2 Year CI Anniversary :)

[Guest guest]

Today is the 2 year anniversary of my first CI activation. I can't believe

how quickly time flies. The past 2 years have been nothing short of amazing.

Earlier this morning I looked back at my CI journal and here is what I

wrote:

" 1/18/05

Typing on computer keyboard (sounds like popcorn popping)

Tigger's collar rattling

Doorbell (sounds off-tune)

Microwave beeping

Talking clock calculator (faintly understand speech)

Voices and sounds are high pitched; metallic

1/19/05

Switched to program 2

Traffic (can identify direction of travel according to pitch; notice that

cars sound different -- some engines are higher in pitch while others are

lower)

Sound of tires in the snow

Birds singing

Snowblower

Footsteps in snow

Two women conversing nearby

Air escaping from soda bottle

Music: can hear high pitches, drum beats (sounds tinny),

inflection/intonation; could recognize two songs on a CD by drum beat and

voice rhythm; can hear differences instruments in jazz and classical music

although I can't identify what they are; can hear music in another room;

cannot hear low frequencies

Can hear intonation/inflection in some voices

Can hear difference in sound volume (i.e. TV sounds louder as you walk

toward it and softer as you walk away)

No change in voice and sound quality (still high pitched and metallic)

1/20/05

Program 2 sounds weaker today; changed batteries (11:30 a.m.) but no sound

difference

Rustling of plastic and paper bags; water running (both sounds are

uncomfortably high pitched)

Jingling of keys

Computer modem

Voices and sounds are distant and weaker; changed batteries - no effect

Initial metallic quality to voices is gone; voices still sound high pitched

but more like a whine

1/21/05

Voices fade in and out from loud to soft and soft to loud - not sure if this

is due to problem with 3G, volume difference in voices or weak map

This evening I hear a continual loud humming that alternates between very

loud and moderate volume. Sometimes it varies in volume according to the

loudness of voices and sounds around me. Other times it alternates between

loud and soft when there is no background noise or voice present. (very

bothersome - stopped wearing processor for the rest of the evening because

of nausea and headache)

Cannot recognize any new sounds today because of fading and humming.

1/22/05

Traffic outside window

Could hear difference between letter " p, " " m " and " i " on the radio

Computer keyboard sounds like I remember with hearing aids

I found the source of the humming. I thought it might be the traffic or

refrigerator but after getting ready to take a short nap, I found that the

humming did not subside or change after removing the 3G. I've also noticed

that I feel nauseous and get a headache after wearing the processor for

more than a couple hours.

3G shut off completely this evening. Was told on CI forum that 3G emits

warning beeps before shutting off. Could not hear beeps; changed batteries.

1/23/05

Switched 3G from original Whisper setting to Microphone

Two dogs barking across the street

Snow underneath my feet sounds more a like a squeak instead of tapping

Traffic now sounds closer to what I remember with hearing aids

Door knock on TV program

Sounds are more comfortable; voices no longer fade in and out as much as

they did yesterday; could wear processor all day without any nausea or

headache

Some voices are easier to hear on TV and radio than others; Softer voices I

couldn't hear well or at all made me think something was wrong with the 3G.

1/24/05

Melody chime clock

Sound quality of today's map is *much* better; can hear a wider variety of

frequencies - I think I may have had the previous map set too soft/low as

sounds now seem fuller and louder but not uncomfortable

1/24/05

Melody chime clock

Laugh track on TV program (sounds like static)

Sound quality of today's map is *much* better; can hear a wider variety of

frequencies - I think I may have had the previous map set too soft/low as

sounds now seem fuller and louder but not uncomfortable

After today's map I notice a better balance of sound between CI and HA; with

last mapping, HA seemed to overpower CI; now CI sounds balanced with HA

making it much easier for me to concentrate/interpret sound from the CI

1/25/05

Can hear the sound of my cane tapping on cement and sliding against

carpeting

At yesterday's mapping took out some of the lower tones; am now

finding that traffic is more difficult to hear; would like them added at

next mapping

3G completely shut off; changed batteries (6:20 p.m.)

1/26/05

Still on program 1

Can more easily hear changes in pitch with voices

Whiny characteristic in voices is slowly going away; can tell difference in

pitch but don't know yet if this is due to inflection or male versus female

speaker

1/27/05

Switched to program 2

After listening to an auditory practice website repetitively for an hour, I

could understand a few words! One speaker sounded much like I remember with

hearing aids

Notice that some voices sound deeper than others; do not know if this is

because of pitch, male vs. female speaker or both

3G completely shut off (10:35 p.m.); changed batteries "

(end of journal excerpts)

To think that the metallic blur of sounds I first heard on my activation day

have turned into such wonderful clarity. Music sounds better than it ever

has before and the voices of my family and friends sound just as beautiful

as they did before I lost my hearing.

As some of you may remember, I've dedicated my CI journey to my late dear

mother who passed away from terminal cancer on December 16, 2004 -- six days

before my CI surgery. I wish with all of my heart that she could be here in

person to celebrate this day, but I know she is smiling from above

celebrating the fact that her daughter has rejoined the hearing world -- a

dream of hers ever since I lost my hearing. Her dream has come true -- and

so has mine.

Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with Freedom BTE

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

Right ear - Nucleus Freedom

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

Deafblind/Postlingual