

>

[Guest guest]

Gerald,

I had mild tinnitus prior to my CI. Afterwards, it was totally gone.

Dale

Gerald Gollinger <gerald3nyc@...> wrote:

With tinnitus did most of you have it before being implanted or did it

come as a result of the implant but the processor alleviates the tinnitus? -

Gerald

dogsville <dogsville@...> wrote: .

That lousy song that my left ear was playing for so long finally has mostly

stopped, since I got activated yesterday. Now when it is quiet or when I remove

the processors, my right ear is playing " Time After Time " , which at least I

like. I am so glad to get rid of that horrible marching band song. LOL So is

everyone around me, as I can't seem to help humming whatever is playing in my

head.

Jane

Re: Re: Hi all... & I was activated yesterday!!!

Jane,

LOL! Same here! I'm 100% deaf without my processors on and all I hear when

they are removed is my tinnitus. I've dealt with the bilateral tinnitus for

so long now that it would feel completely strange if it suddenly

disappeared -- not that I'd complain. LOL!

Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G

Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05

Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06